Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Reappointed for Another Five-Year Term by Parliament

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has been reappointed by the House of Peoples' Representatives to lead the country for another five-year term following the 7th national elections, extending his tenure to 13 years overall. In his address to parliament, Abiy highlighted key strategic priorities, including constitutional amendments based on recommendations from the National Dialogue Commission, working with rival political parties, and enforcing laws on the media environment. He strongly reiterated Ethiopia's determination to secure access to the Red Sea and positioned the nation as an indispensable regional power amid broader geopolitical shifts in the Horn of Africa, the Red Sea, and the Middle East. He criticized recently formed insurgent alliances while maintaining that the government's hand remains open for peace negotiations with armed groups in the bush. This Parliamentary speech comes shortly after a major diplomatic rift that led Ethiopia and Eritrea to expel diplomats and sever formal diplomatic ties over regional security disputes involving neighboring countries.