Located approximately 25 kilometres south of Adama and 120 kilometres southeast of Addis Ababa in the East Shewa Zone of the Oromia Region, this town has a latitude and longitude of 8°24′N 39°23′E / 8.400°N 39.383°E / 8.400; 39.383 with an elevation of 1466 metres above sea level.

Sodere lies alongside the Awash River and features lush, shady vegetation.

An Olympic size swimming pool, reportedly empty during the week, is a popular draw for weekenders from Addis Ababa.

The journalist Abdullahi Dool commented that "Any serious Somali who reads the outcome of this last meeting at the Ethiopian resort or the previous ones, would just laugh at the names and clan organizations these people are said to 'represent'.

"[2] Based on figures from the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, Sodere has an estimated total population of 1,867 of whom 992 are men and 875 were women.