Ethiopians cast their ballots this Monday during a national election where Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is heavily favored to win.
The incumbent leader promised a historic national transformation over the next five years after voting in his native Oromia region.
Long lines formed early at polling stations in Addis Ababa, prompting authorities to extend voting hours until midnight.
Analysts describe the election as a mere formality designed to solidify the ruling Prosperity Party’s control over the government.
The current political landscape features highly fractured opposition groups, restricted independent journalism, and multiple active armed insurgencies across the territory.
The election board reported that security issues prevented over one hundred polling stations from opening during the voting process.
Experts from Chatham House noted this vote ranks among the least competitive since multiparty democracy was introduced in 1991.
No voting occurred in the Tigray region, where over one million citizens remain displaced from the recent civil war.
Nationalist militias threatened the electoral process in Amhara, while separate insurgent groups remain active against federal forces in Oromia.
Regional tensions also persist as neighboring countries express deep concern over Ethiopia’s diplomatic maneuvers and large infrastructure projects.
Despite severe poverty and high inflation, international financial analysts project rapid economic growth driven by a massive construction boom.