Over 54 million eligible to vote as polling opens across Ethiopia

Ethiopia launched its seventh general election on Monday as voters formed early morning queues at 52,000 polling stations nationwide. The election features over 10,000 candidates representing 42 political parties competing for positions in the federal parliament and nine regional state assemblies.

According to BBC, polls have opened in Ethiopia’s general election as conflict rages in parts of the country, meaning many people will not be able to vote.

In fact, the whole northern region of Tigray, which has been trying to recover from a brutal civil war that ended in 2022, has been totally excluded from the poll.

With over 54 million people registered to vote, the outcome of the ballot will determine the composition of the next federal government.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was among the first to vote, casting his ballot in Beshasha to emphasize the role of the election in shaping the nation’s direction.

The electoral process is being watched by domestic and international observers to verify its credibility.

A large network of election staff and security forces is managing the logistics of the vote, which experts view as a key factor for the region’s geopolitical stability.