Regions of Ethiopia

Since 1995, Ethiopia is constitutionally formed by a federation of nine ethnically-based regional states (plural: kililoch; singular: kilil) and two chartered cities (plural: astedader akababiwach; singular: astedader akabibi). These administrative regions replaced the older system of provinces. The word "kilil" more specifically means "reservation" or "protected area". The ethnic basis of the regions and choice of the word "kilil" has drawn fierce criticism from those in opposition to the ruling party who have drawn comparisons to the bantustans of apartheid South Africa.

The two chartered cities are Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa. Harari, though very small, is a regional state.

Regions are governed by a regional council whose members are directly elected to represent districts (woreda). Each council has a president, who is elected by the council. The regions also have an executive committee, whose members are selected by the president from among the councilors and approved by the council. Each region has a sector bureau, which implements the council mandate and reports to the executive committee.