Region The first administrative division in Ethiopia is a
region, also called
kilil, or alternatively
regional state. The
1995 Constitution of Ethiopia established the regions based on ethno-linguistic territories. Previously, this
level was called a
province, and though many of the old province and new region names are the same, the entities are
not identical and the words
region and
province are not interchangeable. , there were twelve regions. •
Afar Region •
Amhara Region •
Benishangul-Gumuz •
Central Ethiopia •
Gambela •
Harari •
Oromia •
Sidama •
Somali •
South Ethiopia •
Southwest •
Tigray Additionally there are two independently
chartered cities which are on the same level as a region. •
Addis Ababa •
Dire Dawa Zone Regions are subdivided into
zones. The number of zones varies, but most regions have around six to twelve zones. The largest region Oromia has over 20 zones, and the two smallest regions have none. There are some cities which are set up as "special zones", such as
Bahir Dar Special Zone in the Amhara Region. The earlier equivalent to a zone was called an
awrajja, and many zones today are named the same as their earlier awrajja, but the terms
zone and
awrajja are not interchangeable.
Districts Zones are divided into districts (
woredas). In Ethiopia, the woredas comprise three main organs: a council, an executive and a judicial. The Woreda Council is the highest government organ of the district, which is made up of directly elected representatives from each kebele in the woredas. The representative of the people in each kebele is accountable to their electorate. The woreda chief administration is the district's executive organ that encompasses the district administrator, deputy administrator, and the head of the main sectoral executive offices found in the district, which are ultimately accountable to the district administrator and district council. The quasi-judicial tasks belong to the Security and Justice administration. In addition to woredas, city administrations are considered at the same level as the woredas. A city administration has a mayor whom members of the city council elected. As different regional constitutions govern woredas, the names of the bodies may differ.
Wards Woredas are divided into wards (
kebele), also called mu. This is the smallest administrative division. This is sometimes also called
tabia or
tabiya. They are at the neighbourhood level and are the primary contact for most citizens living in Ethiopia. Their administrative unit consists of an elected council, a cabinet (executive committee), a social court and the development and security staff. Kebeles are accountable to their woreda councils and are typically responsible for providing basic education, primary health care, agriculture, water, and rural roads. ==Historic provinces and awrajjas==