Ethiopia goes to the polls on Monday in an election which is expected to return Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Prosperity Party to power, but has been marked by instability, restricted voting and questions over whether the vote can challenge the status quo.
Issued on: 31/05/2026 - 17:56
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The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) said voting will not take place in 46 constituencies in the conflict-affected regions of Amhara and Tigray, citing instability and political tensions. It said eight districts in north-western Amhara had “unfavourable conditions” because of clashes between militia groups and the army, while voting was also suspended in 38 districts in Tigray, where tensions remain high between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. Earlier the NEBE said that in places “where conditions do not permit polling on June 1, supplementary voting dates will be arranged".
The charred remains of a tank from clashes between the Ethiopian National Defense Force and the Tigray People's Liberation Front on a road near Gereb Agew, Southern Tigray, Ethiopia, 3 March. AFP - ABEL GEREZGIHER
