It served as the capital city of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples (SNNP) Region of southern Ethiopia. Federal City Status: Restoring Governance and AccountabilityEstablishing Awassa as a federal city is not just a political decision. Economic and Fiscal Benefits for the NationThe federal government of Ethiopia is recognizing Awassa as a major contributor to federal revenue by granting it federal city status. Furthermore, developing a federal city like Awassa would alleviate some of the pressure caused by this rapid growth within the capital. Making Awassa a federal city would therefore be the most realistic way to reverse this trajectory.

Source: Ethiopian News January 26, 2026 08:59 UTC