Polls open in Ethiopia, but not everyone can vote

Ethiopia has commenced its general elections amid ongoing conflict and significant restrictions on voter participation. The entire northern Tigray region, still recovering from a devastating civil war that ended in 2022, has been excluded from the polls, preventing many citizens from voting. This election marks the seventh since the fall of the military regime in 1991 and takes place against a backdrop of strained relations with neighboring Eritrea. Despite tight media controls and limited press access, the ruling Prosperity Party, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, is widely expected to secure a majority in the 547-seat parliament. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who came to power in 2018 after widespread protests against the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), is not directly elected but remains the dominant political figure. After dissolving the EPRDF and forming the Prosperity Party, Abiy initially earned international praise for democratic reforms and peace efforts, including ending a two-decade conflict with Eritrea, which won him the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize. However, his administration has since faced criticism for suppressing dissent, arresting political opponents, and restricting press freedom. The ongoing conflict in Tigray, which erupted in 2020, has been particularly devastating, with estimates suggesting up to 600,000 deaths and severe humanitarian crises. Opposition figures describe the election as the least competitive in recent Ethiopian history, with some participating only symbolically to avoid deregistration. Media freedom has sharply declined, with Ethiopia ranking 148th out of 180 countries in the 2025 Reporters Without Borders press freedom index. Human Rights Watch and other organizations have condemned the government for arbitrary arrests of journalists and harassment of independent media. International news agencies, including Reuters, have faced revocation of press credentials, highlighting the increasingly repressive environment for the press. The election outcome will shape Ethiopia’s political landscape for the next five years, but the exclusion of large populations and ongoing conflict raise concerns about the legitimacy and inclusiveness of the process. The situation underscores the challenges facing Ethiopia as it navigates internal divisions, regional tensions, and demands for democratic governance.