Gambela Region

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Map of Ethiopia highlighting the Gambela region.
Map of Ethiopia highlighting the Gambela region.

Gambela is one of the nine ethnic divisions (kililoch) of Ethiopia. Previously known as Region 12, its capital is Gambela. Lying between the Baro and Akobo Rivers, the western part of Gambela includes the Baro salient.

Located in Gambela is Gambela National Park, which covers approximately 5061 square kilometers or 19.6% of the Region's territory.

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[edit] Demographics

Based on figures from the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA) published in 2005, Gambela has an estimated total population of 247,000, consisting of 125,999 men and 121,001 women. Approximately 200,000 or 81% of the population are estimated to be rural inhabitants, while 47,000 or 19% are urban. With an estimated area of 25,802.01 square kilometers, this region has an estimated density of 9.57 people per square kilometer.[1]

These estimates are based on the 1994 census, in which the region's population was reported to be 181,862, of which 92,090 were males, while 88,960 were females. 84.9% of the population (153,438) lived in rural areas.

The main ethnicities of the region are the Nuer (40%), the Anuak (27%), Amhara (8%), Oromo (6%), Mezhenger (5.8%), Kefficho (4.1%), Mocha (2%), Tigrean (1.6%) and other ethnic groups predominantly from southern Ethiopia 5.5%. Amharic is the working language of the region. 44% of the region's population are Protestant, 24.1% Orthodox Christian, 10.3% practice traditional religions, 5.1% Muslim, 3.2% Catholic, and others constitute 12.7%.

Gambela is the historic home of the indigenous Anuak. In recent years there has been significant violence between the Anuak and more recently arrived Ethiopians, who are generally referred to as "Highlanders".

[edit] Economy

The CSA reported that for 2004-2005 3,734 tons of coffee were produced in Gambela, based on inspection records from the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea authority. This represents 1.64% of the total production in Ethiopia. The CSA could not provide livestock estimates for Gambela.[2]In a 26 May 2000 report, the FAO observed that at the time Trypanosomiasis was a major problem in cattle for this Region.[3]

Gambela is believed to have major oil resources. In June 2003, the Ethiopian government signed an agreement with Petronas of Malaysia for the joint exploration and development of oil resources in Gambella region. Petronas then awarded a contract for seismic data acquisition to China’s Zhongyuan Petroleum Exploration Bureau (ZPEB) October of that year.[4]

The Water and Mines Resources Development Bureau of Gambela announced that it was initiating a program that would drill 13 new manually-operated wells, 54 new deep water wells, and develop four springs. This would provide access for 26,000 inhabitants to drinking water, increasing coverage for the state to 42 percent from the existing 27 percent, at a cost of 6 million Birr.[5]

[edit] Presidents of the Executive Committee

  • Okello Ouman 1992 - 1997
  • Okello Gnigelo (GPDF) August 1997 - 2003
  • Okello Akway 2003 - 2004
  • Keat Tuach Bithow (acting) January 2004 - 2005
  • Umed Ubong (GPDM) 29 September 2005 - Present

(This list is based on information from Worldstatesmen.org.)

[edit] Zones

Like other Regions in Ethiopia, Gambela is subdivided into administrative zones (and one special woreda, which is not in a zone). However, these zones have not been given proper names.

[edit] Woredas in the Gambela Region

This is a list of the 8 woredas, or districts, in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia, compiled from material on the CSA website.[6]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ CSA 2005 National Statistics, Tables B.3 and B.4.
  2. ^ CSA 2005 National Statistics, Table D.2.
  3. ^ "Special Report FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission to Ethiopia", section 4.5. (Accessed 21 June 2006)
  4. ^ "Seismic Survey Project in Ethiopia Put into Operation" (ZPEB press release)
  5. ^ " Bureau launches 71 water projects in Gambella State" (Walta Information Center)
  6. ^ The DPPA map of the Gambela Region shows a different set of woredas for Zone 2 CSA list, or on the UN-OCHA map: although all show Abobo woreda, in the area where the UN-OCHA map (copyright 2003) shows Gog and Jor the DPPA map (copyright 2006) instead shows the Gilo and Dimma woredas. The CSA only provides statistics for Gog and Jor in their latest population estimates.

[edit] External links

Subdivisions of Ethiopia Flag of Ethiopia
Regions
Afar | Amhara | Benishangul-Gumaz | Gambela | Harari | Oromia | Somali | Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region | Tigray
Chartered cities
Addis Ababa | Dire Dawa
Provinces prior to 1995
Arsi | Bale | Gamu-Gofa | Gojjam | Begemder | Hararghe | Illubabor | Kaffa | Shoa | Sidamo | Tigray | Welega | Wollo
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