Ethiopia Cancels Voting in 46 Districts Before June 1 Election as Conflict Roils Amhara and Tigray
Updated
Updated · DW (English) · May 28
Ethiopia Cancels Voting in 46 Districts Before June 1 Election as Conflict Roils Amhara and Tigray
4 articles · Updated · DW (English) · May 28
46 electoral districts in Amhara and Tigray will not vote on June 1 after Ethiopia’s election board cited insecurity and political tensions days before the parliamentary election.
Eight of the suspended districts are in Amhara, where Fano militia clashes with the army persist, while 38 are in Tigray, where tensions remain high between the federal government and the TPLF.
47 parties and nearly 11,000 candidates are formally registered, but analysts and opposition figures say the vote is largely symbolic because Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s Prosperity Party already holds 457 of 547 seats.
600,000 people were killed in the 2020-2022 Tigray war, and analysts warn unresolved tensions in Tigray, fighting in Amhara and Oromia, and strains with Eritrea and Sudan could outlast the election.
Will Ethiopia's election be overshadowed by accusations of it fueling the devastating civil war in neighboring Sudan?
As Abiy Ahmed cruises to victory, is his government actually presiding over the fragmentation of Ethiopia?
Canceled Ballots and Rising Instability: Ethiopia’s 2026 Election and Its National and Regional Fallout
Overview
On May 29, 2026, Ethiopia’s election board cancelled voting in 46 constituencies due to widespread insecurity, ongoing conflict, and lack of federal control, especially in Tigray and Amhara. This decision leaves the electoral future of these regions uncertain, as no timeline for rescheduling was given. The situation in Tigray remains volatile, with the TPLF seeking to regain control after a brutal civil war with the federal government. These cancellations highlight the deep instability and contested political environment in Ethiopia, raising serious concerns about the country’s ability to hold free and fair elections and its overall path toward stability.