Ethiopia's Prosperity Party wins 438 of 501 seats

Ethiopia's ruling Prosperity Party has secured a decisive victory in the country's parliamentary elections, winning 438 of the 501 contested seats, according to official results announced on Sunday. The outcome ensures Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed will remain in power for another five-year term.

The National Election Board of Ethiopia said the June 1 vote saw a turnout of 94 percent, with roughly 40 million people casting ballots. The Prosperity Party's win gives it nearly 90 percent of the seats in the House of Peoples Representatives, a result widely anticipated due to a divided opposition that fielded few candidates. The new parliament is expected to formally reelect Abiy as prime minister between late September and October.

The electoral process was significantly disrupted by insecurity in several regions. The board reported that 143 polling stations failed to open on election day due to security concerns, and voting was interrupted in parts of Amhara and Oromia. In Amhara, clashes between federal forces and the Fano militia occurred, with a conflict monitoring group reporting at least 90 incidents on polling day. In Oromia, the Oromo Liberation Army was blamed for attacks that...