Borena Zone

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For other uses, see Borana.

Borena (or Borana) is one of the 12 zones of the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Borena is named after a tribe of the Oromo people.

Borena is bordered on the south by Kenya, on the west by the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region, on the north by the Ganale Dorya River which separates it from Bale and on the east by the Somali Region. The highest point in this zone is Mount Juldessa. Cities and major towns in this Zone include Moyale, Negele Boran, and Yabelo.

Drought conditions in Borena in 2006 have increased tensions between the Borena and Gudgi clans from 22 May, and spiralled into violence a week later. Clan elders were able to restore peace, but only after 10 days of fighting in which between 100 and 150 people were killed and left thousands displaced.^[1]

The Central Statistical Agency (CSA) reported that 13,533 tons of coffee were produced in this zone in the year ending in 2005, based on inspection records from the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea authority. This represents 11.8% of the Region's output and 6.0% of Ethiopia's total output.^[2]

[edit] Demographics

Based on figures from the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this zone has an estimated total population of 2,019,383, of which 1,025,393 were males and 993,990 were females; 234,391 or 11.6% of its population are urban dwellers. With an estimated area of 95,740.23 square kilometers, Borena has an estimated population density of 21.09 people per square kilometer.^[3]

According to a May 24, 2004 World Bank memorandum, 4% of the inhabitants of Borena have access to electricity, this zone has a road density of 27.5 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers (compared to the national average of 30 kilometers),^[4] the average rural household has 0.5 hectare of land (compared to the national average of 1.01 hectare of land and an average of 1.14 for the Oromia Region)^[5] and the equivalent of 0.6 heads of livestock. 14.4% of the population is in non-farm related jobs, compared to the national average of 25% and a Regional average of 24%. 53% of all eligible children are enrolled in primary school, and 9% in secondary schools. 35% of the zone is exposed to malaria, and none to Tsetse fly. The memorandum gave this zone a drought risk rating of 410.^[6]

This Zone was selected by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in 2004 as one of several areas for voluntary resettlement for farmers from overpopulated areas; no specific of the Zones woredas were identified in this program. Borena became the new home for a total of 9145 heads of households and 45,725 total family members.^[7]