Regions of Ethiopia

Regional states and chartered cities of Ethiopia
CategoryFederation
LocationFederal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Created
  • 1992
Number13 regions, 2 chartered cities (as of 2023)
Government
  • Region government
Subdivisions

Ethiopia is a federation subdivided into ethno-linguistically based regional states (Amharic: plural: ክልሎች kililoch; singular: ክልል kilil; Oromo: singular: Naannoo; plural: Naannolee) and chartered cities (Amharic: plural: አስተዳደር አካባቢዎች astedader akababiwoch; singular: አስተዳደር አካባቢ astedader akabibi). This system of administrative regions replaced the provinces of Ethiopia in 1992.[1]

As of August 2023, there are twelve regional states and two chartered cities (Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa). Being based on ethnicity and language, rather than physical geography or history, the regions vary enormously in area and population; the most notable example is the Harari Region, which has a smaller area and population than either of the chartered cities.

The word "kilil" more specifically means "reservation" or "protected area".[2] The ethnic basis of the regions and choice of the word "kilil", which can also be translated as homeland, has drawn fierce criticism from those in opposition to the ruling party who have drawn comparisons to the bantustans of apartheid South Africa.[3]

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference mula was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "ክልል". AmharicDictionary.com. SelamSoft. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  3. ^ Demaret, Luc (29 October 2002). "'They knew I would rather die than give up the fight': Interview with Taye Woldesmiate (Ethiopia)". International Labour Organization. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2012. 'Since 1993, the education system has been substantially decentralised, with responsibility passing to the provincial authorities.' ... as Taye Woldesmiate went on to point out, the government 'decided to use education policy to promote its own political agenda, meaning its ethnic policy to divide the country'. At the time, teachers denounced this shift. 'The regime created apartheid-type Bantustan states called "killils", or homelands. Citizens are confined within their "killils" never to seek education or jobs outside their homeland', they said.