New State in Southern Ethiopia?

 The Rift Valley Institute published in March 2023 a paper titled "Referendum in Ethiopia's Southern Region" by Chalachew Tadesse.

Six zones and 5 special woredas in Ethiopia's Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Regional State (SNNPR) held a referendum to determine whether they will form a separate autonomous state or remain within the SNNPR.  The National Electoral Board declared all but one (Wolayta Zone) of the areas voted overwhelmingly in favor of separate statehood.  

Control of Economic Resources in Ethiopia

 Ethiopia Insight published on 22 September 2021 a commentary titled "Playing for Keeps: The Struggle for Political Finance in Ethiopia's Transition" by Guido Lanfranchi and Jos Meester, both researchers at Clingendael's Horn of Africa program.

The commentary analyzes the struggle for control in Oromia and Tigray Region over key economic resources used to finance political activity: state or party-owned businesses and independent regional budgets.  

More Ideas on Restructuring Ethiopian Political System

 Ethiopia Insights posted on 30 December 2020 a commentary titled "Reforming Ethiopian Ethnofederalism" by Befekadu Hailu, Center for Advancement of Rights and Democracy in Ethiopia.

The author argues it is time to start a conversation on how to restructure the Ethiopian federation to create more inclusiveness and liberty rather than locking ethnic groups into geographical boundaries and so fostering antagonistic, exclusionary relationships.

Tigray Region and Lessons from Failed Ethio-Eritrean Federation

Ethiopia Insight posted on 25 June 2020 a commentary titled "Abiy Ahmed Must Draw Lessons from the Failed Ethio-Eritrean Federation" by Bizuneh Getachew Yimenu, University of Kent. 

The author argues that in dealing with the TPLF and Tigray Region today, the Ethiopian central government needs to revisit the lessons learned from the failed Ethio-Eritrean federation of 1962.

Ethiopia: Understanding Medemer

The U.S. Institute of Peace conducted a podcast of almost two hours on 13 February 2020 titled "A Changing Ethiopia: Understanding Medemer." The panelists were Fitsum Arega Gebrekidan, Ethiopian ambassador to the U.S., Lencho Bati and Mamo Mihretu, both in the prime minister's office in Addis Ababa, and Etana Dinka, Oberlin College. USIP's Aly Verjee moderated the session.

The panelists covered a wide range of issues but focused on medemer, an Amharic concept which means coming together or national mobilization.

Ethiopia's Political Transition

The International Crisis Group (ICG) published on 16 December 2019 a report titled "Keeping Ethiopia's Transition on the Rails."

The ICG concluded that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed should move cautiously in implementing reforms, step up efforts to reduce tensions among Oromo factions and between Amhara and Tigray regional leaders, and, if necessary, consider delaying next year's parliamentary election.

Ethiopia: When Is a Coup a Coup and Other Issues

Ethiopia Insight published on 11 July 2019 a piece titled "Gloves Are Off" by Negash Haile.

This is a selected translation of remarks by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed responding to questions in Parliament on 1 July. He covers a variety of issues, including the recent coup d'etat attempt, ethnic federalism, Benishangul-Gumuz Region, Somali Region, Sudan and Egypt.

Ethiopia: Sidama Insisting on Statehood

The International Crisis Group (ICG) published on 4 July 2019 an analysis titled "Time for Ethiopia to Bargain with Sidama over Statehood."

The Sidama people in southern Ethiopia have threatened to unilaterally declare their own regional state within Ethiopia's federation on 18 July 2019. Each of Ethiopia's ethnic groups is constitutionally entitled to a vote on forming a new state if its governing council requests one. The poll is supposed to take place within a year of the request, which in Sidama's case came on 18 July 2018. ICG recommends that the central government offer Sidama leaders a referendum date at the earliest feasible opportunity.

Ethiopia: Preventing the Pot from Boiling Over

Ethiopia Insight posted on 12 February 2019 an analysis titled "Ethiopia Uncorked" by Leake Tewele, reporter in Addis Ababa, and Kulle Kursha, Hawassa University.

Regional and ethnic conflict has displaced more than 1 million Ethiopians since 2017 and there are almost 3 million IDPs in the country. This situation poses a serious challenge to the Abiy Ahmed government.

Ethiopia and Internally Displaced Persons

Refugees International published in November 2018 a report titled "The Crisis Below the Headlines: Conflict Displacement in Ethiopia" by Mark Yarnell.

The author looks at the situation concerning internally displaced persons along the internal border of Oromia and the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNPR) and makes recommendations for addressing the crisis.

Ethiopia May Have 10th Federal State

Ethiopia Insight posted on 3 November 2018 an article titled "Sidama Take Another Step Towards Statehood" by Ermias Tesfaye.

The Council of Southern Nations in Ethiopia has agreed to Sidama Zone's request to become the tenth federal state in the country.

Solving Internally Displaced Person Challenge in Ethiopia

African Arguments posted on 24 October 2018 a commentary titled "Ethiopia: Abiy's Misstep on IDPs and How He Can Fix It" by Mark Yarnell, Refugees International.

There are now about 1.4 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Ethiopia. The author argues that the Ethiopian government is making a mistake by urging the quick return of IDPs to their original homes. The solution, Yarnell says, is for the government to stop the premature return of IDPs, to establish a clear policy for their voluntary return, and to work closely with relief organizations.