From Hararghe to Jimma, from Borana to Wollega, Oromia’s historic restructuring has redrawn the administrative landscape. Here is who leads each cluster — and which zones fall under their command

FINFINNE — Oromia has redrawn its map. In one of the most consequential administrative reforms in the region’s modern history, Ethiopia’s largest regional state has collapsed its 21 zonal administrations into six powerful clusters, each led by a chief holding the rank of deputy president.

The reform, approved by the Oromia Regional State Council during its first regular session of the seventh term, is designed to consolidate functions, eliminate duplication, and bring government closer to the people. But beyond the policy language lies a simple question every citizen wants answered: Who is in charge, and of what?

Here is the full breakdown of the six clusters, their leaders, and the zones under their authority.

1. East Oromia Cluster — Two Zones

Chief: Obbo Abdurrahman Abdalla

• Hararghe West (West Hararghe)
• Hararghe East (East Hararghe)

This eastern cluster brings together the two Hararghe zones, a region historically defined by trade routes, Islamic scholarship, and the rugged beauty of the Chercher Mountains. Its headquarters sit in the ancient walled city of Harar, with deputy offices in Chiro, Galamso, and Gurawa.

2. Southeast Oromia Cluster — Four Zones

Chief: Obbo Ahimad Haji

• Arsi
• Bale
• Arsi West (West Arsi)
• Bale East (East Bale)

Spanning the Rift Valley and the towering Bale Mountains, this cluster is one of the largest by landmass. It encompasses Ethiopia’s most productive agricultural heartlands, including the wheat fields of Arsi and the coffee and forest zones of Bale. Its administrative center is Robe, with deputy offices in Ginir, Asella, and Shashemene.

3. South Oromia Cluster — Four Zones

Chief: Obbo Ahimad Idris

• Guji
• Guji West (West Guji)
• Borana
• Borana East (East Borana)

This southern cluster stretches toward the Kenyan border and is home to Ethiopia’s most iconic pastoralist cultures. The Borana people, renowned for their gadaa system of governance — a UNESCO-recognized intangible cultural heritage — anchor this region. Its hub is Yabelo, with deputies based in Adola, Nageelle Borana, and Bule Hora.

4. West Oromia Cluster — Four Zones

Chief: Obbo Masfin Melaku

• Wollega East (East Wollega)
• Wollega West (West Wollega)
• Qellem Wollega
• Horro Guduru Wollega (Horro Guduru)

Western Oromia is gold country — literally. This cluster is home to some of Ethiopia’s richest mineral deposits, alongside vast coffee forests and fertile farmland. It is also a region that has endured significant security challenges in recent years. Its headquarters is Nekemte, with deputies in Gimbi, Shambu, and Dambi Dollo.

5. Southwest Oromia Cluster — Three Zones

Chief: Dr. Rashad Kamal

• Illu Abba Boor (Iluababor)
• Bunnoo Bedelle (Buno Bedele)
• Jimma

This cluster is the birthplace of Ethiopian coffee. Jimma, its administrative heart, is celebrated worldwide for the Arabica beans that grow in its surrounding forests. The region is also rich in history, home to the ancient Kingdom of Limmu-Ennarea and a center of Oromo scholarship and Islamic learning. Deputy offices are located in Bedele, Limmu Gannat, and Mattu.

6. Central Oromia Cluster — Four Zones

Chief: Dr. Mengistu Bekele

• Shewa East (East Shewa)
• Shewa North (North Shewa)
• Shewa Southwest (S.W. Shewa)
• Shewa West (West Shewa)

Encircling the capital, Addis Ababa, Central Oromia is the political and economic engine of the region. It includes Adama, one of Ethiopia’s largest industrial cities; Ambo, a university town known for its mineral springs; and the fertile plains of North Shewa. Its leadership is shared between Shaggar and Adama, with deputies in Waliso, Fitche, and Ambo.

A Reform Built on Coordination

Under the new structure, each cluster chief holds the rank of deputy president — a designation that signals their weight in the regional hierarchy. Alongside each chief sit two deputies: one for development, one for peace and justice. Senior advisors complete the leadership team, mirroring the executive architecture of the regional government itself.

Officials say the consolidation addresses a long-standing problem: Oromia, at over 350,000 square kilometers and more than 27 million people, was simply too vast to be governed effectively through 21 separate zones. By grouping related zones under unified cluster leadership, the government hopes to improve coordination, reduce bureaucratic overlap, and make services more accessible.

What Comes Next

The appointments are made. The headquarters are set. The structures are operational. What remains to be seen is whether the new architecture delivers on its promise — or whether it simply adds another layer of administration between the people and their government.

For now, Oromia has chosen consolidation over fragmentation. It has bet that six strong clusters will serve its people better than twenty-one scattered zones. And it has placed its trust in a new generation of leaders to make that bet pay off.

The map has changed. The work has just begun.

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