Fiq, Ethiopia
Encyclopedia
Fiq is a town in eastern Ethiopia
. Located in the Fiq Zone
of the Somali Region
, this town has a latitude and longitude of 08°8′N 42°18′E with an elevation of 1229 meters above sea level.
Somali
would gather during certain months. Travel by motorcar between Fiq and Babille
was possible by a track. Administrative buildings present at the time included a post office, telegraph office and an infirmary.
Early in the Ogaden War
, Fiq was captured by Somali
units; following the fall of Jijiga
they used the town as a base for the southern jaw of a pincher attack with the goal of capturing Harar
, which raged for four months from September 1977 to January 1978. Despite unexpectedly heavy resistance fro the Somali, the Ethiopian Eighth division, supported by a Cuba
n artillery battalion, entered Fiq 8 March 1979.
in 2005, this town has an estimated total population of 12,911, of whom 6,932 were men and 5,979 were women. The 1997 national census reported a total population for this town of 8,656, of whom 4,580 were men and 4,076 were women. The predominant ethnic group reported in Fiq was the Somali
(99.03% of the population). It is the largest town in Fiq
woreda
.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. Located in the Fiq Zone
Fiq Zone
Fiq is one of the nine Zones of the Somali Region of Ethiopia. This zone is named after its largest city, Fiq. Fiq Zone is bordered on the south by Gode, on the west and north by the Oromia Region, and on the east by Degehabur...
of the Somali Region
Somali Region
Somali Region ; is the eastern-most of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia. It is often called Somalia, though it is not to be confused with the independent country of the same name. The capital of Somali State is Jijiga...
, this town has a latitude and longitude of 08°8′N 42°18′E with an elevation of 1229 meters above sea level.
History
The Guida dell'Africa Orientale Italiana described Fiq in 1938 as a place where the HawiyeHawiye
The Hawiye is a Somali clan. Members of the clan primarily live in central and southern Somalia, in the Ogaden and the North Eastern Province , and in smaller numbers in other countries. Like many Somalis, Hawiye members trace their ancestry to Irir Samaale...
Somali
Somali people
Somalis are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa, also known as the Somali Peninsula. The overwhelming majority of Somalis speak the Somali language, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family...
would gather during certain months. Travel by motorcar between Fiq and Babille
Babille
Babille is a town in eastern Ethiopia. Named after one of the 12 major clans of the Oromo people , it is located in the Misraq Hararghe Zone of the Oromia Region, 30 kilometers east of Harar...
was possible by a track. Administrative buildings present at the time included a post office, telegraph office and an infirmary.
Early in the Ogaden War
Ogaden War
The Ogaden War was a conventional conflict between Somalia and Ethiopia in 1977 and 1978 over the Ogaden region of Ethiopia. In a notable illustration of the nature of Cold War alliances, the Soviet Union switched from supplying aid to Somalia to supporting Ethiopia, which had previously been...
, Fiq was captured by Somali
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
units; following the fall of Jijiga
Jijiga
Jijiga is a city in eastern Ethiopia and the capital of the Somali Region of that country. Located in the Jijiga Zone approximately 80 km east of Harar and 60 km west of the border with Somalia, this city has a latitude and longitude of with an elevation of 1,609 meters above sea...
they used the town as a base for the southern jaw of a pincher attack with the goal of capturing Harar
Harar
Harar is an eastern city in Ethiopia, and the capital of the modern Harari ethno-political division of Ethiopia...
, which raged for four months from September 1977 to January 1978. Despite unexpectedly heavy resistance fro the Somali, the Ethiopian Eighth division, supported by a Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
n artillery battalion, entered Fiq 8 March 1979.
Demographics
Based on figures from the Central Statistical AgencyCentral Statistical Agency (Ethiopia)
The Central Statistical Agency is an agency of the government of Ethiopia designated to provide all surveys and censuses for that country used to monitor economic and social growth, as well as to act as an official training center in that field. It is part of the Ethiopian Ministry of Finance and...
in 2005, this town has an estimated total population of 12,911, of whom 6,932 were men and 5,979 were women. The 1997 national census reported a total population for this town of 8,656, of whom 4,580 were men and 4,076 were women. The predominant ethnic group reported in Fiq was the Somali
Somali people
Somalis are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa, also known as the Somali Peninsula. The overwhelming majority of Somalis speak the Somali language, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family...
(99.03% of the population). It is the largest town in Fiq
Fiq (woreda)
Fiq is one of the 47 woredas in the Somali Region of Ethiopia, named after its major town, Fiq. Part of the Fiq Zone, Fiq is bordered on the south by Hamero, on the west and north by the Oromia Region, and on the east by the Degehabur Zone; the woreda's western boundary is defined by the Erer River...
woreda
Woreda
Woreda is an administrative division of Ethiopia , equivalent to a district . Woredas are composed of a number of Kebele, or neighborhood associations, which are the smallest unit of local government in Ethiopia...
.