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.
The Southern Nations,Nationalities,and Peoples' Region was a regional state in southwestern Ethiopia. It was formed from the merger of five kililoch,called Regions 7 to 11,following the regional council elections on 21 June 1992. Its government was based in Hawassa.
Sodo or officially Wolaita Sodo is a city in south Ethiopia. The City is a political and administrative center of the Wolaita Zone and South Ethiopia Regional State. It has a latitude and longitude of 6°54′N37°45′E with an elevation between 1,600 and 2,100 metres above sea level. It was part of the former Sodo woreda which included Sodo Zuria which completely surrounds it.
The Sidama Region is a regional state in southern Ethiopia. It was formed on 18 June 2020 from the Southern Nations,Nationalities,and Peoples' Region (SNNPR) and transformation of the Sidama Zone after a 98.52% vote in favour of increased autonomy in the 2019 Sidama referendum. It is the second smallest regional state in the country,after Harari. Sidama is the name of both the Sidama people and Sidama territory. Sidama is bordered to the south by the Oromia Region (except for a short stretch in the middle where it shares a border with Gedeo zone,in South Ethiopia Regional State,on the west by the Bilate River,which separates it from Wolayita Zone,and on the north and east by the Oromia Region. Towns in Sidama include Hawassa,the capital of Sidama and of SNNPR when it existed,Yirgalem,Wondogenet,Chuko,Hula,Bona,Bursa,Bensa,and Aleta Wendo. Sidama has a population of around 3.2 million in 2017 who speak the Cushitic language Sidama.
North Omo Zone was a zone in the Southern Nations,Nationalities,and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. It was named after the Omo River,which flows in the western area of the former zone. In 2000 it was split into three zones:Dawro,Gamo Gofa,and Wolayita;and Basketo and Konta became special woredas.
Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe is an Ethiopian politician who served as prime minister of Ethiopia from 2012 to 2018. He also previously served as deputy prime minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs under Prime Minister Meles Zenawi from 2010 to 2012. After Meles' death in August 2012,Hailemariam succeeded him as prime minister,initially in an acting capacity. He was then elected as the chair of the EPRDF,the ruling party,on 15 September 2012. Hailemariam also served as the chairperson of the African Union from 2013 to 2014.
Tesfaye Gebreab was an Ethiopian-born Eritrean writer and literary publisher. He was best known as a well-renowned Eritrean journalist and editor in the Ethiopian printed press. In Eritrea,however,amongst his fellow Eritrean citizens,he was mainly known for his books and his attachment to the Oromo ethnic group.
Wolayita or Wolaita is an administrative zone in Ethiopia. Wolayita is bordered on the south by Gamo Zone,on the west by the Omo River which separates it from Dawro,on the northwest by Kembata Zone and Tembaro Special Woreda,on the north by Hadiya,on the northeast by the Oromia Region,on the east by the Bilate River which separates it from Sidama Region,and on the south east by the Lake Abaya which separates it from Oromia Region. The administrative centre of Wolayita is Sodo. Other major towns are Areka,Boditi,Tebela,Bale Hawassa,Gesuba,Gununo,Bedessa and Dimtu.
Selam Tesfaye is an Ethiopian film actress. Her roles often placed her as a leading actress in various films. As recipient of multiple awards,notably Gumma Film Awards,she is one of the most popular icon in the Ethiopian film industry.
Solomon Areda Waktolla is an Ethiopian lawyer who had served as the Deputy Chief Justice/Vice President of the Federal Supreme Court of Ethiopia from 2018 to 2023. Solomon is a prominent lawyer with 25 years of experience in the practice of law,public administration and policy research who is committed for seeing a free and independent judiciary in Ethiopia. Justice Waktolla served in the Ethiopian Judiciary mainly as a judge for 20 years on different levels of the court in both regional and federal positions. In addition,he has been appointed to the membership of the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) at The Hague,Netherlands for a six-year term to serve as an Arbitrator. Justice Solomon Waktolla was appointed on 15 November 2022 by the UN General Assembly as a Half-time Judge of the United Nations Dispute Tribunal for a mandate starting on 1 July 2023 and ending on 30 June 2030. In addition,He has been appointed by the Board of Directors of the African Development Bank as a Judge of the Administrative Tribunal of the African Development Bank,effective from November 2023. Justice Waktolla is an accomplished judge and jurist with many years of legal and judicial work experience at both national and international levels.
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.
Bitena is a town in Wolayita Zone,South Ethiopia Regional State,Ethiopia. It is administrative capital of Diguna Fango district of Wolayita Zone,Ethiopia. Bitena is located about 355 km away from Addis Ababa to the south on the path Addis-Hawassa-Dimtu-Sodo and 45 km away from Sodo,the capital of Wolaita Zone. It also specifically located between 22 km West of Dimtu town and 7 km northeast of Kercheche town. Bitena lies between 6°57'52.6"N 38°02'08.7"E.
Bale Hawassa(Wolaytta:Bale Hawaassa) or in short Bale is a city in Wolayita Zone of South Ethiopia Regional State,Ethiopia. The city is one of seven city administrations in Wolaita Zone. It is administrative capital of Kindo Koysha district of Wolayita Zone,Ethiopia. Bale is located about 400 km away from Addis Ababa to the south on the path Addis-Butajira-Sodo and 38 km westward from Sodo,the capital of Wolaita Zone. The city has an average elevation 1500 meter above sea level. Bale Hawassa lies between 6°55'05" North,and 37°31'55" East.
Tebela or (Wolaita:Xabala) is a city in Wolaita Zone South Ethiopia Regional State. Tebela is an administrative capital of Humbo woreda district of Wolayita Zone. Tebela is located about 345 km away from Addis Ababa to the south. And also,Tebela is located 20 km,South from Sodo,the capital of the region and also Wolayita Zone. The coordinate point of the town in map is 6°42′24″N 37°46′10″E. The amenities in the town are;24 hours electricity,pure public water,banks,primary and secondary schools,postal service,telecommunications services health centre,private clinics,drugs store,public market,public road light around high ways,internal and town crossing asphalt roads and others.
Boditi City Football Club is a professional Ethiopian football club based in Boditi. They are a member of the Ethiopian Football Federation and play in the Ethiopian Higher League,the second division of Ethiopian football.
Gacheno is a town in Wolayita Zone,South Ethiopia Regional State,Ethiopia. Gacheno is located about 287 km via B51 away from Addis Ababa to the south and also 31 km away from Sodo to the North,the capital of Wolaita Zone within Damot Gale woreda. The town is located at an elevation of 1,882 meters above sea level. Gacheno lies between 7°03'22" N and 37°55'14"E. The Ethiopian 3rd lady Roman Tesfaye was born and completed her primary school in this town.
Firew Altaye Gebremedhin or ፍሬውአልታዬገብረመድህንwas born on 2 August 1966. He was an Ethiopian politician and second chief administrator of Wolayita Zone,from 2002 to 2004 and he was succeeded by Amanuel Otoro. He served as member of Ethiopian parliament from 2001 to 2002.
Endrias Geta Baldada is an Ethiopian politician serving as State Minister of Ministry of Irrigation and Lowland and Areas. Endrias is from the Wolaita people and he served as chief administrator of Wolayita Zone after SNNPR Prosperity Party ousted Dagato Kumbe from his position in August 2020.
Haileberhan Zena Mamo is an Ethiopian politician who is serving as Deputy chief executive of Federal Housing Corporation since June 2017. Haileberhan is from the Welayta people and he was chief administrator of Wolayita Zone from November 2006 to September 2010.
Asrat Tera Dolebo is an Ethiopian politician serving as Director General of Livestock Development Institute of Ethiopia since October 2018. Asrat is from the Wolaita people and previously served as the chief administrator of Wolayita Zone. He also worked in South Agricultural Research Institute and Areka Agricultural Research Center.
