Trending Now - Ethiopia Prepares for Election Amidst Controversy and Dominance

WHO:

Al Jazeera - Over 50 million Ethiopians are registered to vote, with youth and women forming a significant share of the electorate.

Al Jazeera - The ruling political party is the Prosperity Party (PP), led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

Al Jazeera - The National Movement of Amhara (NAMA) is led by Belete Molla.

Al Jazeera - The Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice (EZEMA) is led by Berhanu Nega.

CNN - Abiy Ahmed became Ethiopia’s prime minister in 2018.

CNN - Hailemariam Desalegn was Abiy's predecessor.

CNN - Surafel Getahun is an Ethiopian geopolitics researcher living in exile in Kenya.

CNN - Eyob Mesafint is the leader of EZEMA, Ethiopia’s largest national opposition party.

CNN - Activist Befeqadu Hailu Techanie commented on the election dynamics.

WHAT:

Al Jazeera - The election will determine the composition of Ethiopia’s federal government and which party or coalition controls parliament, with elected MPs selecting the prime minister.

Al Jazeera - The election is part of Ethiopia’s regular parliamentary electoral cycle under the 1995 constitution.

CNN - The ruling Prosperity Party is expected to dominate the election amid a fragmented opposition and ongoing violence.

ABC News - Polls opened in Ethiopia in an election that is widely expected to be won by the ruling party.

Al Jazeera - A total of 73 independent candidates are registered to contest seats in the 2026 elections.

CNN - Eyob Mesafint stated that he anticipates this election will "be more competitive than the previous one" held in 2021.

CNN - The ruling Prosperity Party has refrained from fielding candidates in more than two dozen constituencies to open space for the opposition.

Al Jazeera - The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) reported that there are 2,198 candidates for the federal parliament, 8,736 for regional and city councils, and 73 independents in the election.

CNN - The ruling Prosperity Party has refrained from fielding candidates in more than two dozen constituencies to open space for the opposition.

CNN - Eyob Mesafint, leader of EZEMA, stated that the arrest and intimidation of his party members reflect the persistence of undemocratic practices.

Al Jazeera - Ethiopians vote in a general election to choose members of parliament, who will select the next prime minister.

Al Jazeera - The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) reported 47 political parties and more than 10,900 candidates are in the race.

Al Jazeera - The election will determine the composition of Ethiopia’s federal government and which party or coalition controls parliament.

CNN - The June 1 election is expected to be dominated by the ruling Prosperity Party amid a fragmented opposition.

CNN - The election will decide the next government, with the winning party picking the prime minister.

ABC News World - Ethiopians are preparing to vote in an election expected to be dominated again by Abiy's ruling party.

CNN - The conflict in Tigray resulted in an estimated 600,000 casualties.

WHERE:

Al Jazeera - The election is taking place in Ethiopia, across urban and rural areas in all federal member states.

CNN - Ethiopia is described as Africa’s second most populous nation with over 135 million people.

CNN - Regions like Tigray, Amhara, and Oromia are mentioned as areas facing active warfare.

WHEN:

Al Jazeera - Ethiopians vote on Monday in a general election.

CNN - Abiy Ahmed was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize shortly after becoming prime minister in 2018.

CNN - The civil war in Tigray erupted in November 2020.

CNN - An African Union-brokered peace agreement ended hostilities in 2022.

WHY:

CNN - Abiy Ahmed's reforms aimed to centralize authority and disband regional armies, which led to increased tensions and conflict.

CNN - The political standoff and subsequent civil war were triggered by Tigray's defiance of a federal election delay.

HOW:

CNN - The electoral board has excluded Tigray and parts of Amhara from the election due to ongoing conflict, impacting the overall electoral landscape.

Al Jazeera - The election is being held under Ethiopia’s federal parliamentary system, where executive power is derived from a parliamentary majority.

CNN - The electoral board has excluded Tigray and parts of Amhara from the election due to ongoing conflict.

CNN - The Prosperity Party has refrained from fielding candidates in more than two dozen constituencies to open space for the opposition.

(UPDATED June 1, 2026 10:37 UTC)

Polls have opened in Ethiopia for an election that will determine the composition of the federal government and which party or coalition will control parliament, with elected MPs responsible for selecting the prime minister. The ruling Prosperity Party is anticipated to dominate the election amid a fragmented opposition and ongoing violence, while the electoral board has excluded Tigray and parts of Amhara from participating due to ongoing conflict. This election is part of Ethiopia's regular parliamentary electoral cycle established under the 1995 constitution.

(UPDATED June 1, 2026 08:46 UTC)

A total of 73 independent candidates are registered to contest seats in the upcoming 2026 elections, with Eyob Mesafint expressing his belief that this election will be more competitive than the previous one held in 2021. The ruling Prosperity Party has chosen not to field candidates in over two dozen constituencies to create opportunities for the opposition. However, the electoral board has excluded Tigray and parts of Amhara from the election due to ongoing conflict, which is significantly impacting the overall electoral landscape.

(UPDATED June 1, 2026 06:34 UTC)

The National Election Board of Ethiopia has announced a total of 2,198 candidates for the federal parliament, along with 8,736 candidates for regional and city councils, and 73 independents participating in the upcoming election. In a notable move, the ruling Prosperity Party has chosen not to field candidates in over two dozen constituencies to create opportunities for the opposition, while Eyob Mesafint, leader of the EZEMA party, highlighted ongoing arrests and intimidation of his members as evidence of undemocratic practices. Additionally, the electoral board has decided to exclude Tigray and parts of Amhara from the election due to ongoing conflict, significantly affecting the electoral landscape.

(UPDATED June 1, 2026 01:42 UTC)

Ethiopians are gearing up to vote in a general election that will determine the next members of parliament and, ultimately, the next prime minister, with over 50 million registered voters, including a significant number of youth and women. The ruling Prosperity Party, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, is expected to dominate the election, which features 47 political parties and more than 10,900 candidates, while regions like Tigray and parts of Amhara are excluded from voting due to ongoing conflict. This election is crucial as it will shape the future of Ethiopia's federal government and the composition of its parliament.