The new South-West Regional State will officially kick off its inaugural government on November 8, according to AG source. 

Voters in six regions of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People’s Region (SNNPR) held a referendum on September 30 and approved the proposal with over 96 percent voting in favor of a smaller multiethnic state. The new state is expected to reduce government waste, corruption, promote new economic hubs and bring central government closer to the people. The alternative concept of breaking all 45 SNNPR ethnic communities into separate regional states was opposed by local elders and leaders who preferred to avoid the unending ethnic boundary conflicts witnessed growing in other parts of Ethiopia since the 1990s. 

However, the formation of new government and selection of new capital city is expected to trigged controversy. Each ethnic community nominated its own urban centers to become the capital of South-West. Recently, Mizan Tefere of the Bench Maji and Bonga of Keffa were promoted, contradicting the interests of  Konta and Dawro people. To find a compromise, leaders of the different ethnic communities are proposing to establish several & revolving administrative capitals as well as multiple economic centers. 

Since Amharic was already the official language in the SNNPR, its use had grown exponentially in recent years. However, in addition to Amharic, other indigenous languages will be utilized by the new South-West state depending on local needs, to promote a multilingual and multicultural society.