Ethiopia Weekly Update (17 December 2024)
Last updated: 08/08/2024
Ethiopia’s Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR) was the most diverse in the country, containing dozens of ethnicities and language groups. This generated a unique political dynamic that, while reflective of larger nationalistic trends, tends to remain more localized and does not spread across the region as conflicts in the more ethno-homogeneous regions of the country.
The region was bordered by Kenya to the south, South Sudan to the west, the Gambela Peoples’ region to the northwest, the Oromia region to the north and east, and the Sidama region to the east. According to the region’s administration, 56 ethnic groups were considered Indigenous.1Beza Dessalegn and Nigussie Afesha, ‘The Quest for Identity and Self-Determination in the SNNP Region of Ethiopia,’ Mizan Law Review, 19 January 2019 According to the last official census conducted by the government in 2007, the Sidama ethnic group was the majority, followed by Wolayta, Gurage, and Gamo.2FDRE Population Census Commission, ‘Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Population Census Commission,’ 2007, pp.98-100
SNNPR was divided into 14 ethnic-based zones and four special woredas, which were accountable to the Regional Council, and within 131 woredas, and 3,926 kebeles.3This number of administrative levels may vary as there are different new restructuring in the region. Hence, please note that this number for each level of administration is pre-2018. However, since the implementation of ethnic federalism, different ethnic groups in the region have expressed the desire for greater autonomy in the form of their own regional state (e.g. Gurage, Sidama, and Welayta), special woreda (e.g. Ale ethnic group), or zone (e.g. Konso, Silte, Gamo-Gofa).
Since 2018, the government has been addressing several of these requests in the form of referendums and administrative changes. For instance, the Ale ethnic group received the status of special woreda; Konso and Silte became zones; and Gamo-Gofa Zone split into two and became Gamo and Gofa zones. Bigger changes have also occurred. In November 2019, residents of Sidama voted overwhelmingly in favor of creating a regional state. In November 2021, a new South West Ethiopia Peoples Region (SWEPR) was formed following a successful referendum held on 30 September 2021. SWEPR consists of 12 ethnic groups in five zones – West Omo, Bench Sheko, Kefa, Dawero, and Sheka zones – and one special woreda – Konta special woreda. Moreover, several ethnic groups like the Gurage, have been pressing to secede from the SNNPR and establish their own regional states.4Beza Dessalegn and Nigussie Afesha, ‘The Quest for Identity and Self-Determination in the SNNP Region of Ethiopia,’ Mizan Law Review, 19 January 2019
Conflicts and political movements in the SNNPR were often administrative contests, with regional elites pushing for more autonomy and control over resources (see map below). The region´s response has been to suppress the actions of ‘misaligned’ residents who may support alternatives to Abiy’s Prosperity Party (PP) or who seek their own, ethnic-based zone or region.
In July 2022, reports indicated that SNNPR will be divided into two other cluster regions. According to the new proposed arrangement, the first cluster region will consist of six zones and five special woredas – Wolayta, Gedio, Gamo, Gofa, South Omo, and Konso zones, as well as Amaro, Basketo, Burji, Derashe, and Ale special woredas. The second cluster region will consist of five zones and one special woreda – Hadiya, Kembata, Halaba, Gurage, and Silte zones, and Yem special woreda. Except for the Gurage Zone Council, the remaining 10 zones and six special woreda councils voted to join new cluster regions on 30 and 31 July 2022. This decision was presented to the House of Federation on 4 August 2022 to formally initiate the process of establishing these two cluster regions.5Facebook, House of Federation of Ethiopia, 4 August 2022 On 18 August 2022, the House of Federation decided to hold a referendum in the six zones and five special woredas under the first cluster.6Fana Broadcasting Corporate, ‘The House of Federation accepted the decisions submitted by 6 zones and 5 special woredas under the southern region and decided to hold a referendum,’ 18 August 2023
Subsequently, the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) held a referendum in these areas on 6 February 2023. The voting process proceeded smoothly in most areas, with no major incidents reported. In Wolyata zone, however, discrepancies related to voter registration and an unmatched number of voters and registered voters in various polling stations led the NEBE to cancel the referendum.7NEBE, ‘The National Election Board of Ethiopia passed decision regarding the electoral process in Wolayita zone,’ 20 February 2023; NEBE, ‘The National Election Board of Ethiopia report on the referendum held in six zones and five special woredas in SNNP regional state of Ethiopia and the outcome,’ 1 March 2023 Another round of referendum voting took place in Wolayta on 19 June 2023.8NEBE, ‘A press statement regarding the second referendum that is being held in Wolayita zone,’ 19 June 2023 Despite some reported irregularities during this second round, the NEBE released the final outcome of the vote, which indicated that the majority had voted for the establishment of the 12th region of the country.9NEBE, 27 June 2023; For the outcome of the vote in the other zones and special woredas, see NEBE, ‘Announcement of referendum results conducted by the Ethiopian National Election Board in six zones (Gamo, Wolayta, Gofa, Gedeo, Konso, and South Omo zones) and in five special woredas (Burji, Amaro, Derashe, Basketo, and Ale) in SNNPR,’ 18 February 2023
On 19 August 2023, two new regions – South Ethiopia and Central Ethiopia regions – were established. The South Ethiopia region was established with six zones and five special woredas as per the referendum outcome, which decided to create a new region separate from SNNPR. The second region – the Central Ethiopia region – includes the remaining zones and special woredas by dissolving SNNPR region.
The Gurage Conflict
Plans to include Gurage zone in a new ‘cluster-based administrative structure’ in July 2022 sparked violent riots, with rioters demanding to be given the status of a regional state and not be grouped into a cluster with other ethnicities. Gurage zone was placed under the rule of a command post on 24 November 2022.10Addis Standard, ‘News: Southern region puts Gurage zone under indefinite command post after protests over statehood demands,’ 25 Novermber 2022
Furthermore, the recently established Central Ethiopia region divided Gurage zone into three administration levels: East Gurage woreda has been designated as a separate zone, while Kebena and Mareko woredas have been designated as special woredas.11Wazema Radio, ‘Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples region no longer exists,’ 19 August 2023 Since then, tensions have been high in some areas where frequent clashes occurred due to disputes over boundaries (for more, see EPO Weekly: 23-29 September 2023; EPO Weekly: 30 September-6 October 2023).
Konso and Segen Area Peoples Zones Conflict
The Konso and Segen Area Peoples zones conflict emerged over the fallout of the Konso woreda becoming a zone in 2018. It once belonged to the ‘Segen Area Peoples zone’ which consisted of Amaro, Burji, Derashe, Konso, and Ale woredas. In this zone, eight ethnic groups including the Ale, Burji, Dirasha, Konso (also known as Xonsita), Kore, Kusumie, Mashole and Moseye live together with other ethnic groups (like Oromo, Wolayta, Amhara, Gurage). For more on this conflict see EPO’s Konso and Segen Area Peoples Zones Conflict profile page.
