Ethiopia’s Parliament Reelects Abiy Ahmed as Prime Minister

Ethiopia’s parliament has reelected Abiy Ahmed as prime minister, handing him another five-year term. His ruling Prosperity Party won 438 of 547 parliamentary seats in June’s general election, giving it an overwhelming majority in the legislature. Abiy took the constitutional oath of office at a ceremony attended by President Taye Atske-Selassie and senior government officials. He first came to power in 2018, after his predecessor, Hailemariam Desalegn, resigned. The swearing-in comes at a trying time for the Horn of Africa nation, with federal government forces fighting a newly formed Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival, which seeks to overthrow Abiy. Addis Ababa has accused neighboring countries, including Eritrea, of supporting the armed groups involved in the conflict. Tensions with Eritrea have also escalated, with Ethiopia announcing the closure of its embassy there and declaring 10 Eritrean diplomats in Addis Ababa persona non grata.