ADDIS ABABA — Ethiopia’s parliament has re-elected Abiy Ahmed as Prime Minister for another five-year term following the ruling Prosperity Party’s victory in the June 1 general election.
The House of Peoples’ Representatives appointed Abiy on Monday, October 5, during its first session of the new parliamentary term. He later took the constitutional oath of office, formally beginning his second term.
Abiy was nominated by the Prosperity Party, which won 438 of the 547 seats in the House of Peoples’ Representatives in the June election.
The re-election marks the start of a new five-year government under Ethiopia’s seventh parliamentary term.
The inauguration was attended by President Taye Atske-Selassie, senior government officials, members of the diplomatic community and other invited guests.
The new parliament also elected Ahmed Shide as Speaker of the House of Peoples’ Representatives and Ayelech Eshete as Deputy Speaker. The House of Federation elected Muferihat Kamil as its Speaker and Desta Ledamo as Deputy Speaker.
Abiy’s new term begins as Ethiopia faces renewed fighting in the northern Tigray region. Government forces have retaken Mekelle after Tigrayan forces withdrew from the regional capital, while reports of airstrikes and artillery attacks have raised fears of a wider escalation.
The new administration also faces tensions with neighbouring Eritrea and wider regional concerns over Ethiopia’s efforts to secure access to the Red Sea. Abiy has continued to argue that Ethiopia needs reliable access to the sea, a position that has heightened tensions with neighbouring countries.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Executive Secretary Workneh Gebeyehu congratulated Abiy on his re-election and wished him success during his renewed mandate.
IGAD said it would continue working with the Ethiopian government and people on peace, stability, regional cooperation and shared prosperity.
The African Union Commission Chairperson, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, also congratulated Abiy and said the AU looked forward to continued cooperation with his government on Africa’s integration, peace, security and development agenda.
Abiy first became Prime Minister in 2018 and was re-elected for a new five-year term after the Prosperity Party secured a parliamentary majority in the 2026 election.
