Ethiopian Government Faces Regional Referendum Deadline

In Ethiopia pressure is mounting among the Sidama people in support of plans to declare their own region. The group is currently part of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region, one of nine semi-autonomous regions in the country.

Sidama leaders have announced plans to unilaterally declare the breakaway status of the Sidama zone, which is around 10,000 square kilometres in size and home to around three million.

While the constitution provides for new entities to be formed, these must follow a referendum demonstrating majority support for the move. Leaders requested a referendum on the move last year and government has until today, Thursday, to respond to the request. 

If the request for a referendum is approved there is concern that it could trigger unrest between ethnic communities in the region, and set an unwelcome precedent for the country. However, if it is denied protests and violence could follow.