By Asha Elmi - Reporter
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, 5 October 2026 Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was sworn in for a second term on Monday after the House of Peoples' Representatives appointed him during a government-formation session.
More than 54 million citizens participated in the June 1 general election, according to the National Election Board of Ethiopia.
President Taye Atske-Selassie opened the first working session of the seventh House of Peoples' Representatives, marking the start of a new political and institutional chapter.
The House elected Ahmed Shide as Speaker of the House of Peoples' Representatives. The House of Federation elected Muferihat Kamil as its Speaker and Desta Ledamo as Deputy Speaker.
Abiy took the oath of office, formally beginning his new five-year term, and pledged to protect national interests and confront threats.
The ceremony came a day after Ethiopian government forces regained control of Mekelle, Tigray's regional capital, from an opposition alliance led by the Tigray People's Liberation Front.
Airstrikes and artillery fire were reported in and around the region on Monday, with humanitarian sources saying at least 17 people were killed in attacks near Mekelle.
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In his address, Abiy thanked millions of Ethiopians who participated in the election and said their votes had contributed to strengthening the country.
He described the seventh general election as more than a routine electoral exercise, saying it demonstrated what he characterised as the growing maturity of Ethiopia's democratic culture.
Abiy said Ethiopia and the wider world were experiencing rapidly changing and increasingly unpredictable national, regional and global dynamics, making preparedness essential.
He said Ethiopia had paid a heavy price in the past because of inadequate preparation in several areas, adding that the country had learned from those experiences and was now prepared to confront challenges and what he described as hostile acts directed against Ethiopia.
"Getting tripped up by an obstacle once is natural, but stumbling repeatedly is not normal," he said, stressing the importance of learning from past experiences.
The prime minister also called for unity and collective effort, saying Ethiopia could overcome its challenges only by moving forward together as equals.