Ethiopia is holding its seventh general election since 1991 on Monday, though significant portions of the country, including the entire northern Tigray region, will be excluded due to ongoing conflict and political tensions. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who came to power in 2018 and whose party won a landslide in the 2021 election, is seeking another term, though he is not directly elected by voters. The election takes place amidst tight media regulation and accusations of suppressed dissent, a stark contrast to his early tenure. Conflicts in regions like Amhara and Oromia, alongside lingering issues from the Tigray civil war, have resulted in significant casualties and displacement, raising concerns about the competitiveness and fairness of the poll, despite government assurances of readiness in most areas.