2021 South West Region referendum

Last updated
Referendum on the creation of a South West region, 2021
30 September 2021

Results
For
98.07%
Against
1.93%

A referendum on the creation of a South West Ethiopia Peoples' Region was held in the Keffa, Sheka, Bench Sheko, Dawro, West Omo Zones, and Konta special district of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNPR) of Ethiopia on 30 September 2021 in conjunction with the 2021 Ethiopian general election. [1] The result was 98% in favor of creating a new region, with turnout of 94%.

Contents

It was held two years after the 2019 Sidama Region referendum, making it the second referendum on the creation of a new regional state held in Ethiopia since Abiy Ahmed became prime minister in 2018. [2]

Results

ChoiceVotes%
Green check.svg For1,221,09298.07
Against24,0241.93
Blank or invalid17,563-
Total1,262,679100
Voter turnout1,344,62293.91
Source: Addis Standard Nebe

Aftermath

On 9 October 2021, the National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) released the results of the referendum. In a turnout of nearly 94%, voters decisively approved the proposed new regional state. [1]

The result meant that South West Ethiopia Peoples' Region became the country's 11th regional state, after it was approved by the House of Federation. It has its own regional council and constitution, enjoying a degree of autonomy enshrined in Ethiopia's constitution. [3]

After being approved on 30 October by the House of Federation, [4] the new South West Ethiopia Peoples' Region was established on 23 November 2021, and Negash Wagesho appointed to lead it. [5] [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Politics of Kyrgyzstan</span>

The politics of Kyrgyzstan, officially known as the Kyrgyz Republic, takes place in the framework of a presidential system representative democratic republic, whereby the President is head of state and the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers is head of government. Executive power is exercised by the government. Legislative power is vested in both the government and parliament. The Economist Intelligence Unit rated Kyrgyzstan an "authoritarian regime" in 2022.

Constitutional conventions in Australia are significant meetings that have debated the Australian Constitution. The first two gatherings debated Federation and what form of Constitution to adopt, while the following conventions debated amendments to the document.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Regions of Ethiopia</span>

Ethiopia is a federation subdivided into ethno-linguistically based regional states and chartered cities. This system of administrative regions replaced the provinces of Ethiopia in 1992.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Referendums related to the European Union</span> List of referendums related to the European Union and its predecessor, the European Communities

This is a list of referendums related to the European Union, or referendums related to the European Communities, which were predecessors of the European Union. Since 1972, a total of 48 referendums have been held by EU member states, candidate states, and their territories, with several additional referendums held in countries outside the EU. The referendums have been held most commonly on the subject of whether to become a member of European Union as part of the accession process, although the EU does not require any candidate country to hold a referendum to approve membership or as part of treaty ratification. Other EU-related referendums have been held on the adoption of the euro and on participation in other EU-related policies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Federation Council (Russia)</span> Upper house of the Federal Assembly of Russia

The Federation Council, unofficially Senate, is the upper house of the Federal Assembly of Russia, the lower house being the State Duma. It was established by the Constitution of the Russian Federation in 1993.

In Australia, referendums are public votes held on important issues where the electorate may approve or reject a certain proposal. In contemporary usage, polls conducted on non-constitutional issues are known as plebiscites, with the term referendum being reserved solely for votes on constitutional changes, which is legally required to make a change to the Constitution of Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in the Czech Republic</span>

All elections in the Czech Republic are based on the principle of universal suffrage. Any adult citizen who is at least 18 years old can vote, except those who have been stripped of their legal capacities by a court, usually on the basis of mental illness. Elected representatives are elected directly by the citizens without any intermediaries. Election laws are not part of the constitution, but – unlike regular laws – they cannot be changed without the consensus of both houses of the Parliament. The Czech Republic uses a two-round plurality voting system for the presidential and Senate elections and an open party-list proportional representation system for all other elections. The proportional representation system uses the Sainte-Laguë method for allocating seats.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elections in Ethiopia</span>

Under the current constitution, Ethiopia conducts local, regional, and federal elections. At the federal level, Ethiopia elects a legislature. The Federal Parliamentary Assembly has two chambers: the House of People's Representatives with not more than 550 members as per the constitution but actually nearly 547 members, elected for five-year terms in single-seat constituencies; and the Council of the Federation with 117 members, one each from the 22 minority nationalities, and one from each professional sector of its remaining nationalities, designated by the regional councils, which may elect them themselves or through popular elections.

A constitutional referendum was held in Serbia on 28 and 29 October 2006, in which voters decided on adopting a new Constitution. The constitution is Serbia's first as an independent state since the Kingdom of Serbia's 1903 constitution. Over 6.6 million people were entitled to vote in the national referendum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2008 Myanmar constitutional referendum</span>

A constitutional referendum was held in Myanmar on 10 May 2008 according to an announcement by the State Peace and Development Council in February 2008. According to the military government, the new Constitution of Myanmar will ensure the creation of a "discipline-flourishing democracy". Multi-party elections followed in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1991 Soviet Union referendum</span> 1991 USSR referendum on the New Union Treaty

A referendum on the future of the Soviet Union was held on 17 March 1991 across the Soviet Union. It was the only national referendum in the history of the Soviet Union, although it was boycotted by authorities in six of the fifteen Soviet republics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1974 Comorian independence referendum</span>

An independence referendum was held in the Comoros on 22 December 1974. The overall result was a strong "yes" vote, with 94.57% of voters voting for independence and almost all the "no" votes being cast in Mayotte, where there was a majority for remaining under French control. In contrast, on Mohéli only five out of 6,059 votes were against independence. Voter turnout was 93.3%.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2012 Syrian constitutional referendum</span>

A constitutional referendum was held in Syria on 26 February 2012. In response to the Syrian Civil War, President Bashar al-Assad ordered a new constitution to be drafted. The referendum was not monitored by foreign observers.

A series of referendums on the proposed constitution of Australia were held between 2 June 1898 and 31 July 1900 in the six colonies that were to become the states of the Commonwealth of Australia. The first four referendums were held in New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria in June 1898. Although all four saw a majority vote in favour, the majority in New South Wales was insufficient. Knowledge of the result in New South Wales led to low voter turnout in South Australia.

A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This article summarises referendum laws and practice in various countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Crimean status referendum</span> Disputed referendum on decision whether to join Russia or remain in Ukraine

The Crimean status referendum of 2014 was a disputed referendum on March 16, 2014, concerning the status of Crimea that was conducted in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and the city of Sevastopol after Russian forces seized control of Crimea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2019 Sidama Region referendum</span> Secessionist referendum in Ethiopia

A referendum on the creation of a Sidama Region was held on regionalisation in the Sidama Zone of Ethiopia on 20 November 2019. The creation of such a region is a long-standing claim of the Sidama people.

Referendums in the Philippines are occasionally held at a national, regional or local level. Referendums can either by national or local in scope. In the Philippines, "referendums" and "plebiscites" mean different things.

Negash Wagesho is an Ethiopian politician who has been serving as President of South West Ethiopia Peoples' Region since December, 2021. Before his assignment as President of the Region, he has served as State Minister for Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Electricity of Ethiopia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2023 South Ethiopia Region referendum</span> Southern Ethiopian autonomy referendum

On 6 February 2023 a referendum was held in the Wolayita, Gamo, Gofa, South Omo, Gedeo, and Konso Zones, as well as the Dirashe, Amaro, Burji, Ale, and Basketo special woredas of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNP) of Ethiopia, on whether the included areas should leave SNNP and form their own Region.

References

  1. 1 2 "News Alert: Ethiopia gets eleventh state with more than 96% approval for South West referendum". Addis Standard. 9 October 2021.
  2. "Vote on breakaway region as Ethiopia faces tests to unity". France 24. 28 September 2021.
  3. "Ethiopians in three regions vote in delayed election". Reuters. 30 September 2021.
  4. "House of Fed Approves Formation of Ethiopia's 11th Regional State – Ethiopian Monitor". 31 October 2021.
  5. "Ethiopia: South West Ethiopia Peoples State Officially Established". 24 November 2021.
  6. "Negash Wagesho Appointed to Lead Newly Formed South West Ethiopia Peoples Region – Ethiopian Monitor". 23 November 2021.