Demographics
Based on figures from the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this zone has an estimated total population of 48,084, of whom 23,235 are men and 24,849 are women; 4,935 or 10.3% of its population are urban dwellers. With an estimated area of 13,142.51 square kilometers, this zone has an estimated population density of 3.66 people per square kilometer. [1]
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this Zone of 36,199 in 4,075 households, of whom 17,463 were men and 18,736 women; 2,869 or 7.93% of the population were urban inhabitants. (This total also includes an estimate for two kebeles in Gog woreda and four in Jor, which were not counted; these areas were estimated to have 5,562 inhabitants, of whom 2,566 were men and 2,996 women.) The five largest ethnic groups of Zone 2 were the Anuak (72.65%), the Kambaata (9.17%), the Amhara (6.22%), the Oromo (3.35%), and the Mezhenger (3.14%); all other ethnic groups made up 5.47% of the population. Anuak is spoken as a first language by 72.71%, 9.34% speak Kambaata, 6.61% Amharic, 3.12% Majang, and 3.06% speak Oromiffa; the remaining 5.16% spoke all other primary languages reported. The largest group of the inhabitants said they were Protestant, with 38.52% of the population reporting they embraced that belief, while 20.68% professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, 13.95% practiced traditional religions, 6.49% were Muslim, and 5% were Catholic. [2]
A kebele is the smallest administrative unit of Ethiopia, similar to a ward, a neighbourhood or a localized and delimited group of people. It is part of a woreda (district), itself usually part of a Zone, which in turn are grouped into one of the Regions based on ethno-linguistic communities that comprise the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Each kebele consists of at least five hundred families, or the equivalent of 3,500 to 4,000 persons. There is at least one in every town with more than 2,000 population. A keftanya, or representative, had jurisdiction over six to twelve kebeles.
The Anuak, also known as the Anyuak, Anywaa Anywaa and Anywaa, are a Luo Nilotic ethnic group inhabiting parts of East Africa. The Anuak belong to the larger Luo family group. Their language is referred to as Dha-anywaa. They are primarily found in villages situated along the banks and rivers of southeastern South Sudan as well as southwestern Ethiopia, especially the Gambela Region. Group members number between 200,000 and 300,000 people worldwide.
Kambaata (ከምባታ) is the name of the people who speak the Kambaata language Their land is in south central Ethiopia. It was a province of Ethiopia beginning in the early 15th century and ending in the mid-17th century; Ethiopian rule was once again established in the late 19th century under Emperor Menelik II. During this first period, Kambaata province was largely Christianized. The former province is contained within the contemporary Kembata Tembaro Zone of Ethiopia's SNNPR.
Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region is one of the nine ethnically based regional states (kililoch) of Ethiopia. It was formed from the merger of five kililoch, called Regions 7 to 11, following the regional council elections on 21 June 1992. Its capital is Awasa.
Administrative Zone 1 was one of the three zones of the Ethiopian Region of Gambela. This zone was bordered on the south by Administrative Zone 2, on the west by Administrative Zone 3 and on the north and east by the Oromia Region. It was later added to Anuak Zone. Towns and cities in this zone included Itang and Gambela.
Administrative Zone 3 is a former administrative subdivision of the Ethiopian Region of Gambela. This zone was bordered by Sudan on the south, west and north, by Administrative Zone 1 on the east and Administrative Zone 2 on the southeast; the Pibor defines the border on the south and west, while the Baro defines it for the northern border. Towns in this zone included Tergol and Telut. Most of the area of this zone was added to Nuer Zone and some parts were added to Anuak Zone.
Godere is one of the woredas in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Mezhenger Zone, Godere is bordered on the south and east by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), and on the west by Mengesh. The largest town in Godere is Meti.
Abobo is one of the woredas in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Anuak Zone, Abobo is bordered on the southeast by the Mezhenger Zone, on the south by Gog, on the southwest by Jor, on the northwest by Itang special woreda, on the north by Gambela Zuria, and on the northeast by the Oromia Region; part of its northern boundary is defined by the Alwero River. The major town in Abobo is Abobo.
Gog is one of the woredas in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Anuak Zone, Gog is bordered on the south by Dimma, on the southwest by the Akobo River which separates it from South Sudan, on the west by Jor, and on the north by Abobo. The major town in Gog is Fugnido.
Jor is one of the woredas in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Anuak Zone, Jor is bordered on the south by the Akobo River which separates it from South Sudan, on the west and north by the Nuer Zone, on the northeast by Abobo, and on the east by Gog; the Alwero River defines part of its northern boundary. The administrative center of this woreda is Ongogi.
Itang is one of the woredas in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia. Because Itang is not part of any Zone in the Gambela Region, it is considered a Special woreda, an administrative subdivision which is similar to an autonomous area. It is bordered on the south and southeast by the Anuak Zone, on the west by the Nuer Zone, on the northwest by South Sudan, and on the north by the Oromia Region; part of the southern boundary is defined by the Alwero River. The major town in Itang is Itang.
Gambela Zuria is one of the woredas in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Anuak Zone, Gambela Zuria is bordered on the south by Abobo, on the west by Itang special woreda, and on the north and east by the Oromia Region. Gambela, which is the capital of the Region, is surrounded by this woreda.
Akobo is one of the woredas in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia. It is named after the Akobo River, which flows westwards then north into the Baro River, defining its border with South Sudan. Part of the Nuer Zone, Akobo is bordered on the south and west by South Sudan, on the north by Wentawo, and on the east by the Anuak Zone. The westernmost point of this woreda is the westernmost point of Ethiopia. Towns in Akobo include Tergol.
Jikawo is one of the woredas in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Nuer Zone, Jikawo is bordered on the south by the Anuak Zone, on the west by the Alwero River which separates it from Wentawo, on the north by the Baro River which separates it from South Sudan, and on the east by Lare. Towns in Jikawo include Nginngang and Telut.
Alaba is a zone in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. It is named after the Halaba people, and covers part of their homeland. Located in the Great Rift Valley, Alaba zone is bordered on the south by an exclave of Hadiya Zone, on the southwest by the Kembata Tembaro Zone, on the west and north by Hadiya Zone, on the north east by Lake Shala, and on the east by Oromia Region; the Bilate River, which is its major body of water, defines its western boundary. The administrative center is Alaba Kulito.
Dimma is one of the woredas in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Anuak Zone, Dimma is bordered on the southeast by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), on the southwest by the Akobo River which separates it from South Sudan, on the north by Gog (woreda), and on the northeast by the Mezhenger Zone. The major town in Dimma is Dimma.
Lare is one of the woredas in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Nuer Zone, Lare is bordered on the south and east by the Anuak Zone, on the west by the Baro River which separates it from Jikawo, and on the north by the Jikawo River which separates it from South Sudan. Towns in Lare include Kowerneng.
Wentawo is one of the woredas in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Nuer Zone, Wentawo is bordered on the south by Akobo, on the west and north by South Sudan, on the east by Jikawo, and on the southeast by Anuak Zone; the Akobo River to the west and the Baro River on the north define Wentawo's boundaries with South Sudan. Towns in this woreda include Metar.
The Mezhenger Zone is one of the three zones of the Ethiopian Region of Gambela; it is named for one of the three largest indigenous groups in Gambela, the Majangir. This zone is bordered on the south and east by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), on the west by the Anuak Zone, and on the north by the Oromia Region. Towns in this Zone include Meti.
Anuak is one of the three zones of the Ethiopian Region of Gambela. It was created from former Administrative Zone 1 and Administrative Zone 2 of Gambela. This zone is bordered on the southwest by South Sudan, on southeast by the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region, on the east by Mezhenger Zone, on the northeast by the Oromia Region, and on the northwest by South Sudan and Nuer Zone. Towns in this zone include Gambela, Abobo and Fugnido.
Nuer is one of the three zones of the Ethiopian Region of Gambela. It was created from former Administrative Zone 3 of Gambela. This zone is bordered by South Sudan on the south, west and north, by Mezhenger Zone on the east and by Anuak Zone on the southeast; the Pibor defines the border on the south and west, while the Baro defines it for the northern border. Towns in this zone include Tirgol, Matar, Nyinenyang, Kuachthiang and Kuergeng. Nuer Zone consists of four woredas: Akobo, Jikawo, Lare, and Wentawo.
Mengesh is one of the woredas in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Mezhenger Zone, Mengesh is bordered on the south and east by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR), on the west by Anuak Zone, on the north by the Oromia Region, and on the southeast by Godere. It was part of Godere woreda.
