Abiy Ahmed has been sworn in for another five-year term as Ethiopia’s prime minister after the country’s newly elected parliament chose him to continue in office. Ethiopia’s Government Communication Service said he took the oath during parliament’s inaugural session on Monday 5 October. His ruling Prosperity Party won a large majority in the June general election. What the election result means The party won 438 seats, according to results reported by Reuters in June. Ethiopia’s lower house has 547 seats, but voting did not take place in Tigray or some parts of Amhara. Describing the result simply as “438 out of 547 seats contested” would therefore give the wrong picture of the election. Abiy first became prime minister in 2018. The latest parliamentary decision gives him a new term following the June vote, rather than marking his first appointment to the post. A new term amid conflict The swearing-in comes as federal forces and armed opponents clash again in northern Ethiopia. Reuters reported artillery fire and airstrikes in Tigray around the time of the ceremony. It said a humanitarian bulletin put the death toll from overnight airstrikes at at least 17, but Reuters could not independently confirm that figure or establish who carried out the strikes. Abiy also spoke to parliament about Ethiopia’s desire for access to the sea. That issue has added to tensions with neighbouring Eritrea, which fears Ethiopia may seek control of its Assab port by force. Abiy says his government intends to pursue sea access peacefully. His new term begins with a firm parliamentary majority. The immediate test is whether the government can prevent the fighting from spreading.
