Ethiopia: The Question of Identity
... there are some paradoxes, which are still difficult to explain. For example, the Harari, whose total population, according to the 1994 census result, is 131,139, are allowed to establish their own regional state. The state has no administrative zones or weredas and even the total numbers of kebeles of the city are 19 while the rural part of the state has 17 farmers associations. However, in contrast, the Sidama whose population is more than three million were given a zonal status within the Southern region. Whenever one thinks of the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) a couple of things pops to mind. One is the controversial Article 39 where nations and nationalities were given the right to self determination up to secession. That was enshrined on the country's supreme legal document 19 years ago. Almost as memorable as the article itself is the display of extreme jubilation by one elderly member of the Constituent Assembly. The joy and exc