Regions of Ethiopia explained

Regional states and chartered cities of Ethiopia
Category:Federation
Territory:Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Start Date:1992
Current Number:13 regions, 2 chartered cities
Number Date:2023
Government:Region government
Subdivision:2nd level: Zones
3rd level: Woreda (district)

Ethiopia is a federation subdivided into ethno-linguistically based regional states (Amharic: plural: ክልሎች kililoch; singular: ክልል kilil; Oromo: singular: Naannoo; plural: Naannolee) and chartered cities (Amharic: plural: አስተዳደር አካባቢዎች astedader akababiwoch; singular: አስተዳደር አካባቢ astedader akabibi). This system of administrative regions replaced the provinces of Ethiopia in 1992.

As of August 2023, there are twelve regional states and two chartered cities (Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa). Being based on ethnicity and language, rather than physical geography or history, the regions vary enormously in area and population; the most notable example is the Harari Region, which has a smaller area and population than either of the chartered cities.

The word "kilil" more specifically means "reservation" or "protected area".[1] The ethnic basis of the regions and choice of the word "kilil", which can also be translated as homeland, has drawn fierce criticism from those in opposition to the ruling party who have drawn comparisons to the bantustans of apartheid South Africa.[2]

Governance

The regions are each governed by a regional council whose members are directly elected to represent woredas (districts). Each council has a president, who is elected by the council. Each region also has an executive committee, whose members are selected by the president from among the councilors and approved by the council. Each region has a sector bureau, which implements the council mandate and reports to the executive committee.[3]

History

Ethiopia was historically divided into provinces. The current system of administrative regions was introduced in 1992 by the Transitional Government of Ethiopia, and was formalised in 1995 when the current Constitution of Ethiopia came into force.[4]

There were 13 regions initially, but five regions were merged to form the multi-ethnic Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region later in 1992, following the first elections of regional councils on 21 June 1992.[5] The country's capital Addis Ababa, and Dire Dawa became chartered cities in 2004.

New regions

During the premiership of Abiy Ahmed, several new regions have been created.

In November 2019, a referendum was held in the Sidama Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, in which voters supported a proposal for Sidama Zone to become a region in its own right.[6] The Sidama Region was created in June 2020.[7]

The South West Ethiopia Region was created on 23 November 2021 following a successful referendum earlier that year. The new region was split off from the SNNPR and consisted of Keffa, Sheka, Bench Sheko, Dawro, and West Omo Zones, along with Konta special district.[8]

On 19 August 2023 the South Ethiopia Regional State created following the 2023 South Ethiopia Region referendum with the remainder becoming the Central Ethiopia Regional State, thus dissolving the SNNPR.[9]

List of regions and chartered cities

The twelve regions and two city administrations! Flag! Name! Population (2024)[10] ! Area (km2)[11] ! Capital! Map
Addis Ababa (city)5,704,000527Addis Ababa
Afar Region3,350,000 72,051Semera
Amhara Region32,456,300154,709Bahir Dar
Benishangul-Gumuz Region1,251,00050,699Asosa
Central Ethiopia Regional Stateunknown[12] Hosaina
Dire Dawa (city)551,0001,559Dire Dawa
Gambela Region525,00029,783Gambela
Harari Region283,000334Harar
Oromia Region40,884,000284,538Addis Ababa[13]
Sidama Region5,301,86812,000Hawassa
Somali Region6,657,000279,525[14] Jijiga
South Ethiopia Regional State7,584,741[15] 45,209.26Wolaita Sodo
South West Ethiopia Peoples' Region4,197,16439,400Bonga
Tigray Region6,838,00050,079Mek'ele

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: ክልል . AmharicDictionary.com . SelamSoft . 10 May 2021.
  2. Web site: 'They knew I would rather die than give up the fight': Interview with Taye Woldesmiate (Ethiopia) . Luc . Demaret . 29 October 2002 . International Labour Organization . https://web.archive.org/web/20080725194233/http://www.ilo.org/public/english/dialogue/actrav/new/291002.htm . 25 July 2008 . 15 July 2012 . 'Since 1993, the education system has been substantially decentralised, with responsibility passing to the provincial authorities.' ... as Taye Woldesmiate went on to point out, the government 'decided to use education policy to promote its own political agenda, meaning its ethnic policy to divide the country'. At the time, teachers denounced this shift. 'The regime created apartheid-type Bantustan states called "killils", or homelands. Citizens are confined within their "killils" never to seek education or jobs outside their homeland', they said..
  3. Book: Yilmaz . Serdar . Venugopal . Varsha . Local Government Discretion and Accountability in Ethiopia . 22 June 2013 . Working Paper 08-38 . 2008 . International Studies Program, Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, Georgia State University . 4–5 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131020032307/http://aysps.gsu.edu/isp/files/ispwp0838.pdf . 20 October 2013 . dead . dmy-all .
  4. Ethnic Identity Politics and the Restructuring of Administrative Units in Ethiopia. Mulatu Wubneh. 2017. International Journal of Ethiopian Studies. 11. 1 & 2. 105–138. 26586251. JSTOR.
  5. Lyons . Terrence . 1996 . Closing the Transition: The May 1995 Elections in Ethiopia . 161741 . Journal of Modern African Studies . 34 . 1 . 135 . 10.1017/S0022278X00055233 . 155079488 .
  6. Web site: The Sidama have voted for their own state. So what next?. 4 December 2019.
  7. News: Sidama embarks on statehood . Brook . Abdu . 20 June 2020 . . 22 November 2020.
  8. News: . 23 November 2021 . South West Ethiopia Peoples Region Officially Established . MSN Africa . Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) . Addis Ababa . 28 November 2021.
  9. Web site: Ethiopia's two new regional states formed : Central Ethiopia, South Ethiopia. August 20, 2023.
  10. Web site: August 2023 . Population Size by Sex Zone and Wereda July 2023 . 19 August 2023 . Ethiopian Statistical Service.
  11. Web site: 2011 National Statistics . . 2014-12-10 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150923211414/http://www.csa.gov.et/images/documents/pdf_files/nationalstatisticsabstract/2011/2011%20population.pdf . 2015-09-23 . dead .
  12. Population and Housing census atlas of Ethiopia 2007 . Research Institute . International Food Policy . Research Institute . Ethiopian Development . 2008 . International Food Policy Research Institute . Washington, DC.
  13. Web site: Oromia Regional State. 2020. Ethiopian Government Portal. 6 May 2020. 28 July 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170728185707/http://www.ethiopia.gov.et/oromia-regional-state. dead.
  14. Estimate from Book: Britannica Book of the Year . 2014 . Encyclopaedia Britannica, Inc. . 594 . 978-1-62513-171-3 . Google Books .
  15. Web site: Population Size by Sex, Region, Zone and Wereda: July 2023. Ethiopian Statistical Service.