Akobo
Encyclopedia
Akobo is one of the 12 woreda
s in the Gambela Region
of Ethiopia
. It is named after the Akobo River
, which flows westwards then north into the Baro River
, defining its border with South Sudan
. Part of the Nuer Zone, Akobo is bordered on the south and west by Sudan, on the north by Wentawo
, and on the west by the Anuak Zone. The westernmost point of this woreda is the westernmost point of Ethiopia
. Towns in Akobo include Tergol.
. According to the Atlas of the Ethiopian Rural Economy published by the Central Statistical Agency
(CSA), around 10% of the woreda is forest. The eastern corner is occupied by the Gambela National Park
.
The economy of Akobo is predomantly agricultural. There are no agricultural cooperatives, no documented roads, and little other infrastructure. Along with Jikawo, Akobo becomes flooded during the rainy season, requiring the people to migrate to the highlands with their cattle until the waters recede; thus raising livestock is the primary source of income in this woreda.
; however at some point before 2001, that Zone was abolished and Akobo made part of Administrative Zone 2
. Subsequently, between 2001 and 2007, Akobo became part of the Nuer Zone.Prior to 2007, the northern kebele
s were split from this woreda to create Wantawo.
The Baro River entered flood stage 23 August 2006, drowning two people and displacing over 6,000 people in Akobo and adjacent woredas. Authorities were concerned about foot-and-mouth disease
afflicting the local livestock following the flooding, as well as epidemics of malaria
.
According to the 1994 national census, the woreda's population was reported to be 25,299 in 1,942 households, of whom 12,547 were men and 12,752 women; 244 or 0.96% of the population were urban inhabitants. (This total also includes an estimate for nine kebele
s, which were not counted; they were estimated to have 13,903 inhabitants, of whom 6,637 were men and 7,266 women.) The largest ethnic group in Akobo was the Nuer (99.94%), and Nuer
was spoken as a first language by 99.94% of the interviewed inhabitants. The majority of the inhabitants said they were Protestant
, with 96.67% of the population reporting they held that belief, while 1.46% professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity.
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 Gambela Region
Gambela Region
Gambela is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia. Previously known as "Region 12", its capital is Gambela. Lying between the Baro and Akobo Rivers, the western part of Gambela includes the Baro salient....
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...
. It is named after the Akobo River
Akobo River
The Akobo River is a river on the border between South Sudan and Ethiopia. From its source in the Ethiopian Highlands near Mizan Teferi is flows west for to join the Pibor River...
, which flows westwards then north into the Baro River
Baro River
The Baro River is a river in southwestern Ethiopia, which defines part of Ethiopia's border with South Sudan. From its source in the Ethiopian Highlands it flows west for to join the Pibor River...
, defining its border with South Sudan
South Sudan
South Sudan , officially the Republic of South Sudan, is a landlocked country located in the Sahel region of northeastern Africa. It is also part of the North Africa UN sub-region. Its current capital is Juba, which is also its largest city; the capital city is planned to be moved to the more...
. Part of the Nuer Zone, Akobo is bordered on the south and west by Sudan, on the north by Wentawo
Wentawo
Wentawo is one of the 12 woredas in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Nuer Zone, Wentawo is bordered on the south by Akobo, on the west and north by Sudan, and on the east by Jikawo; the Akobo to the west and the Baro River on the north define Wentawo's boundaries with Sudan...
, and on the west by the Anuak Zone. The westernmost point of this woreda is the westernmost point of Ethiopia
Extreme points of Ethiopia
The extreme points of Ethiopia include the coordinates that are further north, south, east or west than any other location in Ethiopia; and the highest and the lowest elevations in the country...
. Towns in Akobo include Tergol.
Overview
The terrain in Akobo is predominantly swampy, with few distinguishing high points; elevations range around 300 meters above sea level. Rivers include the Gilo RiverGilo River
The Gilo River is a river in the Gambela Region of southwestern Ethiopia. It is also known by a variety of names: the Gimira of Dizu call it the "Mene", while the Gemira of Chako call it "Owis", and Amhara and Oromo settlers in the early 20th century knew it by a third name, "Bako"...
. According to the Atlas of the Ethiopian Rural Economy published by the Central Statistical Agency
Central 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...
(CSA), around 10% of the woreda is forest. The eastern corner is occupied by the Gambela National Park
Gambela National Park
Gambela National Park is a proposed National Park, but the steps needed to fully protect it by the government of Ethiopia have not been completed as of 2002...
.
The economy of Akobo is predomantly agricultural. There are no agricultural cooperatives, no documented roads, and little other infrastructure. Along with Jikawo, Akobo becomes flooded during the rainy season, requiring the people to migrate to the highlands with their cattle until the waters recede; thus raising livestock is the primary source of income in this woreda.
History
At the start of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Akobo was part of the Administrative Zone 3Administrative Zone 3 (Gambela)
Administrative Zone 3 is a former administrative subdivision of the Ethiopian Region of Gambela. This zone was bordered by Sudan on the south, west and north, by Administrative Zone 1 on the east and Administrative Zone 2 on the southeast; the Pibor defines the border on the south and west, while...
; however at some point before 2001, that Zone was abolished and Akobo made part of Administrative Zone 2
Administrative Zone 2 (Gambela)
Administrative Zone 2 is one of the three zones of the Ethiopian Region of Gambela; none of the zones of Gambela have names. This zone is bordered by South Sudan and the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region on the south, Administrative Zone 3 on the west, Administrative Zone 1 on the...
. Subsequently, between 2001 and 2007, Akobo became part of the Nuer Zone.Prior to 2007, the northern 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 were split from this woreda to create Wantawo.
The Baro River entered flood stage 23 August 2006, drowning two people and displacing over 6,000 people in Akobo and adjacent woredas. Authorities were concerned about foot-and-mouth disease
Foot-and-mouth disease
Foot-and-mouth disease or hoof-and-mouth disease is an infectious and sometimes fatal viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including domestic and wild bovids...
afflicting the local livestock following the flooding, as well as epidemics of malaria
Malaria
Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease of humans and other animals caused by eukaryotic protists of the genus Plasmodium. The disease results from the multiplication of Plasmodium parasites within red blood cells, causing symptoms that typically include fever and headache, in severe cases...
.
Demographics
Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the CSA, this woreda has a total population of 24,674, of whom 14,273 are men and 10,401 women; with an area of 2,080.34 square kilometers, Akobo has a population density of 11.86 which is less than the Zone average of 23.79 persons per square kilometer. While 605 or 2.45% are urban inhabitants, a further 4 persons are pastoralists. A total of 4,446 households were counted in this Zone, which results in an average of 5.5 persons to a household, and 4,211 housing units.According to the 1994 national census, the woreda's population was reported to be 25,299 in 1,942 households, of whom 12,547 were men and 12,752 women; 244 or 0.96% of the population were urban inhabitants. (This total also includes an estimate for nine 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, which were not counted; they were estimated to have 13,903 inhabitants, of whom 6,637 were men and 7,266 women.) The largest ethnic group in Akobo was the Nuer (99.94%), and Nuer
Nuer language
The Nuer language is a Nilo-Saharan language of the Western Nilotic group. It is spoken by the Nuer people of South Sudan and in western Ethiopia. Nuer is one of eastern and central Africa's most widely spoken languages. The Nuer nation is one of the largest in South Sudan.Nuer language has a...
was spoken as a first language by 99.94% of the interviewed inhabitants. The majority of the inhabitants said they were Protestant
P'ent'ay
P'ent'ay or Pentay is a slang term widely used in modern Ethiopia, and among Ethiopians living abroad, to describe Ethiopian Christians who are not members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo, Ethiopian Orthodox Tehadeso, Roman Catholic or Ethiopian Catholic churches...
, with 96.67% of the population reporting they held that belief, while 1.46% professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity.