Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has won a commanding election victory that secures his grip on power for another term. His Prosperity Party took 438 of 501 contested seats in parliament.
Abiy will begin his next term in October. Supporters view the result as a strong mandate for his economic transformation plans.
He rose to power in 2018 amid anti-government unrest. International observers initially praised him as a reformer capable of healing Ethiopia's deep political wounds.
His 2019 Nobel Peace Prize recognized his success ending decades of enmity with Eritrea. That achievement, however, has since been overshadowed by catastrophe.
A brutal two-year war ravaged Tigray region from 2020 to 2022. The conflict killed an estimated 600,000 people from combat, disease, and famine combined.
Tigray didn't participate in this election. Its six million residents and 38 constituencies were completely excluded from voting.
Officials cited security reasons for the exclusion. Residents fear fighting could restart at any moment.
Relations between Addis Ababa and Asmara have collapsed since the war ended. Eritrean forces fought alongside Ethiopian troops against Tigrayan fighters during the conflict.
Human rights groups accused Eritrean soldiers of mass atrocities. Asmara has denied all allegations of wrongdoing.
Abiy's calls for Red Sea port access have poisoned ties with Eritrea. Ethiopia lost direct access to the coast after Eritrea's 1993 independence.
Eritrea now fears Ethiopia harbours territorial ambitions. Officials in Asmara have moved closer to Tigrayan leaders as a result.
Armed groups across the country continue defying federal authority. Fano militias in Amhara and the Oromo Liberation Army both rejected the election outcome.
Security fears prevented 140 polling stations from opening on election day. Most were located in Amhara and Oromia regions.
Regional instability has complicated Ethiopia's international relationships. Washington has imposed targeted visa restrictions in response to violence and alleged abuses.
Accusations that Ethiopia backed Sudan's Rapid Support Forces add another layer of tension. Addis Ababa has repeatedly denied involvement in Sudan's civil war.
Eritrea and Tigrayan groups maintain closer ties with Sudan's military instead. Analysts warn this creates dangerous regional rivalries.
A 2022 peace agreement was supposed to end hostilities between government forces and the Tigray People's Liberation Front. Both sides now accuse each other of systematic treaty violations.
Local authorities deny forcing young people into military service. They claim recruitment is voluntary training to protect communities.
