Polls opened in Ethiopia on Monday for elections widely expected to see Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's Prosperity Party (PP) extend its rule. Voting began at 6 a.m. local time (0300 GMT), with citizens forming long queues. In the capital Addis Ababa, voting took place under heavy military presence.

Voters will select more than 500 members of the House of Representatives, who will subsequently vote to choose a prime minister. About 50 million of the 130 million population are registered to vote, but no election is taking place in the northern Tigray region due to ongoing conflict.

Abiy's PP is expected to secure a majority, paving the way for his third term. In power since 2018, the 49-year-old won 96% of seats in the 2021 election. The opposition is divided among over 40 parties with low financial resources, and in several constituencies the PP is running unopposed.

Opposition parties and analysts warn this election will be even less open than previous ones, as the country remains divided by internal conflicts and ethnic differences. Abiy, who won the Nobel Peace Prize for mending relations with Eritrea, faces growing criticism for authoritarian practices and a crackdown on dissent.

Chatham House analysts described the election as 'likely to be among the least competitive of the seven national elections held since multiparty democracy was introduced in 1991.' Many challengers are in exile, banned, imprisoned, or engaged in armed struggle, severely constraining the political landscape.

Source: www.dw.com