Ethiopia's PM seeks re-election amidst civil war and concerns over polls

Ethiopia conducted national elections on June 21, 2021, with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's Prosperity Party securing a landslide victory. These polls, the first under Abiy Ahmed's leadership, were significantly overshadowed by a brutal civil war that erupted in the Tigray region in November 2020. The conflict involved federal forces and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), raising considerable scrutiny of the Prime Minister's role.

Abiy Ahmed, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 for his peace efforts with Eritrea, faced strong international criticism and admonishment from the Nobel Committee for his handling of the Tigray conflict. Concerns persisted regarding the election's inclusivity, as voting was not held in Tigray due to the ongoing war and "unfavorable conditions," and was also delayed or cancelled in parts of other regions like Amhara and Oromia due to insecurity and opposition boycotts. These issues led to questions about the legitimacy and fairness of the electoral process.