Guradamole, Oromia (woreda)
Encyclopedia
Guradamole is one of the 180 woreda
s in the Oromia Region
of Ethiopia
. Part of the Bale Zone
, Guradamole is bordered on the south by the Ganale Dorya River
which separates it from the Borena Zone
, on the southwest by Meda Welabu
, on the west by Mennana Harena Buluk
, on the northwest by Berbere
, on the northeast by the Mena River
which separates it from Goro
, and on the southeast by the Somali Region
. The administrative center of the woreda is Haro Dibe.
and the Weyib
. A survey of the land in this woreda shows that 18.7% is arable or cultivable (4.8% was under annual crops), 49.2% pasture, 26.8% forest
or dense vegetation, and the remaining 5.3% is considered degraded, mountainous or otherwise unusable.
It is estimated that 60% of the total population of this woreda lead a nomad
ic lifestyle. Industry in the woreda consists of only one grain mill, although 3 retailers and one service provider were licensed in this woreda. Incense and gum resources existed, but had not been developed. There were 11 Farmers Associations with 5845 members and no Farmers Service Cooperatives. , construction of a rural road in Guradamole was underway. About 1.8% of the total population has access to drinking water
.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 26,271, of whom 13,171 are men and 13,100 are women; 608 or 2.31% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 13.5%. With an estimated area of 6,492.67 square kilometers, Guradamole has an estimated population density of 4 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 27.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 19,015, of whom 9,522 were men and 9,493 women; 337 or 1.77% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Guradamole were the Oromo
(90.08%), and the Somali
(9.74%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.18% of the population. Oromiffa
was spoken as a first language by 90.08%, and 9.71% spoke Amharic
; the remaining 0.21% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants were Muslim
, with 99.69% of the population having reported they practiced that belief.
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...
s in the Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
of Ethiopia
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...
. Part of the Bale Zone
Bale Zone
Bale is one of the 17 zones in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Bale is named for the former kingdom of Bale, which was in approximately the same area...
, Guradamole is bordered on the south by the Ganale Dorya River
Ganale Dorya River
The Ganale Dorya River is a perennial river in southeastern Ethiopia. Rising in the mountains east of Aleta Wendo, the Dawa flows south and east to join with the Dawa at the border with Somalia to become the Jubba. Tributaries include the Welmel, Weyib , Dumale, Doya, Hawas and the Hambala...
which separates it from the Borena Zone
Borena Zone
Borena is one of the 17 zones of the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Borena is named after a tribe of the Oromo people. Borena is bordered on the south by Kenya, on the west by the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region, on the north by Guji and on the east by the Somali Region. The...
, on the southwest by Meda Welabu
Meda Welabu
Meda Welabu is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Bale Zone, Meda Welabu is bordered on the south by the Ganale Dorya River which separates it from the Borena Zone, on the northwest by Nensebo, on the north by Mennana Harena Buluk, and on the northeast by Guradamole...
, on the west by Mennana Harena Buluk
Mennana Harena Buluk
Mennana Harena Buluk is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Bale Zone, Mennana Harena Buluk is bordered on the south by Meda Welabu, on the west by Nensebo, on the northwest by Adaba, on the north by Goba, on the northeast by Berbere, and on the east by Guradamole...
, on the northwest by Berbere
Berbere (woreda)
Berbere is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Bale Zone, Berbere is bordered on the south by Mennana Harena Buluk, on the northwest by Goba, on the north by Sinanana Dinsho, on the northeast by Goro, and on the east by Guradamole; the Mena River separates it from...
, on the northeast by the Mena River
Mena River
The Mena is a river of eastern Ethiopia. It is a tributary of the Ganale Dorya....
which separates it from Goro
Goro, Oromia (woreda)
Goro is one of the 180 woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. It shares the same name as the administrative center of the woreda, Goro...
, and on the southeast by 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...
. The administrative center of the woreda is Haro Dibe.
Overview
The geography of this woreda is characterized by the relatively level plain of the central portion, with rugged terrain in the southern and northern parts. Mount Kondala is the highest point; other notable peaks include Mounts Barat, Shabby, Damole, and Habrana. Rivers include the Dumel, WelmelWelmel River
The Welmel is a river of eastern Ethiopia. It is a tributary of the Ganale Dorya River.- See also :* List of Ethiopian rivers...
and the Weyib
Weyib River
Weyib River is a river of eastern Ethiopia. It rises in the Bale Mountains east of Goba in the Oromia Region, flowing east to pass through the Sof Omar Caves, then to the southeast until it joins the Ganale Dorya River in the Somali Region....
. A survey of the land in this woreda shows that 18.7% is arable or cultivable (4.8% was under annual crops), 49.2% pasture, 26.8% forest
Forestry in Ethiopia
In the late nineteenth century, about 30% of Ethiopia was covered with forest. The clearing of land for agricultural use and the cutting of trees for fuel gradually changed the scene, and today forest areas have dwindled to less than 4% of Ethiopia's total land. The northern parts of the highlands...
or dense vegetation, and the remaining 5.3% is considered degraded, mountainous or otherwise unusable.
It is estimated that 60% of the total population of this woreda lead a nomad
Nomad
Nomadic people , commonly known as itinerants in modern-day contexts, are communities of people who move from one place to another, rather than settling permanently in one location. There are an estimated 30-40 million nomads in the world. Many cultures have traditionally been nomadic, but...
ic lifestyle. Industry in the woreda consists of only one grain mill, although 3 retailers and one service provider were licensed in this woreda. Incense and gum resources existed, but had not been developed. There were 11 Farmers Associations with 5845 members and no Farmers Service Cooperatives. , construction of a rural road in Guradamole was underway. About 1.8% of the total population has access to drinking water
Water supply and sanitation in Ethiopia
Access to water supply and sanitation in Ethiopia is amongst the lowest in Sub-Saharan Africa and the entire world. While access has increased substantially with funding from external aid, much still remains to be done to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of halving the share of people...
.
Demographics
Based on figures published by 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 woreda has an estimated total population of 26,271, of whom 13,171 are men and 13,100 are women; 608 or 2.31% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 13.5%. With an estimated area of 6,492.67 square kilometers, Guradamole has an estimated population density of 4 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 27.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 19,015, of whom 9,522 were men and 9,493 women; 337 or 1.77% of its population were urban dwellers at the time. The two largest ethnic groups reported in Guradamole were the Oromo
Oromo people
The Oromo are an ethnic group found in Ethiopia, northern Kenya, .and parts of Somalia. With 30 million members, they constitute the single largest ethnic group in Ethiopia and approximately 34.49% of the population according to the 2007 census...
(90.08%), and 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...
(9.74%); all other ethnic groups made up 0.18% of the population. Oromiffa
Oromo language
Oromo, also known as Afaan Oromo, Oromiffa, Afan Boran, Afan Orma, and sometimes in other languages by variant spellings of these names , is an Afro-Asiatic language, and the most widely spoken of the Cushitic family. Forms of Oromo are spoken as a first language by more than 25 million Oromo and...
was spoken as a first language by 90.08%, and 9.71% spoke Amharic
Amharic language
Amharic is a Semitic language spoken in Ethiopia. It is the second most-spoken Semitic language in the world, after Arabic, and the official working language of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Thus, it has official status and is used nationwide. Amharic is also the official or working...
; the remaining 0.21% spoke all other primary languages reported. The majority of the inhabitants were Muslim
Islam in Ethiopia
According to the latest 2007 national census, Islam is the second most widely practised religion in Ethiopia after Christianity, with over 25 million of Ethiopians adhering to Islam according to the 2007 national census, having arrived in Ethiopia in 615...
, with 99.69% of the population having reported they practiced that belief.