Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has been sworn in for a second five-year term, having been re-elected by the House of Peoples’ Representatives on Monday, October 5, 2026.
Prime Minister Abiy took the constitutional oath in the first-ever regular session of the seventh House of People’s Representatives, marking the beginning of a new term in office after winning the general election in Ethiopia in June 2026. The Ethiopian government announced that the session opened a new parliamentary and federal government cycle.
The ruling Prosperity Party of Ethiopia has won 438 of the 547 parliamentary seats, and Abiy Ahmed was elected prime minister again. The new government is called the Medemer Government, an idea forwarded by Premier Abiy that emphasizes collaboration and unites the whole of Ethiopia. During his swearing-in ceremony, Abiy called on Ethiopians to join hands with him in the new five-year term.
“Ethiopia has no losers only winners,” he said, citing the Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation. “Our challenges can be resolved by working together.”
The premier also made maritime access a priority and vowed to use dialogue to create a win-win solution for the problem.
“Ethiopia will strive to get a sea outlet through dialogue and mutually beneficial arrangements,” Abiy said, according to the Ethiopian News Agency.
The issue of the sea outlet is one of Ethiopia’s burning problems. The country is landlocked and has to rely on its neighbors for access to the Red Sea, which is strategic for trade. Abiy has long contended that a sea outlet is of vital interest to Ethiopia.
Abiy’s second term has come as Ethiopia confronts a growing security crisis, with renewed conflict in the north of the country and tense relations with Eritrea. Reuters reported on Monday, October 5, that there had been air strikes and artillery bombardments in northern Tigray, although it could not confirm independently the reports of attacks. Abiy’s second term has seen an outpouring of goodwill from leaders across Africa.
The African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf extended his congratulations on behalf of the AU and noted that he looked forward to continuing to work with Abiy’s government in the areas of continental integration, peace, and security, as well as development.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa also visited Ethiopia to congratulate Abiy on his re-election. Abiy described the partnership between South Africa and Ethiopia as one of African solidarity, peace, and development.
The inauguration of the new government has shifted the focus to the execution of the program of the new government, with a focus on developing the economy, security, and institutional reforms, as well as the interests of Ethiopia in the region.