Gambela Region

Regional state in western Ethiopia

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Regional state in Ethiopia

Gambela Peoples' Region

ጋምቤላ ሕዝቦች ክልል

Regional state

Flag

Seal

Map of Ethiopia showing Gambela Region

Country| Ethiopia
Capital| Gambela
Government

• Chief Administrator| Umod Ujulu (Prosperity Party)
Area

• Total| 29,782.82 km2 (11,499.21 sq mi)
• Rank| 9th
| [1]
Population

(2017)

• Total| 525,000[2]
• Rank| 10th
ISO 3166 code| ET-GA
HDI (2019)| 0.566[3]
medium · 4th of 11

The Gambela Region (also spelled Gambella; Amharic: ጋምቤላ), officially the Gambela Peoples' Region, is a regional state in western Ethiopia, bordering South Sudan. Previously known as Region 12, its capital is Gambela. The Region is situated between the Baro and Akobo Rivers, with its western part including the Openo River. Covering an area of approximately 29,783 square kilometers, Gambela is one of Ethiopia's smaller regions and one of its least populous, with 525,000 inhabitants. It is home to a diverse population, including the Nuer, Anuak, and other indigenous groups. The region's economy is largely based on agriculture, with significant contributions from fishing and cross-border trade. The landscape is characterized by lowland plains, wetlands, and a tropical climate, making it distinct from the highland areas that dominate much of Ethiopia.

## Demographics

[edit]

Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA), the Gambela region has total population of 307,096, consisting of 159,787 men and 147,309 women; urban inhabitants number 77,925 or 25.37% of the population. With an estimated area of 29,782.82 square kilometers, this region has an estimated density of 10 people per square kilometer. For the entire region, 66,467 households were counted, which results in an average for the region of 4.6 persons to household, with urban households having on average 3.8 and rural households 4.9 people. Various Nilotic ethnic minority groups mainly inhabit the Gambela region: Nuer, Anuak (Anywaa), Majang and others.[4][5]

In 1994, the national census reported the region's population to be 181,862 in 35,940 households, of whom 92,902 were men and 88,960 women; 27,424 or 15.08% were urban inhabitants. (This total also includes an estimate for all 19 kebeles of one woreda and six kebeles in two other woredas, which were not counted; these areas were estimated to have 19,465 inhabitants, of whom 9,203 were men and 10,262 women.) The six largest ethnic groups of the region were Nuer, Anuak (Anywaa), Amhara, Oromo, Majang, Komo and other ethnic groups. Languages spoken are Nuer, Anuak, Amharic, Afaan Oromo, Majang; the remaining spoke all other primary languages reported.[6] The projected population for 2017 was 435,999.[2]

Values for reported common indicators of the standard of living for Nuer as of 2005[update] include the following: 44% of the inhabitants fall into the lowest wealth quintile; adult literacy for men is 57.5% and for women 22.8%; and the regional infant mortality rate is 92 infant deaths per 1,000 live births, which is greater than the nationwide average of 77; at least half of these deaths occurred in the infants’ first month of life.[7]

### Religion

[edit]

Religion in Nuer Region (2007)[8]

Christian/P'ent'ay (90%)

Ethiopian Orthodox (5%)

Muslim (3%)

Traditional faiths (1%)

Catholic (1%)

Other (%)

90% of the region's population are Protestants, 5% Orthodox, 3% Muslim, 1% practice traditional religions, and 1% are Catholic.[9]

## Refugee camps

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There are a number of refugee camps located in Gambela region housing around 268,000 refugees from South Sudan in August 2016:[10]

| Nguenyyie  | Pinyudo  | Pinyudo  | Tierkidi  | AKula  | Jawi  | Leitchuor  | Okugo

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2016 numbers  | – | ~62,800 | – | ~54,750 | ~49,410 | ~42,570 | ~4,480 | –
2018 numbers  | ~83,660 | ~66,400 | ~17,300 | ~71,100 | ~53,340 | ~60,060 | – | ~13,630

From August 2016 to August 2018, the numbers increased from 268,000 to 402,000 refugees, almost equaling the native population of Gambela Region.[11]

## Economy

[edit]

The CSA reported that for 2004-2005 3,734 tons of coffee were produced in Gambela, based on inspection records from the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea authority. This represents 1.64% of the total production in Ethiopia. The CSA could not provide livestock estimates for Gambela.[12] In a 26 May 2000 report, the FAO observed that at the time trypanosomiasis was a major problem in cattle for this region.[13] There had been an epidemic of this disease in the area during 1970.[14]

Gambela is believed to have major oil resources. In June 2003, the Ethiopian government signed an agreement with Petronas of Malaysia for the joint exploration and development of oil resources in Gambella region. Petronas then awarded a contract for seismic data acquisition to China's Zhongyuan Petroleum Exploration Bureau (ZPEB) in October of that year.[15]

The Water and Mines Resources Development Bureau of Gambela announced January 2007 that it was initiating a program that would drill 13 new manually operated wells, 54 new deep water wells, and develop four springs. This would provide access to drinking water for 26,000 inhabitants, increasing coverage for the state to 42 percent from the existing 27 percent, at a cost of 6 million Birr.[16] Construction of an asphalt road 102 kilometers in length and connecting Gambela City with Jikawo by way of Itang was begun in 2008 with a budget over 446 million Birr.[17]

As of 2015, Indian investors have acquired 6,000 square km of land in the Gambela region, following other investors, for agricultural land from the central government. This has led to conflict with regional government officials and local communities. Not all the land is actually being farmed, as per the agreement, and there are accusations of investors illegally clearing trees in the Gambella National Park in a blog.[18]

## Administrative subdivisions

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While Gambela is subdivided into administrative zones and woredas as other regions in Ethiopia are, this region has seen the most changes in these subdivisions of any region, to the point they can confuse anyone tracing their development. Originally, Gambela was subdivided into four administrative zones without proper names (1, 2, 3 and 4) and one special woreda (Godere special woreda). By 2001, when the CSA released its Sample Agricultural Enumeration, these four zones had been combined into two, and Godere had been merged into the second administrative zone.

By the 2007 census, Gambela had been redivided into three zones (named for the three largest ethnic groups), and the area around Itang town had been made a special woreda; borders of existing woredas were moved around to create several new ones within the zones. These zones are:

* Nuer Zone
* Majang Zone
* Anywaa Zone
* Itang

The Nuer Zone is by far the largest of the zones of Gambela region and also includes the capital, Gambela. The terrain is mostly flat at elevations between 400 – 550 meters above sea level but with the eastern fringes of Anywaa Zone and in particular the easternmost zone, Majang, being partly in the highlands and rising to an elevation of ~2000 meters near the eastern border.

## Governors and chairmen of the ruling party

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Governor and chairman of the ruling party in Gambela region 1991–2018:

* Agwa Alemu (GPLM) 1991 – 1992
* Okello Ouman (GPLM) 1992 – 1997
* Okello Gnigelo (GPDF) August 1997 – 2003
* Okello Akway 2003 – 2004
* Keat Tuach Bithow (acting) January 2004 – 2005
* Omod Obong (GPDM) 29 September 2005 – April 2013
* Gatluak Tut Khot (GPDM) April 2013 – October 2018
* Omud Ojulu Obub (Prosperity Party ) October 2018 – present

(This list is based on information from Worldstatesmen.org.)[19]

* Alemithu Omod (GPDM) August 15, 2024 – present

## See also

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* Gambela conflict

## References

[edit]

1. ^ 2011 National Statistics Archived March 30, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
2. ^ a b Population Projection of Ethiopia for All Regions At Wereda Level from 2014 – 2017. Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Central Statistical Agency. Archived from the original on 6 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
3. ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Archived from the original on 2018-09-23. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
4. ^ "Anuak". minorityrights.org. 19 June 2015. Archived from the original on 2023-07-17. Retrieved 2023-07-19.
5. ^ "The 2007 Population and Housing Census of Ethiopia: Statistical Report for Gambella Region" (PDF). Ethiopian Statistical Service. Archived (pdf) from the original on February 15, 2023. Retrieved April 28, 2023.
6. ^ 1994 Population and Housing Census of Ethiopia: Results for Gambela Region, Vol. 1 Archived November 19, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Tables 2.1, 2.7, 2.15, 2.18, 2.23 (accessed 1 September 2009)
7. ^ Macro International Inc. "2008. Ethiopia Atlas of Key Demographic and Health Indicators, 2005." (Calverton: Macro International, 2008) Archived 2017-05-17 at the Wayback Machine, pp. 2, 3, 10 (accessed 28 January 2009)
8. ^ Population date Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine
9. ^ Census 2007 Tables: Nuer Region Archived November 14, 2010, at the Wayback Machine, Tables 2.1, 2.5, 3.1, 3.2, 3.4.
10. ^ "Situation South Sudan". data.unhcr.org. Archived from the original on 1 February 2018. Retrieved 20 April 2018.
11. ^ "Total refugees from South Sudan". data.unhcr.org. Archived from the original on 30 October 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2018.
12. ^ CSA 2005 National Statistics, Table D.2.
13. ^ "Special Report FAO/WFP Crop and Food Supply Assessment Mission to Ethiopia"[permanent dead link], section 4.5. (Accessed 21 June 2006)
14. ^ "Local History in Ethiopia" Archived 2008-02-27 at the Wayback Machine (pdf) The Nordic Africa Institute website (accessed 29 January 2008)
15. ^ "Seismic Survey Project in Ethiopia Put into Operation" Archived 2007-09-29 at the Wayback Machine (ZPEB press release)
16. ^ "Bureau launches 71 water projects in Gambella State" Archived 2007-09-27 at the Wayback Machine (Walta Information Center)
17. ^ "Construction of Gambella-Etang-Jikawo asphalt road well in progress"[permanent dead link], Ethiopian News Agency, 13 May 2009 (accessed 30 May 2009)
18. ^ Anwar, Mohammad Amir (15 June 2015). "The lesser known story of India's role in Ethiopian land grabs". The Ecologist. ISSN 0012-9631. OCLC 263593196. Archived from the original on 17 April 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
19. ^ According to the account provided by Human Rights Watch (HRW), there was a president of Gambela prior to Okello Ouman, who was killed by his own troops in 1991. HRW provides no further information on this individual, not even a name."Targeting the Anuak: Human Rights Violations and Crimes against Humanity in Ethiopia's Gambella Region" Archived 2014-07-25 at the Wayback Machine

## External links

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* FDRE States: Basic Information - Gambella
* "Violence in Gambella: An Overview" on the site of Oxfam America.
* "The Current Situation in Gambella", Press Release from the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Ministry of Federal Affairs
* Map of Gambela region at UN-OCHA[permanent dead link]
* Map of the Gambela region at the Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Agency (DPPA) of Ethiopia

## Further reading

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* Fred Pierce, 'The Land Grabbers'
* Medhane Tadesse, "Gambella: The impact of local conflict on regional security" Institute for Security Studies website
* Human Rights Watch, "Targeting the Anuak: Human Rights Violations and Crimes Against Humanity in Ethiopia's Gambella Region"

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First-level administrative divisions of Ethiopia

Regions|

* Afar
* Amhara
* Benishangul-Gumuz
* Central Ethiopia
* Gambela
* Harari
* Oromia
* Sidama
* Somali
* South Ethiopia
* Southwest Ethiopia
* Tigray

Chartered cities|

* Addis Ababa
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Topics|

* Governors
* Flags and emblems

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Zones and Woredas of the Gambela Region

List of districts in the Gambela Region

Anyuak Zone|

* Abwobo
* Dimma
* Gambela
* Gog
* Jor

Nuer Zone|

* Akobo
* Jikaw
* Lare
* Wentawo

Mezhenger Zone|

* Godere
* Mengesh

Special woredas|

* Itang

7°37′06″N 34°41′22″E﻿ / ﻿7.6184422°N 34.6893311°E﻿ / 7.6184422; 34.6893311
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