Ethiopia's National Electoral Council (NEC) has announced that 98.51% of voters will vote for the secession of Sidama in a referendum held last Wednesday.

Thus, the nationality of Cidama is able to secede from the southern region and manage its own affairs by self-government, according to the federal system in force in Ethiopia for three decades.

Ethiopia's human rights commissioner said he had visited more than 100 polling stations in five cities and 15 towns in the countryside, explaining that the ballot was peaceful and no major irregularities were reported.

Under the new situation, Cidama will have control over local taxes, education, security and legislation in certain areas.

"We have struggled a lot for this moment. We will live in peace with everyone," says one citizen.

"The people of Sidama have started a new life and I will not lack anyone. The new territory is not only for Sidama but for all nationalities, and we are all partners," he said.

But the journey of separation is far from over. There are still outstanding issues, such as the subordination of the city of Awasa, the capital of the southern province, the capital of Sidama, as well as the demarcation of the territory.

These issues should be resolved before the next general elections in Ethiopia next May. Sidama's secession opens the appetite of other nationalities to go in the same direction, especially as there are 10 requests for a similar referendum and the formation of special regions.

The national home of Sidama will be built on land in the "Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples" region, Ethiopia's most ethnically divided region bordering Kenya and South Sudan.

Hawassa, 275 km south of Addis Ababa, will be the new capital of the new autonomous region.

A senior police official in Hawassa said the celebrations were banned on Saturday, but celebrations would be held when the final result was announced.

Fears and changes
Members of other ethnic groups living in the city expressed fear of discrimination and marginalization under the new situation

"I am afraid that the Cedamas will come and harm us, they will take all the jobs, and even if I make a complaint, nobody will listen to it because the complaint is filed with one of them," Zion said.

Ethiopia has been undergoing rapid changes since the appointment of Abe Ahmed as prime minister last year, vowing that Ethiopian society will be more open.

But greater freedoms have also fueled long-suppressed ethnic tensions, and have made powerful figures in the provinces dare to demand rights for their inhabitants.

Ethnic violence has forced more than 2 million people from their homes, according to the United Nations and monitoring groups, and killed hundreds last year.