Subdivisions of Ethiopia

The administrative divisions of Ethiopia has changed during the 20th century, several times. They existed in its current, federalist form since 1995. Since 1998 Ethiopia is divided into nine regions and two region independent cities.

The decentralized structure of Ethiopia dates back to the various kingdoms within the former Empire that existed until the Italian occupation in 1936.

Current outline

The current federal structure of Ethiopia was introduced by the ruling coalition EPRDF with the new 1995 Constitution, and the classification described here consists since 1998, you divided the country into nine regions or states or kililoch. ( Singular: Kilil or kəlləl, ክልል ) and two independent cities ( Astedader Akababiwoch; singular: Astedader Akababi ). The regions are further subdivided into 68 zones. The zones are composed of about 550 woredas, or districts, which are further divided into kebeles. In addition there are special woredas, which are not subject zone. In some places, even lower levels of government were introduced below the Kebele; This is according to critics also tend to strengthen the control of the governing coalition EPRDF over the population.

The Constitution guarantees the regions or states broad powers. The regions can provide their own government and adopt their own democratic organization under the Constitution of the Federation. Each region has its own parliament, in which the deputies are directly elected from the districts. Regional parliaments have appropriate legislative and executive powers to regulate the internal affairs of states. Article 39 of the Ethiopian Constitution recognizes at least theoretically, each region the right one, to break away from Ethiopia ( Civil Law).

The regions were divided along ethnic lines, with the larger ethnic groups were each given a separate region. This structure is also referred to as ethnic federalism. It is judged differently within Ethiopia as well as in research on the history and politics of the country: According to their proponents, it ensures the self-determination of the Ethiopian peoples and at the same time prevented a collapse of the country by the independence movements of various ethnic groups. Opponents of ethnic federalism, however, argue that this weakens national unity. The opposition alliance Qinijit, which consists primarily of Amharic parties, this classification therefore rejects. The United Ethiopian Democratic Forces as a second major opposition coalition, which is anchored mainly on the Oromo ethnic group, however, argues for a stronger federalization.

Research support the conclusion that there has been in various fields to a " ethnicization " of politics, and that ethnic relations have changed, for example between the Guji and other Oromo groups and different peoples of the Southern Nations region, nationalities and peoples or between sub-groups of the Oromo and Somali.

The following table gives an overview of the regions and independent cities by name, size, population, population density and major ethnic groups. With regard to square footage and of the calculated population density is to be noted that there are border disputes between some regions. Therefore, there is different information and different representations on maps.

Historical development

→ See also: History of Ethiopia

By 1936, the country was divided into kingdoms, followed by several restructuring in the years 1936, 1963, 1974, 1987 and 1991, until the present structure in 1994.

Kingdoms ( until 1936 )

• Kingdom of Aksum
• Kingdom of Shewa ( Shoa )
• Emirate of Harar
• Sultanate statements
• Kingdom Dawaro
• Kingdom of Garo ( Bosha, founded in 1567 )
• Kingdom of Gera
• Kingdom of Gomma (founded in 1800)
• Kingdom of Gumma
• Kingdom Janjero (founded before 1600 )
• Kingdom of Jimma ( Dschimma )
• Kingdom of Kaffa (founded in 1390 and again in 1700)
• Kingdom Limmu - Ennarea
• Kingdom Wolaytta ( Walayta; founded 1250)

Italian occupation (1936-1941)

During the Italian occupation first fundamental rearrangements were carried out. The occupied by fascist Italy, Ethiopia was part of the colony of Italian East Africa. It Governorate were created with police stations.

• Amhara ( Gondar capital ) (6 Kommissariate )
• Eritrea ( Asmara ) (12 commissioners )
• Galla and Sidamo ( capital Dschimma ) (12 commissioners )
• Harar ( Harar capital ) (7 Kommissariate )
• Scioa ( Shewa, Shoah; capital Addis Ababa ) (1 Commissariat )
• Somalia ( partly, only the commissioners Ogaden and Uebi Gestro ) including Oltre Giuba

1941-1987

After the liberation of the Italian colonial rule the kingdom of Abyssinia was restored and there were 13 provinces created:

• Arsi ( Arusi, Arussi; capital Asela )
• Begemder ( Gondar, capital Gondar )
• Eritrea ( up to 1965 autonomous; capital Asmara )
• Gemu Gofa ( Chenca capital, from 1965 to Arba Minch )
• Gojjam ( Gojjam, Goddscham; Debre Markos capital )
• Harerge ( Hararghe; capital Harar )
• Illubabor ( capital Gore, from 1978 Metu )
• Kaffa ( Kafa, Kefa; capital Jimma )
• Shewa ( Addis Ababa )
• Sidamo ( capital Yirgalem, 1978 Assawa )
• Tigray ( Tigre; capital Mek'ele )
• Wollega ( capital Nekemte )
• Wällo ( Welo, Wollo; capital Dessie / Dese )

After the fall of Emperor Haile Selassie and the seizure of power by the military in 1974, the existing provinces were renamed regions by the Provisional Military Administrative Board Derg. Bale was separated with the capital Goba as a separate region of Harerge. 1981 is also the capital Addis Ababa, Shewa and the Assab region of Eritrea were spun and independent regions.

1987-1991

On 18 September 1987, the military rule was abolished in the Democratic People's Republic of Ethiopia by Act of Parliament and reorganized the regions. The country was divided into 25 regions and five autonomous regions. The establishment of autonomous regions was a reaction to the rebellions and independence movements in various parts of the country.

• Addis Ababa
• Arsi
• Assab (autonomous region )
• Assosa
• Bale
• Borana
• Dire Dawa (autonomous region )
• Eritrea ( autonomous region )
• Gambela
• Illubabor
• Kaffa
• Metekel
• North Gondar
• North Omo
• North Shewa
• North Wällo
• Ogaden (autonomous region )
• East Goddscham
• East Harerge
• East Shewa
• Sidamo
• South Gondar
• South Omo
• South Shewa
• South Wällo
• Tigray (autonomous region )
• West Goddscham
• West Harerge
• West Shewa
• Wollega

1991-1993/95

Under the Transitional Government of Ethiopia, the country was divided into twelve ethnically defined autonomous regions and two cities. The regions were initially numbered before they were given proper names. The name was sometimes controversial, as in the region 5 where the Ogadeni as the largest clan, the term " Ogaden " or " Ogadenia " preferred, the other Somali clans, however, " Somaliland " interspersed.

These regions correspond mainly to today's regions / states. The regions 7-11 were later to the region of the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples, Harar was granted the status of a region with the Aderi as titular. The disputed between Oromo and Somali Dire Dawa became an independent city.

With the independence of Eritrea, the autonomous region of Eritrea and part of the former Autonomous Region of Assab retired in 1993 from the State Association.