ADDIS ABABA ( Halbeeg News) – Ethiopia authorities have postponed a referendum on self-determination for ethnic Sidama community on Tuesday.
The new date set for the vote is November 20th instead of 13th same month.
The delay is attributed to referendum preparations lagging behind, official news agency Fana reported.
If exercise goes ahead, Sidama will be Ethiopia’s 10th autonomous region.
Political activists from the Sidama, currently subsumed into one of the nine states, wanted to unilaterally declare a new regional state in July.
The electoral board said it would deploy close to 1,700 polling stations and 8,500 election officials for the referendum.
At least eight other ethnic groups in Ethiopia, a country of 105 million people, are also seeking autonomy.
Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed Ali was awarded Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for his efforts to end violence and create environment of peace and reforms mainly with neighbouring state of Eritrea.
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