The Sidama People Press ahead with their Demand for Regional Self Administration.
Press Release By United Sidama Parties for Freedom and Justice (USPFJ), June 30, 2012 After overthrowing the military regime on May 28, 1991, EPRDF adopted Proclamation No.7/1992 (http://www.forumfed.org/pubs/occasional_papers/OCP5.pdf) ‘[page6]’ that sought to devolve state power to territorially based ethno-linguistic groups with the aim of “ensuring” the right of nations, nationalities and peoples to self-determination and “ensure” the preservation of their language, culture and histories. The Proclamation established fourteen national/regional self-governments and identified the ethnic communities inhabiting each of the regions, with the exception of that of the capital city, Addis Ababa. The five of the fourteen national/regional self-governments included regions 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 comprising about 56 nations and nationalities that inhabit Southern Ethiopia today. The legislation vested these national/regional self-governments with legislative, executive and judicial pow