Governorates of Italian East Africa

The Italian colony of Italian East Africa (Italian: Africa Orientale Italiana) was composed of six governorates which made up the first level of country subdivisions for the colony.

The six AOI governorates: Eritrea, Amara, Harar, Galla-Sidamo, Scioa and Somalia

Map showing Italian East Africa, with the borders of the governorates. (Note the smaller Addis Abeba Governorate before it became the Scioa Governorate)

The governorates of Amhara, Galla-Sidamo, Harar and Scioa constituted the "Italian Empire of Ethiopia", which covered about half of the previous Ethiopian Empire. The Eritrea and Somalia Governorates were formed from the previously separate colonies of Italian Eritrea and Somaliland, enlarged with the remainder of Ethiopian territory.[1]

The governorates were divided into governor commissariats, governed by a governor commissioner assisted by a vice commissioner. The commissariats were divided into residences, sometimes divided into vice residences. The governor commissioners were usually also the owners of the residence with headquarters in the commissariats capital.

As a rule, the headquarters of the commissariats were provided with primary schools, post offices and telegraphs, infirmaries with a doctor, and runways for airplanes. The residences were equipped with a post office, telegraph and infirmary with a doctor.