History
Early western explorers who travelled through what currently is the territory of this woreda include the Italians Eugene Ruspoli (died 1891) and Vittorio Bottego, and the American Arthur Donaldson Smith.
In the last years of the military regime some parts of the Sidamo Province inhabited by the Guji Oromo were included in the Gedeo sub-province, while the larger portion of the Guji territories remained in Borana sub-province. This restructuring was preserved during the Transitional Government, making this woreda a part of the Gedeo Zone of the SNNPR. The local Guji Oromo, who felt dominated by the Gedeo people, were dissatisfied with this arrangement, and who appealed to the office of the then Prime Minister but in vain, until the adoption of the new constitution, when a plebiscite was arranged to reallocate the woredas. Although Gelana Abaya became a part of the Oromia Zone, it was only after violent clashes broke out in the Hagere Mariam woreda between the Guji and Gedeo in April–May 1995. The federal army attempted to intervene between the two to stop the fighting, but only succeeded in becoming the target of Guji militants. [7]
Gelana Abaya was selected by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in 2004 as an area for voluntary resettlement for farmers from overpopulated areas. That year this woreda became the home for a total of 9145 heads of households and 45,725 total family members. [8]
In early 2005, around 6,000 people were displaced by heavy flooding in Gelana; Hagere Mariam was also affected by the flooding to a lesser degree. [9]
Demographics
The 2007 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 103,348, of whom 52,015 were men and 51,333 were women; 4,570 or 4.42% of its population were urban dwellers. The majority of the inhabitants said they were Protestant, with 62.75% of the population reporting they observed these beliefs, while 17.05% of the population practiced traditional beliefs, 11.89% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity and 2.3% were Catholic. [10]
Based on figures published by the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 152,161, of whom 75,042 are men and 77,119 are women. With an estimated area of 2,365.16 square kilometers, Gelana Abaya has an estimated population density of 64.3 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 21.1. [11]
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 110,762, of whom 56,489 were men and 54,273 women; the census reported no urban dwellers. The three largest ethnic groups reported in Gelana Abaya were the Oromo (74.49%), the Gedeo (23.47%), and the Amhara (1.18%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.86% of the population. Oromiffa was spoken as a first language by 75.86%, 22.64% spoke Gedeo and 1.18% spoke Amharic; the remaining 0.32% spoke all other primary languages reported. The plurality of the inhabitants practiced traditional beliefs, with 44.38% of the population giving answers that were recorded under that label, while 34.19% of the population said they were Protestant, 11.55% professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 2.24% were Catholic. [12]
Yabelo is a town in southern Ethiopia. An alternative name for this town is Obda, which is also the name of a nearby mountain. Located northwest of Moyale in the Borena Zone of the Oromia, this town has a latitude and longitude of 4°53′N38°5′E and an elevation of 1857 meters above sea level. It has been the administrative center of the Borena Zone since its division from Guji Zone in September 2002, as well as Yabelo woreda.
Dila is a market town and separate woreda in southern Ethiopia. The administrative center of the Gedeo Zone in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region (SNNPR), it is located on the main road from Addis Ababa to Nairobi. The town has a longitude and latitude of 6°24′30″N38°18′30″E, with an elevation of 1570 meters above sea level. It was part of Wenago woreda and is currently surrounded by Dila Zuria woreda.
Borena is a zone in Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Borena is named after one of the two major subgroups 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 West Guji and Guji and on the east by Dawa Zone Somali Region. The highest point in this zone is Mount Dara Tiniro. Cities and major towns in this Zone include Negele Borana, Moyale, Yabelo, Dubuluk, Mega, Millami, Surupa and Bakke.
Gedeo is a zone in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. This zone is named for the Gedeo people, whose homelands lie in this zone. Gedeo is an exclave of the SNNPR consisting of a narrow strip of land along the eastern escarpment of the Ethiopian Highlands. It is surrounded by the Oromia Region, which borders the Zone on the east, south and west; Gedeo shares its northern boundary with the Sidama Region. Dilla is the administrative center; other towns include Dilla,Wonago,Yirgachefe,Chelelekitu and Gedeb.
Amaro is Special Woreda in Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, Ethiopia. The people are called Koore and their language is Koorete. Amaro is one of the areas in which members of Koore nations widely live in. However, no fewer Koore's live in their neighboring areas of Gamo Gofa, Guji, Gedeo, and Burji. Prior to 2011, Amaro was not part of any Zone in the SNNPR and was therefore considered a special woreda, an administrative subdivision which is similar to an autonomous area. In 2011, the Segen Area Peoples Zone was established, which includes Amaro woreda and the 3 former special woredas surrounding it. Located in the Great Rift Valley, Amaro is bordered on the south by Burji special woreda, on the southwest by Konso special woreda, on the west by Dirashe special woreda, on the northwest by Gamo Gofa and Lake Chamo, and on the north by Lake Abaya and in east and northeast by Oromia Region. It is divided into 35 kebeles. The administrative center of the woreda is Kelle. Jijola, Derba Menena, and Kereda are other growing municipals of the woreda.
Wenago is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Gedeo Zone, Wenago is bordered on the southwest by Yirgachefe, on the northwest by the Oromia Region, on the northeast by Dila Zuria, and on the southeast by Bule. Towns in Wenago include Wenago. Dila Zuria woreda and Dila town were separated from Wenago.
Yirgachefe is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia, named after its major town Yirgachefe. Part of the Gedeo Zone, Yirgachefe is bordered on the south by Kochere, on the west by the Oromia Zone, on the north by Wenago, on the east by Bule, and on the southeast by Gedeb.
Kochere is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Gedeo Zone, Kochere is bordered on the east by Gedeb, on the southwest by the Oromia Region, and on the north by Yirgachefe. Towns in Kochere include Fisehagenet and Chelelektu. Gedeb woreda was separated from Kochere.
Meda Welabu is a woreda in Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Part of the Bale Zone, Meda Welabu is bordered on the south by the Ganale Dorya River which separates it from the Guji Zone, on the northwest by West Arsi Zone, on the north by Mennana Harena Buluk, and on the northeast by Guradamole. The administrative center of the woreda is Bidire; other towns in Meda Welabu include Oborso.
Uraga is one of the Aanaas in the Oromia of Ethiopia. Part of the Guji Zone, Uraga is bordered on the south by Odo Shakiso, on the west by the Borena Zone, on the north by the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region, and on the east by Bore. The largest town in Uraga is Haro Wachu. Dama and Hambela Wamena woredas were separated from Uraga.
Bore is one of the Aanaas in the Oromia of Ethiopia. Part of the Guji Zone, Bore is bordered on the south by Ana Sora, on the west by the Uraga, and on the north and east by the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region. The largest town in Bore is Bore.
Adola is one of the Aanaas in the Oromia of Ethiopia. It is part of former Adolana Wadera woreda what was divided for Adola, Girja and Wadera woredas and Adola town. Part of the Guji Zone, Adolana Wadera was bordered on the south by Liben, on the southwest by Odo Shakiso, on the west by Bore, on the north by the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region, and on the east by the Bale Zone.
Odo Shakiso is one of the Aanaas in the Oromia of Ethiopia. Part of the Guji Zone, Odo Shakiso is bordered on the south by the Dawa River which separates it from Arero, on the west by Bule Hora, on the northeast by Uraga, on the north by Bore, on the northeast by Adolana Wadera, and on the east by Liben. Towns in Odo Shakiso include Shakiso and Megado.
Bule Hora is a woreda in Oromia Region, Ethiopia. It formerly included Dugda Dawa and Kercha districts. Part of the West Guji Zone, Bule Hora was bordered on the south by the Dawa River which separates it from Arero, on the southwest by Yabelo, on the west by the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region and Gelana Abaya, on the northeast by Uraga, and on the east by Odo Shakiso. The largest town of Bule Hora is Bule Hora Town.
Yabelo is one of the Aanaas in the Oromia of Ethiopia, named after its administrative center, Yabelo. Part of the Borena Zone, Yabelo is bordered on the south by Dire, on the west by Teltele, on the north by Bule Hora, and on the east by Arero.
Arero is a woreda in Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Part of the Borena Zone, Arero is bordered on the southwest by Dire, on the west by Yabelo, on the north by Bule Hora, on the northeast by the Guji Zone, on the east by the Somali Region, and on the south by Moyale; the Dawa River, the only river in this woreda, separates Arero from Odo Shakiso and Liben. Towns in Arero include Meta Gefersa.
Liben is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Guji Zone, Liben is bordered on the south by the Dawa River which separates it from the Borena Zone, on the west by Odo Shakiso, on the northwest by Adolana Wadera, on the north by the Ganale Dorya River which separates it from the Bale Zone, and on the east by the Somali Region. The map of the Oromia Region published by Disaster Prevention and Disaster Agency shows that this woreda is part of the Guji Zone, and that the eastern part has been transferred to the Somali Region to create the Liben woreda of that region. The town of Negele Boran was separated from Liben woreda and is separate woreda now.
Guji is a zone in Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Guji is named after a tribe of the Oromo people. Guji is bordered on the south by Borena, 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 Dara Tiniro. Cities and major towns in this Zone include its administrative center, Nagele, Shakiso Bore, Dila Adola.
The Gedeo are an ethnic group in southern Ethiopia. The Gedeo Zone in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region (SNNPR) is named for this people. They speak the Gedeo language, which is one of the Cushitic languages.
Gelana is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. It was part of former Gelana Abaya woreda. It is part of the Borena Zone. The administrative center of Gelana is Tore.
Ethiopia 
Oromia 
