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Federal government cuts ties with new Tigray administrator
The Federation Chamber unanimously approved Tuesday the request of five zonal administrations and a special Woreda (district) of the Region of Nations, Nationalities and Peoples of the South (SNNPR) to hold a referendum to form a new regional state.
The Kaffa, Sheka, Bench Sheko, Dawuro and West Omo areas, as well as the Konta special woreda, will establish local entities of the new regional state which has the proposed name of ‘Southwest Ethiopia Regional State of Nations’, it was said.
The ‘go-ahead’ for the referendum towards the establishment of the regional state has come amid several questions about the regional state status of the current SNNPR.
Zonal administrations and special woredas have requested a new regional status, as they share a similar language, culture, history, and geographic landscape. The decision was announced during Tuesday’s first ordinary session of the HoF held in its conference room.
During the session, the chamber thoroughly debated the established agenda before the members unanimously approved the proposal to hold a referendum. The Ethiopian National Electoral Board (NEBE) is expected to draw up a schedule to hold the referendum on proposed regional statehood for the five local entities.
So far, around 13 zonal administrations in the SNNPR have submitted their request for the regional council to form their own regional states, according to information obtained from the HoF.
In addition to Sidama, which has already become a regional state following a 2019 referendum, 12 other zones in the SNNPR requested a referendum on regional statehood.
Some of the zones that were allowed to join and form a regional state were among those that submitted an application. The 12 zones they are applying for are: Kaffa, Gurage, Bench-Maji, Hadiya, Dawuro, Wolayta, Gamo, Kembatta Tembaro, Silte, South Omo, Gofa and Gedeo.
At the same session, the chamber also approved a rare decision ordering the federal government to suspend all relations with the Tigray Regional State news administration, which has been accused by the former of holding illegal regional elections against the constitutional order.
The decision was made following a resolution passed by the HoF in September 2020, declaring the regional elections in Tigray null and void.
The Standing Committee on Constitutional and Identity Issues, which had the mandate to follow the execution of the decision, reported the negative response from the regional state.
Subsequently, the HoF approved a three-point decision, which implies: suspension of any form of relationship with the Tigray regional council and the higher executive bodies formed after the illegal elections held in the region; maintain working relationships with the legal structure, including the city / town and kebele administrations that focus on the development and provision of basic services for the people of Tigray; and the follow-up of the decision will be carried out by the President of the HoF and the corresponding permanent committee.
