Overview
The altitude of this District ranges from 1400 to 3200 meters above sea level. Rivers include the Weter, Lange and Goro; other bodies of water include the seasonal Lake Adele. A survey of the land in Kersa (released in 1995–96) shows that 28.5% is arable or cultivable, 2.3% pasture, 6.2% forest, and the remaining 56.3% is considered built-up, degraded or otherwise unusable. Khat, fruits and vegetables are important cash crops. [1] Coffee is also an important cash crop; over 50 square kilometers are planted with this crop. [2]
Industry in the District includes 22 grain mills employing 50 people, as well as 287 registered businesses including wholesalers, retailers and service providers. There were 35 Farmers Associations with 27,837 members and 3 Farmers Service Cooperatives with an unknown number of members. Kersa has 50 kilometers of dry-weather and 37 of all-weather road, for an average road density of 187.5 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers. This includes the paved highway from Harar to Dire Dawa. About 22.1% of the urban, 6.9% of the rural and 7.7% of the total population have access to drinking water. [1]
In 1985, during the Derg regime, villagization was forcibly imposed in this woreda, forcing people to resettle in fewer villages; for example, the 28 villages of Adele Keke kebele were concentrated into three settlements. Those who opposed the program were arrested, tied up, and beaten. One hardship this imposed was labor and material loss because new houses had to be built. With the demise of the Derg, these new villages were abandoned and the inhabitants returned to their original homes. [3]
Demographics
The 2007 national census reported a total population for this District of 170,816, of whom 86,134 were men and 84,682 were women; 11,387 or 6.67% of its population were urban dwellers. The majority of the inhabitants said they were Muslim, with 97% of the population reporting they observed this belief, while 2.8% of the population practised Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. [4]
Based on figures published by the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this district has an estimated total population of 169,330, of whom 82,537 are men and 86,793 are women; 12,203 or 7.21% of its population are urban dwellers, which is about the same as the Zone average of 6.9%. With an estimated area of 463.75 square kilometers, Kersa has an estimated population density of 365.1 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 102.6. [5]
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this district of 121,197, of whom 62,355 were men and 58,842 women; 6,813 or 5.62% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Kersa were the Oromo (96.25%), and the Amhara (3.65%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.1% of the population. Oromo was spoken as a first language by 96.35%, and 3.58% spoke Amharic; the remaining 0.07% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants were Muslim, with 96.1% of the population having reported they practiced that belief, while 3.78% of the population said they professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity. [6]
Tulo is one of the Aanaas in Oromia Regional State of Ethiopia. Part of the West Hararghe Zone, Tulo is bordered on to the north by Doba, to the south by Masela, to the east by the East haraghe Zone, and to the west by Nannawa Chiro. Towns in Tulo include Debeso and Hirna.
Mesela is a woreda in Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Part of the West Hararghe Zone, Mesela is bordered on the southwest by the Galetti River which separates it from Chiro, on the northwest by Tulo, and on the east by the East Hararghe Zone. Towns in Mesela include Goro Reye and Mesela.
Nannawa Chiro is a Aanaa in Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. Part of the West Hararghe Zone, Chiro is bordered on the south by Kuni, on the west by Guba Koricha, on the northwest by Mieso, on the north by Doba, on the northeast by Tulo, and on the east by the Galetti River which separates it from Mesela and the East Hararghe Zone. It is part of former Chiro district what was divided for Nannawa Chiro and Gemechis districts and Chiro Town.
Guba Koricha is a Aanaa in Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. Located in the West Hararghe Zone, Guba Koricha, according to the OCHA map (2005) is bordered on the south by Darolebu, on the southwest by the Arsi Zone, on the west by the Afar Region, on the north by Mieso, on the northeast by Chiro, on the east by Habro, and on the southeast by Boke. Woreda of Anchar was separated from Guba Koricha.
Boke is a Aanaa in Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. Part of the West Hararghe Zone, Boke is bordered on the south by the Shabelle River which separates it from the Bale Zone, on the southwest by Darolebu, on the northwest by Habro, on the northeast by Kuni, and on the east by the Galetti River which separates it from the East Hararghe Zone. The major town in Boke is Boke Tiko.
Kuni is one of the Aanaas in the Oromia Regional State of Ethiopia. Part of the West Hararghe Zone, Kuni is bordered on the south by Boke, on the west by Habro, on the northeast by Chiro, and on the east by the Galetti River, which separates it from the East Hararghe Zone.
Sasiga is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia and a part of the Misraq (East) Welega Zone. Sasiga is bordered on the south by Diga Leka, on the west by the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, on the northwest by Limmu, on the north by an exclave of the Benishangul-Gumuz Region and on the east by Guto Wayu. The administrative center of this woreda is Galo. Other towns in Sasiga include Handhura Balo, Bareda, Angar, Arb Gebeya, Ehud Gebeya, Gute and Tsige.
Kersa is a woreda in the Jimma Zone of the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. It is bordered on the south by Dedo, on the southwest by Seka Chekorsa, on the west by Mana, on the north by Limmu Kosa, on the northeast by Tiro Afeta, and on the southeast by Omo Nada. Towns and cities in Kersa include Jimma, the zone's capital, and Serbo.
Bedeno is a Districts of Ethiopia in Oromia, Ethiopia. It is named after the administrative center of the district, Bedeno. Part of the East Hararghe Zone, Bedeno is bordered on the south by Gola Odana Meyumuluke, on the southwest by Malka Balo, on the west by Deder, on the northwest by Meta, on the north by Jarso, on the northeast by Kurfa Chele, and on the east by Girawa. Towns include Furda.
Kombolcha is a woreda in Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Part of the East Hararghe Zone, Kombolcha is bordered on the south by the Harari Region, on the southwest by Haro Maya, on the northwest by Dire Dawa, on the north by the Somali Region, and on the east by Jarso. The administrative center of the woreda is Melka Rafu.
Jarso is a woreda in Oromia Region, Ethiopia. Part of the East Hararghe Zone, Jarso is bordered on the south by the Harari Region, on the west by Kombolcha, on the north by the city of Dire Dawa, on the east by the Somali Region, and on the southeast by Gursum. The administrative center of this district is Ejersa Goro.
Gursum is one of the Districts in the Oromia of Ethiopia. Part of the East Hararghe Zone, Gursum is bordered on the south by Babille, on the west by the Harari Region, on the north by Jarso, and on the east by the Somali Region. The administrative center of the woreda is Funyan Bira.
Babile is one of the districts in the East Hararghe Zone of Oromia Region in Ethiopia. It is named after one of the 12 major clans of the Oromo people, the Babille Oromo. Part of the East Hararghe Zone, Baabile is bordered on the south and east by the Somali Region, on the west by Fedis, and on the north by Gursum; the Fafen River defines a portion of Babille's eastern border. The administrative center of this woreda is Babille Town.
Haramaya is a woreda in Oromia Region, Ethiopia. It is named after the administrative center, Haramaya. Part of the East Hararghe Zone, Haramaya is bordered on the south by Kurfa Chele, on the west by Kersa, on the north by Dire Dawa, on the east by Kombolcha, and on the southeast by the Harari Region. Towns include Haramaya and Bati.
Kurfa Chele is a District in the Oromia of Ethiopia. It is named after its administrative center, Kurfa Chele. Part of the East Hararghe Zone, Kurfa Chele is bordered on the south by Girawa, on the west by Bedeno, on the northwest by Kersa, and on the northeast by Haro Maya. Towns include Dawe.
Meta is one of the districts in the Oromia of Ethiopia. Part of the East Hararghe Zone, Meta is bordered on the southwest by Deder, on the northwest by Goro Gutu, on the north by the Somali Region, on the northeast by Kersa, and on the southeast by Bedeno. Towns in Meta include Chelenqo and Kulubi.
Goro Gutu is a Aanaa in Oromia, Ethiopia. This district is named after Mount Goro Gutu, its tallest mountain. Part of the East Hararghe Zone, Goro Gutu is bordered on the south by Deder, on the west by the West Hararghe Zone, on the north by the Somali Region, and on the east by Meta. The administrative center is ; Karamile other towns include Boroda towns
Deder is a Aanaa in Oromia, Ethiopia. It is named after the administrative center, Deder. Part of the East Hararghe Zone, Deder is bordered on the south by Malka Balo, on the west by the West Hararghe Zone, on the north by Goro Gutu, on the east by Meta, and on the southeast by Bedeno. Towns in the district include Kobo, Deder, Soqaa.
Malka Balo is a Districts of Ethiopia in Oromia, Ethiopia. Part of the East Hararghe Zone, Malka Balo is bordered on the west by the West Hararghe Zone, on the north by Deder, on the northeast by Bedeno, and on the southeast by Gola Odana Meyumuluke; part of the boundary with the West Hararghe Zone is defined by the Galetti River. The administrative center for this woreda is Jaja; other towns include Harawacha and Harew.
Legehida is one of the woredas in the Oromia of Ethiopia. Part of the Bale Zone, Legehida is bordered on the south by Seweyna, on the southwest by Gaserana Gololcha, and all other sides by the Shebelle River which separates this woreda from the West Hararghe Zone on the northwest, the East Hararghe Zone on the northeast and from the Somali Region on the east. The administrative center of the woreda is Beltu; other towns in Legehida include Sheikh Hussein.
Ethiopia 
Oromia