Bale-Zone

The Bale zone is an administrative zone in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. It is located geographically in the southern highlands. The inhabitants are predominantly Oromo of the subgroup of Arsi.

History

The zone is named after the Muslim state Bale, who was in the area until the 16th century, and the Ethiopian province of Bale, which existed from the late 19th century to 1991, and also parts of lowland areas included in today's Somali region.

The border areas of Somali region are controversial. The end of 2004 a referendum was carried out in the border areas, which should clarify their membership, while there were also between Bale and the Afder zone of Somali conflict.

Population

According to the Central Statistics Agency ( CSA), the zone in 2007 had 1,418,864 inhabitants, of whom lived 12, 39 % in urban areas in the year. For 2005, the CSA Goba, robe, Dodola, Ginir, Adaba, Goro and Menna lists the largest cities.

In 1994, of 1,217,864 inhabitants, 88.93 % Oromo, Amhara 7.65%, 1.39 % and 0.88 % Somali Sidama. 87.5 % spoke Oromo as their first language, 9.5% Amharic, 1.51% and 0.88 % Somali Sidama.

Structure

The zone is further subdivided into woredas. The CSA lists in their documents from 2007, the 20 woredas Agarfa, Berbere, Kachen Dawe, Dawe Serer, Dinsho, Dolo Mena, Gasera, Ginir, Gololcha, Goba, Goba town, Goro, Guradamole, Harena Buluk, Legehida, Meda Welabu, Rayitu, Robe town, Seweyna and Sinana on. In 2005, she mentioned, however, only the 17: Adaba, Agarfa, Berbere, Dodola, Gaserana Gololcha, Ginir, Goba, Goro, Guradamole, Kokosa, Legehida, Meda Welabu, Mennana Harena Buluk, Nensebo, Raytu, Seweyna and Sinanana Dinsho.