{
  "id": 12377285,
  "title": "Abiy Ahmed Begins a Second Term With a Country at War",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/06/abiy-ahmed-begins-a-second-term-with-a-country-at-war",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-06T12:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "IOL",
    "slug": "iol",
    "url": "https://iol.co.za/news/brics/2026-10-06-abiy-ahmed-begins-a-second-term-with-a-country-at-war/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Abiy Ahmed has commenced his second term as Ethiopia's leader amidst a country engulfed in conflict. His Prosperity Party secured an overwhelming 438 out of 547 seats in the June 1 elections, with over 54 million Ethiopians participating in the voting process. The new administration, named the Medemer Government, is named after the Amharic word for synergy or unity; however, the situation is far from harmonious. The Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) recently retook Mekelle and its airport, reigniting a war that the 2022 Pretoria Agreement was intended to end definitively. Federal forces and the Tigray Peace Force, composed of former TPLF fighters who defected, swiftly regained control over the city by October 4. The TPLF claimed it was a strategic withdrawal and not a surrender. This conflict differs from the previous 2020 to 2022 war, as it now involves Ethiopia accusing Eritrea, along with Sudan and Egypt, of supporting the rebels. These allegations have strained relations, leading Ethiopia to close its embassy in Asmara and expel ten Eritrean diplomats, while Eritrea reciprocated by severing ties completely. Abiy's ambition to secure Ethiopia's direct access to the Red Sea through Eritrea's port of Assab has been tarnished by this ongoing dispute. His first term was marked by hope, the release of political prisoners, the Eritrea deal, and discussions on reform. In contrast, his second term begins with a reoccupied regional capital, severed alliances, and an armed coalition comprised of Tigrayan, Amhara, Oromo, and other fighters who were once adversaries. This situation highlights the fragility of federal power in Ethiopia, which has been established through force and negotiation, much like the system led by Meles Zenawi. Abiy faces his first challenge of term two within the first year, with the Ethiopian National Dialogue Commission scheduled to present its recommendations to federal and regional governments, aiming to address the grievances that have escalated into violence rather than dialogue. The United States has called for restraint from both Ethiopia and Eritrea and a return to negotiations. Whether Abiy will foster the national unity his party's name suggests or manage the continuous regional fires remains to be seen, depending more on his ability to restore peace rather than his parliamentary majority.",
  "summary": "Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed took the oath of office for a second five-year term on Monday, October 5, inside a parliament building in Addis Ababa. The ceremony looked calm. The country around it is not. Just two days earlier, federal troops had retaken Mekelle, the capital of Tigray, from rebel fighters. Ethiopia had also cut diplomatic ties with Eritrea days before that. Abiy is starting…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}