ADDIS ABABA – The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) has said it is making a preliminary preparation to conduct referendum on ethnic Sidama’s demand for statehood within the coming five months, Fana Broadcasting Corporate reported.
In a statement issued yesterday, the Board said the referendum will be carried out within the time frame granted by Ethiopia’s Constitution article 47/3/b/, which calls for a referendum within one year after a demand is received.
The National Electoral Board of Ethiopia received Sidama zone administration council’s demand through the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ (SNNP) regional state on November, 20, 2019.
The Board is currently preparing code of conduct, recruiting and training independent election executives, organizing security arrangement, holding discussion with stakeholders and preparing documents, amongst others, to carry out the referendum in the next five months, the statement indicated.
The Ethiopian Herald, July 18/2011
