Ethiopia

Prime Minister Abiy's Party Wins Landslide in Ethiopia Election

Was Ethiopia's election a democratic milestone built on real progress or a predetermined outcome shaped by repression and restricted political space?

Published JUN 22

Prime Minister Abiy's Party Wins Landslide in Ethiopia Election

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Above: Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed arrives at the Kenyatta International Convention Center to attend the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, Kenya, May 12. Image credit: Lucas Mukasa/Anadolu/Getty Images

The Spin

Pro-government narrative

The Prosperity Party's sweeping win reflects real momentum — per capita incomes up 22% since 2018, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam completed and foreign investment flowing in. 48 opposition parties were accredited, and the threshold for parliamentary participation was actually lowered to give more voices a seat at the table. Dismissing this election ignores genuine economic progress and the destabilizing role the TPLF's power grab played in undermining the entire process.

Africa Defense Forum Al Jazeera Africa Center Ethiopia Insight

Government-critical narrative

Abiy Ahmed's Prosperity Party winning 90% of parliament means little when the election was held amid active insurgencies, media blackouts and jailed journalists. Independent outlets like Addis Standard were stripped of accreditation on Election Day itself, further undermining any claim of a free and fair vote. The outcome was largely a foregone conclusion shaped by repression and restricted political space, rather than a genuine reflection of what 130 million Ethiopians actually want.