Ethiopia Holds Elections as Millions Remain Barred from Voting

Ethiopia held parliamentary and regional elections on June 10, 2024, with the ruling Prosperity Party projected to win by a landslide ^[1].

The vote occurs amid deep internal divisions, as the exclusion of millions of citizens from conflict-affected areas raises questions about the legitimacy of the results ^[2].

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Prosperity Party entered the election as the dominant force. While the government sought to project stability, critics said the administration consolidated power by jailing opponents and barring voters in regions still reeling from violence ^[2].

Participation figures vary across reports. Some data indicates 50 million registered voters ^[3], while other reports place the number at more than 54 million ^[4]. This electorate represents a portion of Ethiopia's total population of 130 million ^[3].

Despite the high number of registered citizens, millions of people in conflict-hit regions were unable to cast ballots ^[2]. The absence of these voters suggests that significant portions of the country remain outside the reach of the central government's electoral process.

Observers noted that the projected landslide for the Prosperity Party comes at a time when the state has faced accusations of suppressing political dissent. The government has not provided a detailed response to claims regarding the jailing of opponents prior to the vote ^[2].