🇪🇹 Prime Minister Joins Tens of Millions of Ethiopians in Casting Ballots in 7th General Election

Addis Ababa, June 1, 2026 (FMC) — The incumbent Prime Minister of #Ethiopia and president of the ruling Prosperity Party Abiy Ahmed has cast his vote in the country’s 7th General Election in his hometown of Beshasha, joining tens of millions of Ethiopians participating in the nationwide democratic exercise.

The election is being conducted across the country with more than 54 million registered voters expected to take part in choosing representatives to the federal parliament and regional state councils.

The Prime Minister’s participation underscores the significance of civic engagement and the role of the ballot box in shaping the country’s political future.

Across Ethiopia, voting began this morning as citizens turned out in large numbers to exercise their democratic rights. Voters are electing representatives from 42 political parties, with over 10,000 candidates competing for public office across approximately 52,000 polling stations established nationwide.

Election officials, security personnel, observers, and polling staff have been deployed across the country to facilitate what is considered one of Africa’s largest electoral exercises. Polling stations opened at 6:00 a.m., with long queues forming early as citizens participated in shaping the direction of their nation.

Beyond its electoral significance, the vote is being closely watched both domestically and internationally, reflecting Ethiopia’s political weight, demographic scale, and regional influence.

Analysts describe the election as a key democratic process that could help define the country’s political and development trajectory in the years ahead.

As Ethiopians continue to cast their ballots, the election stands as a powerful expression of civic participation and national decision-making.