The Minister for Information for the Somali region of Ethiopia Idris Ismail has confirmed to the BBC Somali Service that regional President Abdi Mohamud Omar has handed over power and has agreed to step down.

This follows days of tension in the Somali region as the Federal Military were deployed to the region.

It’s believed that he has been pressured by the federal government to step down following protests and fighting between Somali and Oromo communities.

Reports say that more federal troops have been deployed to the regional capital, Jigjiga .