Jijiga-Zone

The Jijiga zone is an administrative zone of the Somali region in Ethiopia. According to 2007 census, it had 967,652 inhabitants, of whom 21.04 % ( 203 588 ) lived in urban areas. Capital of Jijiga zone ( Dschidschiga ), which is also the capital of the entire Somali region.

Geography

The zone is divided into the six woredas Awbere, Babila, Gursum, Jijiga, Harshin and Kebri Beyah. Larger towns in the Jijiga Zone Jijiga are, Awbere (Aw Barre ), Chinhahsan, Derwonaji, Hartisheik, Kebri Beyah and lefa Eisa ( lefa Isa ). Jijiga is bordered on the east by Somalia and the de facto independent Somaliland, Ethiopia in the west within the Oromia region. The border areas between Somali and Oromia are controversial, such as Chinhahsan is claimed by both regions. In Oromia there is a Woreda Babila and Woreda Gursum.

The area of Jijiga zone ranges from upland areas in the west to Chinhahsan to a share of the Haud in the east. The main rivers are Fafen, Jerer and Dakhata, not all year cause all water.

Population

In 1997, of 813 200 inhabitants, 87.51 % Somali, Oromo 7.49%, 2.13 % Amhara, Gurage 0.39% and 0.13 % Tigray; 2.21% were classified as foreigners from Somalia. 90.23 % spoke Somali as their first language, 6.68% and 2.81 % Oromo Amharic. 16.24% spoke a second language: 8.1% dominated addition Oromo, Somali 4.57% and 1.85 % Amharic. Of the more than ten year old population were 7.54% ( 61 293 ) read and write.

The Somali in Jijiga belong to different clans, including Isaaq, Dir ( Gadabursi and Issa ) and Darod. In the border area to the Oromo live mixed groups such as the Jarso.

Refugees

In 1988, in the adjacent northern Somalia escalated the conflict between the government army and the rebel SNM, hundreds of thousands of Somalis fled, mainly of the Isaaq clan, across the border into Ethiopia. After the takeover by the SNM more refugees came from the minority clans of Issa, Gadabursi and Darod. In the area of ​​Jijiga zone several refugee camps were so in Hartisheik - at times the largest refugee camp in the world - Derwonaji, and Teferi Ber Kebri Beyah ( more camps were opened in the Degehabur zone and one in Shinile ). Most were closed following the return of many refugees. Today Teferi Ber / Awbere and Sheder are in Kebri Beyah, mainly housed refugees from southern Somalia.

History

The area of Jijiga zone belonged to the reorganization of the administrative structure of Ethiopia 1991 Harerge province. Under Haile Selassie Amharic farmers were encouraged from the 1960s, located in the relatively fertile area to settle to Jijiga. For this pasture the Somali rancher has been claimed.

Economy

In the northwest of the zone sedentary farmers grow sorghum, maize, wheat and barley; live right on the border to Shinile zone ranchers and Agropastoralisten similar to this neighbor zone. In the central part of the zone Agropastoralisten combine corn and sorghum cultivation with cattle. In Haud the nomads operate the typical for this area Raising of camels and sheep.

In addition to the Degehabur zone, the Jijiga Zone is most affected by deforestation for charcoal production. The charcoal is mainly sold to traders from Hargeysa in the adjacent Somaliland / northern Somalia, which they export to some extent in the Gulf States.

Swell

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

• Somali
• Zone in Ethiopia