Millions vote in Ethiopia’s general election as Abiy claims foiled bomb plots
June 1, Addis Ababa — Millions of Ethiopians cast their ballots on Monday in a general election widely viewed as a critical milestone in the country’s democratic trajectory.
Polling stations opened at 6:00 AM across the nation, drawing massive queues of voters seeking to elect representatives for nine regional councils and a new federal parliament, which will ultimately determine the next government.
After casting his vote in his hometown of Beshasha, located in the Jimma zone of the Oromia region, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed revealed that security forces had successfully thwarted systematic attempts to disrupt the electoral process in the buildup to the vote.
Abiy disclosed that authorities had discovered and defused hundreds of explosives planted within civilian areas, describing the plots as criminal acts devoid of any political or moral justification. He added that such tactics reflect a mindset intent on undermining state stability and derailing Ethiopia’s democratic process.
The Prime Minister emphasized that robust state intervention successfully neutralized these threats, ensuring a peaceful and orderly environment for voters.
However, Abiy pointed fingers at what he termed “hostile entities,” accusing them of backing movements aimed at creating chaos and casting doubt on Ethiopia’s capacity to host a successful democratic election.
“These entities gambled on the failure of the electoral process to portray Ethiopia as a nation incapable of managing its internal affairs,” Abiy said, adding that the peaceful conduct of the vote proved the resilience of state institutions and the strength of the popular will.
Abiy further declared his readiness to accept the democratic outcome of the elections and bow to the will of the voters.
More than 54 million voters registered to participate in this seventh Ethiopian general election. The polls feature 42 political parties competing for seats, with 10,438 party-affiliated candidates and 80 independent candidates contesting the legislative races.