Liben, Somali (woreda)
Encyclopedia
Liben is one of the 47 woreda
s in the Somali Region
of Ethiopia
. Part of the Liben Zone
, Liben is bordered on the south by the Dawa River
which separates it from Moyale
, on the west and north by the Oromia Region
, on the north and east by the Ganale Dorya River
which separates it from the Afder Zone
, and on the east by Dolo Odo
.
The altitude of this woreda ranges from 200 along the Ganale Dorya, to as high as 1500 meters above sea level.
Liben is located at the frontier between the traditional territories of the Somali
and Oromo people
s living in the southwestern part of Ethiopia. Accordingly, local groups of both Somali and Oromo nationalities have a vested interest in the control of the relatively rich pastoral resources in the district and therefore have been in conflict over its control. One attempt to resolve the dispute between the two Regions was the October, 2004 referendum held in about 420 kebele
s in 12 woreda
s across five zones of the Somali Region. According to the official results of the referendum, about 80% of the disputed areas have fallen under Oromia administration, though there were numerous allegations of voting irregularities in many of them.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 138,579, of whom 61,972 are men and 76,607 are women; 8,242 or 5.95% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 11.3%. Information is not available for the area of Liben, so its density cannot be calculated. The southern part of Liben is inhabited by the Degodia, while the northern part is divided between the Garre
, Marehan
, Ajuran, and Karanle clans of the Somali people; the last two each having fewer members than the first three.
The 1997 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 112,465, of whom 63,270 were males and 49,195 were females; 5,518 or 4.91% of its population were urban dwellers. The largest ethnic group reported in Liben was the Somali
112,350 (99.9%).
and sorghum
, and 0.53% in pulses; no area was reported to be planted in root crops or vegetables. Permanent crops included 0.01 hectares planted in fruit trees. 34.41% of the farmers both raise crops and livestock, while 1.47% only grow crops and 64.12% only raise livestock. Land tenure in this woreda was distributed amongst 99.47% owning their land, a negligible number renting, and the remaining 0.53% holding their land under other forms of tenure.
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 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...
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 Liben Zone
Liben Zone
Liben is one of the nine Zones of the Somali Region of Ethiopia. Liben is bordered on the south by Kenya, on the west by the Oromia Region, on the northeast by Afder, and on the southeast by Somalia. Towns in Liben include Softu and Dolo....
, Liben is bordered on the south by the Dawa River
Dawa River
The Dawa 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 Ganale Dorya at the border with Somalia to become the Jubba. The river forms part of the Ethiopia–Kenya border and part of the Ethiopia–Somalia...
which separates it from Moyale
Moyale, Somali (woreda)
Moyale is one of the 47 woredas in the Somali Region of Ethiopia. Located at the extreme southwest corner of the Liben Zone, Moyale is bounded on the south by Kenya, on the west by the Oromia Region, and on the north and east by the Dawa, which separates Moyale from Liben and Dolo Odo. The...
, on the west and north by the Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
, on the north and east 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 Afder Zone
Afder Zone
Afder is one of the nine Zones of the Somali Region of Ethiopia. Afder is bordered on the southwest by the Ganale Dorya River which separates it from Liben, on the west by the Oromia Region, on the north and northeast by the Shebelle River which separates it from Gode, and on the east and...
, and on the east by Dolo Odo
Dolo Odo
Dolo Odo is one of the 47 woredas in the Somali Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Liben Zone, Dolo Odo is located in the angle formed by the confluence of the Ganale Dorya with the Dawa River, and bordered to the west by Moyale, to the northwest by Liben, on the north and east by Afder Zone, and on...
.
The altitude of this woreda ranges from 200 along the Ganale Dorya, to as high as 1500 meters above sea level.
Liben is located at the frontier between the traditional territories of 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...
and Oromo people
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...
s living in the southwestern part of Ethiopia. Accordingly, local groups of both Somali and Oromo nationalities have a vested interest in the control of the relatively rich pastoral resources in the district and therefore have been in conflict over its control. One attempt to resolve the dispute between the two Regions was the October, 2004 referendum held in about 420 kebele
Kebele
A kebele is the smallest administrative unit of Ethiopia similar to ward, a neighbourhood or a localized and delimited group of people...
s in 12 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...
s across five zones of the Somali Region. According to the official results of the referendum, about 80% of the disputed areas have fallen under Oromia administration, though there were numerous allegations of voting irregularities in many of them.
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 138,579, of whom 61,972 are men and 76,607 are women; 8,242 or 5.95% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 11.3%. Information is not available for the area of Liben, so its density cannot be calculated. The southern part of Liben is inhabited by the Degodia, while the northern part is divided between the Garre
Garre
The Garre are a Somali pastoralist clan who live in Somalia, Kenya, and Ethiopia. They are sub-clan of the Digil clan. Almost all speak the Garre language, though it may be secondary to the Maay speaking sub-clan of Darrawe who speak Maay as their first language. Their urban centers include...
, Marehan
Marehan
The Marehan are a Somali clan. They are one of the major Darod sub-clans, forming a part of the Sade confederation of clans. The majority of the Marehan live in the Jubbada Hoose, Gedo and Jubbada Dhexe regions in southwestern Somalia, as well as the Galguduud and Mudug regions in central...
, Ajuran, and Karanle clans of the Somali people; the last two each having fewer members than the first three.
The 1997 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 112,465, of whom 63,270 were males and 49,195 were females; 5,518 or 4.91% of its population were urban dwellers. The largest ethnic group reported in Liben 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...
112,350 (99.9%).
Agriculture
A sample enumeration performed by the CSA in 2001 interviewed 6,195 farmers in this woreda, who held an average of 0.5 hectares of land. Of the 3103 hectares of private land surveyed, 51.79% was under cultivation, 2.03% was pasture, 41.15% fallow, and 5.03% was devoted to other uses; the area in woodland is missing. For the land surveyed in this woreda, 48.66% is planted in cereals like maizeMaize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
and sorghum
Sorghum
Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, one of which is raised for grain and many of which are used as fodder plants either cultivated or as part of pasture. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of all continents...
, and 0.53% in pulses; no area was reported to be planted in root crops or vegetables. Permanent crops included 0.01 hectares planted in fruit trees. 34.41% of the farmers both raise crops and livestock, while 1.47% only grow crops and 64.12% only raise livestock. Land tenure in this woreda was distributed amongst 99.47% owning their land, a negligible number renting, and the remaining 0.53% holding their land under other forms of tenure.