The Wollo People’s Democratic Party (WPDP), recognized by the National Elections Board of Ethiopia (NEBE), has once again raised the issue of independence for the Wollo sub-region to the House of Federation. This marks the second time the party has pursued this claim, the first being last year, when it faced significant backlash for its stance against separatism and its denunciation of the Amhara Fano armed struggle as illegal and unrepresentative of Wollo which they attempted to justify as not being a move to “weaken the Amhara region”.
The party, under the leadership of President Netsanet Tasew, has consistently distanced itself from any form of armed struggle. Tasew has repeatedly labeled the Amhara Fano armed struggle as a public enemy of the Wollo people, reinforcing the party’s commitment to peaceful political processes. In an interview before, he stated, “(Our party) is not established for voting campaigns. Our party is established with an objective to solve the problems of Wollo people (are facing).”
The party doesn’t have a single candidate for next year’s election in Wollo constituencies or any other Amhara constituencies. This report aligns with the party’s claim strategy of advocating for Wollo’s autonomy rather than engaging in conventional political competition but critics argue this would make the claim difficult to prove that it carries a genuine sense of independency is backed by the people of wollo and state could be “just another party making a move for political gain rather than true representation of the people which must be achieved through elections”
The House of Federation is anticipated to reject WPDP’s independence claim and not transfer the case to the National Elections Board of Ethiopia for a referendum. If the referendum proceeds, it would be the ninth such vote held under the board’s supervision. The most recent referendum resulted in an overwhelming 95%+ success rate hence the formation of Ethiopia’s newest administrative region, the South Ethiopia Region, which was created from six zones and five special weredas of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ Region (SNNP).
WPDP’s push for independence raises critical questions about Ethiopia’s federal structure and the growing trend of regional autonomy movements. While the party insists its efforts are not aimed at weakening the Amhara region, its stance against the Amhara Fano armed struggle has fueled tensions. If the referendum is approved, it could set a precedent for other regions seeking greater autonomy.
The coming months will be crucial in determining whether WPDP’s independence bid gains traction or faces further political resistance. The National Elections Board of Ethiopia will play a decisive role in shaping the future of Wollo’s political status.
