Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has secured another term in office after his Prosperity Party won the country’s latest parliamentary elections, extending his rule amid a fragmented and weakened opposition.

The victory marks a new chapter for a leader whose image has changed dramatically since he first came to power in 2018, when he was widely hailed as a reformer promising peace, political openness, and democratic transformation.

From Intelligence Officer to Prime Minister

Born into Ethiopia’s largest ethnic group, the Oromo, Abiy Ahmed served as an intelligence officer before entering parliament in 2010. Following months of nationwide anti-government protests, he became prime minister in 2018 after the resignation of his predecessor.

The Reformer Who Won the Nobel Prize

During his first year in office, Abiy launched sweeping reforms, releasing political prisoners, easing restrictions on the media, and welcoming opposition figures back from exile.

His landmark peace agreement with Eritrea ended two decades of hostility between the two countries and earned him the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize.

The War That Changed His Presidency

Less than two years later, Ethiopia descended into civil war following fighting between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

The conflict became one of Africa’s deadliest wars in recent decades, killing tens of thousands and displacing millions. International organizations accused all parties of committing serious human rights violations, allegations the Ethiopian government rejected, insisting its military campaign was necessary to preserve national unity.

Many analysts view the Tigray conflict as the turning point that transformed Abiy Ahmed’s international image from reformer to wartime leader increasingly reliant on military and security institutions.

Economy at the Center of the Campaign

Throughout the election campaign, the ruling Prosperity Party highlighted economic performance, citing improvements in food security, infrastructure development, and projected economic growth approaching 10 percent, one of the highest rates in Africa.

Persistent Security Challenges

Despite the electoral victory, Ethiopia continues to face major security and political challenges.

Voting did not take place in the Tigray region due to security concerns, while unrest continues in the Oromia and Amhara regions, where armed groups and local leaders accuse the federal government of political marginalization within Ethiopia’s federal system.

Regional Tensions

Abiy Ahmed’s repeated calls for Ethiopia to secure access to the Red Sea have renewed tensions with Eritrea.

His government’s 2024 memorandum of understanding with Somaliland granting Ethiopia access to the Port of Berbera also triggered strong objections from Somalia, which described the agreement as a violation of its sovereignty.

A More Difficult Second Chapter

Political observers believe Abiy Ahmed begins his new term facing a far more complex landscape than in 2018. While economic growth remains one of his government’s strongest arguments, lasting stability will depend on his ability to ease ethnic tensions, strengthen national reconciliation, and prevent renewed conflict in one of Africa’s most strategically important countries.

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