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Ethiopia Votes June 1 with Tigray Barred and Prosperity Party Favored

Suspended ballots in dozens of districts, tight media controls, and active militia violence cast doubt on the election’s national legitimacy.

Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed arrives at the parliament to address parliament members on the current situation of the country, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, March 20, 2025. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri/File Photo
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The charred remains of a tank from the civil war between the government and Tigray forces
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Overview

  • Ethiopians will cast ballots on June 1, 2026, even though the National Election Board suspended voting in 46 districts, including all of Tigray, because it said conditions were unfavourable.
  • The ruling Prosperity Party is widely expected to win by a large margin as many opposition groups are fragmented, some parties run in limited seats, and 64 constituencies have no challenger.
  • Active armed groups such as Fano in Amhara and the Oromo Liberation Army in Oromia threaten local voting and could disrupt turnout or post-election order in those regions.
  • Press freedoms and international access are tightly constrained with journalists denied entry and accreditations revoked, weakening independent observation of the vote.
  • The vote follows years of centralised party dominance and a costly 2020–2022 Tigray war, leaving unresolved territorial and political fractures that will shape governance and regional stability after results are declared on June 11.