Ethiopian incumbent Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was sworn in for a new five-year term in office on Monday, reported Africa News. Abiy’s ruling party Prosperity Party’s won with a huge margin in national elections held in June.
According to the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia, the Prosperity Party won 410 parliamentary seats out of 436 contested in the elections. The three regions where elections were delayed voted last month. Voting did not take place in the northern Tigray region which is currently under the control of regional forces opposed to the government in Addis Ababa.
After the big election victory, the Ethiopian House of Peoples’ Representatives (HoPR) and the lower house of the Ethiopian Parliament appointed Abiy as Prime Minister.
The swearing-in ceremony was administered by Supreme Court Chief Justice Meaza Ashenafi. The ceremony was attended by leaders of Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, and Uganda.
At his inauguration ceremony on Monday, Abiy said he intends to convene a national dialog that will bring together all those interested in solving differences with the Ethiopian government.
“We will work to build an Ethiopia that’s all-inclusive and works for all,” said Abiy.
It currently remains unclear whether the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and the Oromo Liberation Army will be invited for the national dialog.
Abiy also identified tackling high inflation and corruption as key focuses. Following his appointment, the Ethiopian prime minister is expected to form a new cabinet, which will form the new federal government structure.
Abiy was first appointed as the country’s Prime Minister in April 2018. He had served the East African country at different high-level positions, including as Minister of Science and Technology. He won acclaim for opening up the insular economy and a Nobel Peace Prize for ending a long-running conflict with neighboring Eritrea and for pursuing sweeping political reforms.
Last year, he ordered a federal troop incursion into the Tigray province after forces loyal to the northern region’s leaders attacked an army base. Fighting, which has dragged for 11 long months, has left thousands dead and 5 million in need of aid.
