Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has been sworn in for a second five-year term, despite the fact that his government is facing numerous obstacles, including a months-long battle in Tigray’s northern province.
Mr. Abiy took the oath of office, which was administered by Supreme Court Chief Justice Meaza Ashenafi after the speaker and deputy speaker of the parliament’s lower chamber took identical vows.
“I, Abiy Ahmed Ali, today in the House of People’s Representatives, accept the appointment as prime minister, as I pledge to undertake responsibly and with faith to the constitution the responsibility placed upon me by the people,” he said.
Abiy’s Prosperity Party was declared the winner of parliamentary elections earlier this year, despite opposition parties criticizing and boycotting the vote, which was viewed by some international observers as better run than previous elections.
In June, the prime minister’s party won 410 of the 436 parliamentary seats that were contested.
Last month, voters in three regions where elections had been postponed cast their ballots. Voting was not held in the northern Tigray area, which is controlled by regional forces opposed to Addis Ababa’s administration.
After several years of anti-government rallies, Abiy was appointed Prime Minister in 2018, and this election was the first time he addressed voters.
The prime minister, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 for mending ties with Eritrea and pushing broad political changes, now faces significant obstacles.
Ethiopians want Abiy to prioritise improving the security situation in the country.
The 11-month Tigray conflict is weakening Ethiopia’s economy, once one of Africa’s fastest growing, and threatening to isolate Abiy, once seen as a regional peacemaker.
Thousands have been killed in the conflict and hundreds of thousands faced famine-like conditions, according to the UN.
It’s uncertain whether Abiy’s inauguration will change the direction of the fight between government forces and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which dominated national politics before he came to power.
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