Benishangul-Gumuz Region

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Map of Ethiopia highlighting the Benishangul-Gumaz region .
Map of Ethiopia highlighting the Benishangul-Gumaz region .

Benishangul-Gumuz, also known as Benshangul/Gumaz, is one of the nine ethnic divisions (kililoch) of Ethiopia. Previously known as Region 6, the region's capital is Asosa. Following the adoption of the 1995 constitution, the Region was created from the westernmost portion of the Gojjam province (the part north of the Abay River), and the northwestern portion of the Welega Province (the part south of the Abay).

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[edit] Demographics

Based on figures from the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA) published in 2005, Benishangul-Gumuz has an estimated total population of 625,000, consisting of 315,000 men and 310,000 women. 563,000 or 90.1% of the population are estimated to be rural inhabitants, while 62,000 or 9.92% are urban. With an estimated area of 49,289.46 square kilometers, this region has an estimated density of 12.68 people per square kilometer.[1]

These estimates are based on the 1994 census, in which the region's population was reported to be 460,459 of which 233,013 were males and 227,446 were females. Rural population was 424,432, while the urban population was 36,027.[2]

The region's ethnic groups include the Berta (27% of the population, according to the 1994 census), Gumuz (23%), Amhara (22%), Oromo (13%) and Shinasha (7%). Berta is spoken in the Sherkole woreda, Gumuz is spoken along the western boundary of Guba and Dangur woredas and in the Sirba Abbay woreda, and the Shinasha or Bworo are a displaced people of Kaffa scattered across Welega and Gojjam. The Berta, Gumuz and Shinasha tend to have more in common with the people of neighbouring Sudan than with other Ethiopian peoples, while the Amhara and Tigrayans, who are known as Habesha (or "highlanders") are recent arrivals, who began to settle in the region during the Derg era.[3]

[edit] Agriculture

The CSA of Ethiopia estimated in 2005 that farmers in Benishangul-Gumuz had a total of 307,820 head of cattle (representing 0.79% of Ethiopia's total cattle), 65,800 sheep (0.38%), 244,570 goats (1.88%), 1,770 mules (1.2%), 37,520 asses (1.5%), 732,270 poultry of all species (2.37%), and 166,130 beehives (3.82%).[4]

Over 60% of this Region is covered with forest, including bamboo, eucalyptus and rubber trees, incense and gum forests as well as the indengenous species. However, due to increased population which has led to the widespread destruction of the canopy, authorities announced a campaign on 8 June 2007 to plant 1.5 seedlings over the next two months to replenish this resource.[5]

[edit] Presidents of the Executive Committee

  • Ateyb Ahmed 1990s - 1995
  • Yaregal Aysheshum (B-GPDUF) July 1995 - present

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

[edit] Zones

[edit] See also

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ CSA 2005 National Statistics, Table B.3.
  2. ^ FDRE States: Basic Information, Beneshangul and Gumuz (accessed 12 March 2006)
  3. ^ According to a October 1996 situation report written by members of the United Nations Emergencies Unit for Ethiopia, a significant number of the Amhara settlers relocated from the former Wollo Province.
  4. ^ CSA 2005 National Statistics, Tables D.3 - D.5.
  5. ^ Ethiopia: Tackling environmental challenges with trees(IRIN)