2023 South Ethiopia Region referendum

The Constitution of Ethiopia grants every ethnic group the right to have their own region in Ethiopia. The Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNP) previously contained 56 ethnic groups. The ascension of prime minister Abiy Ahmed in 2018, along with his promises for reforms, reignited demands for autonomy by some ethnic groups in SNNP.[5][6] The 2019 Sidama Region referendum saw the Sidama Region split off from the SNNP. A similar referendum in 2021 saw 5 zones and 1 special woreda leave the SNNP and form the new South West Region.[7]

At the end of July 2022, 10 zones and 6 special woredas in SNNP passed resolutions aiming to split off two new states from what remained of the SNNP. These resolutions were greeted positively by the SNNP government.[8] (There were reports that the Gurage Zone was also involved, however it wished to continue with a proposal it had submitted on 26 November 2018 to become its own region.[9])

The Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (in purple) prior to the 2023 referendum, note the territory that split off following the 2019 Sidama Region referendum and the 2021 South West Region referendum (in pink and lighter purple)

On 5 August, the SNNP Council submitted the requests to the House of Federation. The Speaker of the House of Federation noted that the House would come to a quick decision,[10] and tasked the National Election Board of Ethiopia with looking into carrying out the referendums.[11] Official approval of the referendum by the House of Federation for the proposal given by from 6 zones and 5 special woredas occurred on 18 August. Specifically, this was for the Wolayita, Gamo, Gofa, South Omo, Gedeo, and Konso Zones, as well as the Dirashe, Amaro, Burji, Ale, and Basketo special woredas. (The simultaneous request, from the Hadiya, Halaba, Kembata Tembaro, and Silte Zones, and the Yem Special Woreda request has not yet been acted upon.)[12] The House of Federation requested the referendum, for a new South Ethiopia Region, be held within three months.[13]

In September the National Election Board submitted a budget request to the House of Peoples' Representatives.[11]

On 10 October the National Election Board announced that a referendum would be held in parts of Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region on 6 February, targeting results to be released on 15 February.[7] Campaigning began on 17 October, and voter registration ran for two weeks beginning on 20 December.[14] By 9 January, 2,934,143 voters had registered, and registration for 24 polling stations was extended.[15]

The National Election Board expected to hire 18,885 people, and requested 541,270,104.82 birr to carry out the referendum.[7] 410.1 million birr was given.[16] 5,200 election observers from Ethiopia and elsewhere were expected.[15]

3,771 polling stations were set up, divided into 31 groups.[17] These are expected to see around 3 million voters.[16] Each polling station is expected to release its results over the five days following the referendum.[14] To assist those with reading difficulties, each option on the referendum was also represented by an easily identifiable symbol: a white dove for a vote in favor of a new region, and a hut for a vote against.

Full results were initially expected on 15 February,[7][18] and partial results were released on 18 February.[19] The National Election Board announced on 20 February that a majority had voted to secede, although the official results from the Wolayita Zone were still pending as the board stated a variety of irregularities occurred before and during the vote. These irregularities are possibly due to a longstanding campaign for Wolayita to become a region on its own. Of the areas with approved results, the largest opposition came from the Gedeo zone.[20] The referendum in the Wolayita Zone was reran on 19 June,[21][22] and its results were released eight days later.[23]

• National Election Board of Ethiopia Referendums page