Werder, Ethiopia

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Werder
Wardheer
Werder (Ethiopië )
Werder
Werder
Location within Ethiopia
Coordinates: 6°58′N 45°20′E / 6.967, 45.333
Country Ethiopia
Region Somali
Zone Werder
Elevation 541 m (1,775 ft)
Population (2005)
 - Total 18,357
Time zone EAT (UTC+3)

Werder (Somali: Wardheer) is a town in eastern Ethiopia. Located in the Werder Zone of the Somali Region, Werder has a longitude and latitude of 6°58′N, 45°20′E with an elevation of 541 meters above sea level. It is the administrative center of Werder woreda.

The Walwal wells, site of the notorious clash between Italian and Ethiopian troops which triggered the Second Italian-Abyssinian War, are at about 12 kilometers to the north-east of the town.[1]

Based on figures from the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this town has an estimated total population of 18,357, of whom 9,737 were males and 8,620 were females.[2]

[edit] History

One of the forts Mohammed Abdullah Hassan constructed in 1910 was built here, following the relocation of his capital to Taleex the year before, allowing him to consolidate his control over the Ogaden.[3]

During 1933-34 the Italians built a road to carry motor traffic from Italian Somaliland to Werder in the Ogaden by way of Geladi and Marehan Farise. The subjects of the Sultans Jasin and Refle were forced to accept Italian rule, otherwise they would not be permitted to draw water at Werder.[1]

The eastern part of Ogaden was administered by Ethiopian officials for the first time on 23 September 1948 when Ethiopian administrators were sent to Kebri Dahar, Kelafo and Werder.[1]

Government security forces and members of the Ogaden National Liberation Front clashed in Werder on 23 February 1994. More than 50 people were reported killed during the initial incident and in the three days of skirmishes that followed. The fighting forced the town's population to flee and seek shelter in the surrounding countryside.[4]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c "Local History in Ethiopia" (pdf) The Nordic Africa Institute website (accessed 3 December 2007)
  2. ^ CSA 2005 National Statistics, Table B.3
  3. ^ Said S. Samatar, Oral Poetry and Somali Nationalism (Cambridge: University Press, 1982), pp. 133
  4. ^ February 1994 Monthly Situation Report United Nations Emergencies Unit for Ethiopia (accessed 29 May 2008)
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