Officials count ballots after Ethiopia’s election

Officials in Ethiopia counted ballots on Tuesday after a parliamentary election billed as the first free vote in the country’s history but marred by an opposition boycott, war and reports of irregularities in some areas.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed hopes the national and regional elections will show the success of democratic reforms he launched after being appointed by the ruling coalition in 2018.

But the vote also reflects a messy reality in the country of 109 million people.

Authorities could not hold polls on Monday in four of Ethiopia’s 10 regions, according to the election board.

Meanwhile, voting did not take place in Tigray