Ethiopia’s volatile politics: the June 2026 parliamentary elections, the National Dialogue, and violent conflict
Ethiopia's ruling Prosperity Party secured a landslide victory in the June 2026 parliamentary elections, maintaining its grip on power amid ongoing political fragmentation. Despite the election, the country continues to face violent conflict and significant challenges to its democratic culture.
Why it matters
The consolidation of power by the ruling party and the failure of elections to stabilize the region suggest continued political volatility in the Horn of Africa.
In a surprise to absolutely no one, Ethiopia’s ruling Prosperity Party (PP) led by PM Abiy Ahmed won the 1 June 2026 parliamentary elections in a landslide . The outcome has evoked few commentaries in the global media or even in Ethiopia itself. There was a c. 90% win of parliamentary seats for the PP. This is, like in previous elections ( 2021 , or 2015 ), a kind of Communist country result. It indeed was a well-organised operation, a classic case of what in Ethiopia since the Derg -regime (1974-1991) is called an “organisational operation” (Amharic: dirigitawi sera ). That may be regretted or lauded but reflects political reality.
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