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The Tragedy in the Ethiopian HighlandsAn overcrowded bus has crashed in northern Ethiopia, killing at least 31 people and injuring dozens more, police have confirmed. The bus veered off the road while travelling to the capital, Addis Ababa, early on Monday and plunged into a ravine approximately 100 metres (330 feet) deep.The bus had departed from the town of Dessie in the northern Amhara region of Ethiopia, whose roads are among the most dangerous in the world. The crash happened on a zigzagging mountainous road known as Harego, which is surrounded by forests.Images Reveal Extent of DamageImages of the bus posted on social media show a severely damaged vehicle broken apart and lying by a hillside. According to the Associated Press news agency, several people died because they received medical attention too late.Inadequate Emergency Response Complicates CrisisPoor infrastructure and a lack of ambulance services meant people were forced to make their own way to treatment centres, allowing their injuries to worsen, AP wrote. This systemic issue in Ethiopia's healthcare and emergency response infrastructure has been a persistent problem in the country.A Pattern of Road Safety FailuresEthiopia is one of the worst countries in the world for road traffic accidents. The East African country has notoriously dangerous roads, which, according to official statistics, are only becoming even less safe. Road traffic deaths more than doubled in the 12 years between 2007 and 2018.A United Nations report has concluded that a lack of traffic signage and road markings poses a significant safety risk. In December 2024, 71 people were killed when the truck they were travelling in fell into a river in the southern Sidama region.Call for Improved Infrastructure and Safety MeasuresThis latest tragedy underscores the urgent need for Ethiopia to address its road safety crisis. With the country's population continuing to grow and more vehicles on the road, the lack of proper infrastructure, emergency services, and safety regulations creates a deadly combination that has claimed hundreds of lives in recent years.

The Lead-Up to the Election Ethiopians vote on Monday in a general election to choose members of parliament, who will in turn select the next prime minister. The National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) said 47 political parties and more than 10,900 candidates are in the race, including 2,198 for the federal parliament, 8,736 for regional and city councils and 73 independents. The Main Political Parties The contest brings together ruling, opposition, regional and independent politicians under Ethiopia’s federal parliamentary system, where the government is formed through a parliamentary majority and MPs select the prime minister. The Prosperity Party (PP) The Prosperity Party is the ruling political party in Ethiopia, led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. It was formed in 2019 following the merger of several regional parties that previously made up the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). The party holds a majority in the House of Peoples’ Representatives following the 2021 general election. The National Movement of Amhara (NAMA) The National Movement of Amhara is a regional political party operating mainly in Ethiopia’s Amhara region. It is led by Belete Molla and participates in Ethiopia’s federal parliamentary elections through constituency-based contests. Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice (EZEMA) The Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice is a national political party led by Berhanu Nega. Formed in 2019, it has participated in national elections since 2021 and operates across multiple regions. The Peace for Ethiopia Coalition The Peace for Ethiopia coalition is an alliance of smaller regional parties, including the Agew National Council, Gamo Democratic Party, Gambella Peoples’ Freedom Movement, Kaffa Green Party, and Tigray Democratic Cooperation. Electoral Stakes and Political Environment The election will determine the composition of Ethiopia’s federal government and which party or coalition controls parliament. Elected MPs will select the prime minister, who then forms the federal government. Voter Engagement and Demographics NEBE reports that more than 50 million people are registered to vote in the election. Young people make up a large share of the population, with a median age of about 19 years, according to UN population estimates. Women account for around half of registered voters.