South Ethiopia Regional State

South Ethiopia Regional State
  • Tohossa Toophphiya Dalgga Manttiya (Wolaytta)
  • ደቡብ ኢትዮጵያ ክልላዊ መንግስት (Amharic)
Map of Ethiopia showing the South Ethiopia Regional State
Coordinates: 6°51′10″N 37°45′16″E / 6.85278°N 37.75444°E / 6.85278; 37.75444
Country Ethiopia
Referendum6 February 2023
Formation19 August 2023
CapitalWolaita Sodo[1]
Government
 • Chief AdministratorTilahun Kebede (Prosperity Party)
 • DeputyAbebayehu Tadesse (Dr)
 • Party delegateGebremeskel Chala
Area
 • Total
45,209.26 km2 (17,455.39 sq mi)
Population
 (2025)[3]
 • Total
7,926,798
 • Rank4th
 • Density175.3357/km2 (454.1174/sq mi)
ISO 3166 codeET-SE
WebsiteSouth Ethiopia Regional State Official Website

The South Ethiopia Regional State (Amharic: ደቡብ ኢትዮጵያ ክልላዊ መንግስት, romanizeddebubi ītiyop’iya kililawī menigisiti) is a region in southern Ethiopia.[4] It was formed from the southern part of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region (SNNPR) on 19 August 2023 after a successful referendum.[5]

Wolaita Sodo is the region's political and administrative center. Other regional bureaus were established in Wolaita Sodo, Dilla, Arba Minch, Sawla, Karati and Jinka.[1]

Chief administrator

  • Tilahun Kebede 19 August 2023–present[6]

Administrative Zones

The following list shows founding and newly established zones in South Ethiopia Regional State.

Zones in the South Ethiopia Regional State
Number Zone Seat
1 Wolayita Zone Wolaita Sodo
2 Gamo Zone Arba Minch
3 Gofa Zone Sawla
4 Gedeo Zone Dilla
5 South Omo Zone Dimeka
6 Ari Zone Jinka
7 Konso Zone Karati
8 Gardula Zone Gidole
9 Burji Zone Soyama
10 Koore Zone Kele
11 Basketo Zone Laska
12 Ale Zone Kolango

References

  1. ^ a b "የደቡብ ኢትዮጵያ ክልል ሕገ-መንግስት ጸደቀ". www.fanabc.com.
  2. ^ "2011 National Statistics" (PDF). Central Statistical Agency. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
  3. ^ "Projected Population of Ethiopia 2025". Ethiopian Statistical Service. Retrieved 6 January 2026.
  4. ^ "Ethiopia's two new regional states formed : Central Ethiopia, South Ethiopia". borkena.com.
  5. ^ "Central Ethiopia, Southern Ethiopia Regional States Established". www.ena.et.
  6. ^ "Ethiopia Administrative Divisions". Worldstatesmen.org. Retrieved 17 September 2023.