Sidama is the largest ethnic group in the multiethnic Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region with Hawassa as the capital. Sidama is among the nine ethnic groups moving for region status. The group’s movement has met a few challenges including the schedule for the highly anticipated national referendum. Sidama’s political parties and activists expected the declaration on July 18, 2019. However, the declaration must wait till December 2019 which the group didn’t accept. Their protest met a confrontation with the authorities.
