Afder-Zone

The Afder zone ( Somali: Afdheer, Ge'ez: አፍዴር ) is an administrative zone of the Somali region in Ethiopia. According to 2007 census, it had 570,629 inhabitants, of whom 45 763 were living in urban areas. It lies between the rivers Shabelle in the north and in the south Ganale. To the west it borders within Ethiopia to the Oromia Region, on the east by Somalia. Capital of the zone is Hargele.

The zone name is derived from a hill, which is near the salt lake of Guda Asbo.

In 1997, of 358 998 inhabitants, 96.21 % and 1.29 % Somali Oromo. 93.23 % spoke Somali as their first language and 2.13 % Oromo. 3.43% could read and write.

Until the reorganization of the administrative divisions of Ethiopia in 1991, the area belonged to the province of Afder Bale. Within Bale made ​​it since 1984 the district ( Awrajja ) El Kere Kere with El as its capital.

The zone is in accordance with the documents of the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia from 2007 to the nine woredas Afder, Bare, Dolobay ( Dolo Bay), Goro Bekeksa ( Goro Baqaqsa ) Guradamole, Kensa Dula, Serer, mirab Imi (West - Imi ) and Weyb ( Weyib ) divided. In the documents of 1998 and 2005, however, only seven woredas are called; thereby missing Goro Bekeksa, Kensa Dula, Serer and Weyb, however, appear the names Chereti ( Cherti, Cherati ) and Elekere (El Kere, El cart). On a map of the Ethiopian Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Agency of 2006, a Woreda Hargele. The divisions within the Somali region, have been often, variously modified in the context of local power struggles. In addition, the limits for Oromia region are controversial. The end of 2004 a referendum was carried out in the border areas, which should clarify their membership, while it was mainly in Guradamole and Goro Bekeksa tensions between Oromo and Somali.

Larger towns in Afder are Chereti, El Kere, Gudelcha, Hargele, Guda Asbo (God - USBO ), Bare and Weldiya.

The West Zone is slightly higher, and predominantly thick, thorny scrublands, the semi-arid lowlands to the east is covered by open bush and grassland. Important livelihood in most parts of the zone, the livestock, especially camels, sheep and goats. Cattle have become less important, since the environmental conditions have become more difficult. The nomads usually roam within the Afder zone. On Ganale and the only seasonal water-bearing Webi Gestro ( Weyb ), which flows from north to south through the area, live sedentary farmers, especially of maize and cattle farming. In the environs of the rivers and in a part of the higher-lying area in the northwest of maize is associated with the keeping of cattle and small livestock ( Agropastoralismus ).

In Afder salt extraction is operated traditional. The salt from the field of Guda Asbo is sold mainly in the Ethiopian highlands, where demand has increased, since Eritrea has in the course of the Eritrea - Ethiopia war in 1998-2000 closed its border with Ethiopia. In addition, the roads have been improved in the salt field. Add the salt extraction young men work from the environment and from poorer families ranchers, but also workers from Kalafo and from the neighboring Bakool region in Somalia. Frankincense, Myrrh and gum arabic are other trade goods from the Afder zone.

Swell

Afder | Degehabur | Fiq | Gode | Jijiga | Korahe | Liben | Shinile | Warder

• Somali
• Zone in Ethiopia