The Sidama population make up about four percent of the population of Ethiopia Deadly clashes followed when the referendum was postponed in July ADDIS ABABA: Ethiopia’s Nobel Peace Prize-winning prime minister urged calm on Wednesday as millions of citizens hold a referendum on whether to create a new regional state along ethnic lines. The Sidama referendum “is an expression of the democratization path Ethiopia has set out on,” Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said in a statement. The vote could inspire others to seek their own regional states. Abiy’s sweeping political reforms since he took office last year have opened the way for some of the country’s more than 80 ethnic groups to push for more autonomy. Sometimes deadly unrest has followed, and tensions could rise ahead of national elections in May. Observers say this poses Abiy’s greatest challenge. The Sidama population make up about four percent of the population of Ethiopia, Africa’s second most populous country. Deadly clashes followed when the referendum was postponed in July. No official toll was announced. In a statement ahead of the vote, Amnesty International urged authorities to prevent any use of excessive force. “The referendum comes at an especially tense time when violence based on ethnic differences is breaking out all over the country and people are being killed simply for expressing their opinions,” Amnesty’s deputy director for the region, Seif Magango, said.