The Southern Nations, Nationalities and People’s Region (SNNPR) is the home of 40 ethnic groups. Hawassa is the capital city of the Southern Nations.
Domestic tourists from Addis Ababa used to frequent the lake side city over the weekends. Now that is not the case considering that it was under the state of emergency following July violence.
The Irish Times reported that Non-Sidama people were killed by stoning as well as burning. The media outlet reports that at least 60 people were left dead.
Non-Sidama fear that they will be marginalized and hence that may force them to leave the region. This is more likely to happen if Sidamic language is adopted as the official language and Sidama becomes the regional capital city.
In recent times, gangs have been reported to have attacked churches and even burnt some into ashes with the priests in them. This happened despite Ethiopia being the most religious county in the region.
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