Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's Prosperity Party won a landslide victory in legislative elections held June 1, capturing nearly 90% of seats according to the election commission. The result extends the party's overwhelming majority despite unrest in several regions and tensions with neighboring countries.
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate has led Ethiopia since 2018, initially praised for ending a bitter conflict with Eritrea. However, his tenure has drawn increasing criticism for authoritarian drift, a stark shift from the diplomatic promise of his early years.
Nearly 90% of parliamentary seats went to the ruling party, as announced Sunday, cementing its control over a nation of 130 million people. The opposition faced significant challenges in a contest widely seen as heavily tilted toward the incumbent.
Fears are now mounting that the electoral outcome could trigger new conflict, both internally and with neighbors. Analysts point to the contrast between Abiy's early peacemaking reputation and his current hardline approach as a source of concern.
Some observers argue the landslide reflects genuine support for Abiy's development agenda rather than coercion, but evidence of repression continues to emerge from multiple regions.