Ethiopia held a national election on June 1, but one entire region was excluded from voting. Tigray, a northern region that suffered greatly during a war that killed an estimated 600,000 people, was not allowed to participate. Authorities said conditions were unfavourable. This means 50.5 million registered voters participated, but millions more had no voice.
The election determines who will lead Africa's second most populous nation. All 547 seats in the House of Peoples' Representatives were contested by 47 different parties. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who has led the country since 2018, is widely expected to win again with his Prosperity Party. However, no official results have been announced yet. Counting continues, and results are not expected until around June 11.
The election did not go smoothly in all areas. Armed groups disrupted voting in the Amhara and Oromia regions. Roughly 143 polling stations were interrupted, though this represents a small number compared to tens of thousands of precincts nationwide.
Abiy was once seen as a reformer who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 for making peace with Eritrea. However, the devastating war in Tigray changed public opinion about his leadership. The opposition remained fragmented, with no single party able to challenge the Prosperity Party effectively.
As Ethiopians wait for official results, the expected victory exists only in anticipation. The absence of Tigray's voice adds to questions about the election's legitimacy and Ethiopia's democratic future.