After political space opened in 2018 and amidst increasing uncertainty about future political opportunities, a host of ethnic groups in Ethiopia’s southern region launched bids for greater political autonomy by requesting to establish their own region or zonal administrative levels. Under constitutional rules made by the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, such bids are legally possible.
Wolayta politicians’ desire to create their own region intensified when the neighboring Sidama people acquired a confirmed date for a referendum to form their own regional state in 2019. On 19 December 2018, Wolayta zone council unanimously voted for a regional state and submitted its decision to the former Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Regional (SNNPR) Council. The SNNPR council did not answer this request for regional statehood by Wolayta officials, and on 17 May 2019, a massive demonstration was held in the capital city, Soddo, and Wolayta zone representatives boycotted the 10-day central committee meeting of the Southern Ethiopian People´s Democratic Movement, which was the ruling party in the region, in July 2019.1Addis Standard, ‘News:Wolaita zone admints boycotting SEPDM CC meeting,’ 18 July 2019 After 26 people, including leaders of the Wolayta zone and the opposition Wolayta People’s Democratic Front, were arrested while they were attending a meeting on Wolayta request to be identified as a region on 10 August 2020, violent demonstrations erupted in Boditi and Gununo towns of Wolayta zone leading to the deaths of 21 people by security forces.2Addis Standard, ‘News: After a daylong lull tension resurfaces in Wolaita, 12 August 2020
After the government decided to establish two cluster regions in July 2022, a referendum was held in Wolayta zone, five other zones, and four special woredas on 6 February 2023.3Ethiopia News Agency, ‘Referendum Conducted in SNNP Wraps Up Peacefully: Peace and Security Bureau,’ 6 February 2023 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 (for more, see EPO Monthly: July 2022). The referendum outcome in Wolayta zone was canceled on 1 March by the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) due to various vote registration and election irregularities.4National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (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 was held on 19 June 2023.5NEBE, ‘A press statement regarding the second referendum that is being held in Wolayita zone,’ 19 June 2023 Though some irregularities were reported during the second round of referendum, NEBE released the final outcome of the vote which the majority decided to establish the 12th region of the country.6NEBE, 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 Electoral Board in six zones (Gamo, Wolayita, Gofa, Gedeo, Konso, and South Omo zones) and in five special woredas (Burji, Amaro, Derashe, Basketo, and Ale) in SNNPR,’ 18 February 2023 The 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 — officially established South Ethiopia region on 19 August 2023.
This conflict profile was last updated on 08/08/2024.