Felege Selam
Encyclopedia
Felege Selam is a town in western Ethiopia
. One of three located in the Pawe special woreda
of the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, it has a latitude and longitude of 11°20′N 36°27′E with an elevation of 2054 meters above sea level.
The town gives its name to a parliament
ary constituency; the current Member of Parliament
for Felege Selam on the House of Peoples' Representatives is Asmarech Haileguangul, who has held the position since 2005.
Felege Selam was founded as one of the resettlement
projects under the Derg
in the years 1984-6, when it was known as Mender 4 (or "Left 4", because the settlement was located on the left side of the Beles River
). The town has been the scene of violent confrontations between the indigenous Gumuz and newcomers brought to the area by the resettlement project: the first such clash occurred 18 December 1991 when a number of the Gumuz attacked the town, killing 58 resettlers from Kambaata and Hadiya, reportedly in retaliation for the accidental death by shooting of a member of the Gumuz. The next clash happened 1 September 1993 when Gumuz men attacked the Felege Selam market, killing 20 people and wounding many more. Later that month (12 September), the townspeople organized themselves and retaliated with an attack on local Gumuz, killing several. At this point the authorities stepped in and enforced a cease-fire between the groups. Despite these conflicts, relations between the newcomers and the Gumuz are smooth in other ways. According to Wolde-Selassie Abbute, both parties interact and exchange goods at the markets in Felege Selam and Ketema, with the Gumuz selling finger millet
, sorghum
, pumpkins, peppers and fire wood. Gumuz children attend the local schools together with the children of the newcomers.
in 2005, Felege Selam has an estimated total population of 2,907, of whom 1,395 are men and 1,512 are women. According to the 1994 national census, its total population was 1,689 of whom 807 were men and 882 were women.
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...
. One of three located in the Pawe special woreda
Pawe special woreda
Pawe is one of the 21 woredas in the Benishangul-Gumuz Region of Ethiopia. Because it is not part of any Zone in Benishangul-Gumuz, it is considered a Special woreda, an administrative subdivision which is similar to an autonomous area. Pawe is bordered on the south and west by Metekel, and on the...
of the Benishangul-Gumuz Region, it has a latitude and longitude of 11°20′N 36°27′E with an elevation of 2054 meters above sea level.
The town gives its name to a parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
ary constituency; the current Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Felege Selam on the House of Peoples' Representatives is Asmarech Haileguangul, who has held the position since 2005.
Felege Selam was founded as one of the resettlement
Resettlement and villagization in Ethiopia
Resettlement and villagization in Ethiopia has been an issue since the late nineteenth century, due to the overcrowded population of the Ethiopian highlands...
projects under the Derg
Derg
The Derg or Dergue was a Communist military junta that came to power in Ethiopia following the ousting of Haile Selassie I. Derg, which means "committee" or "council" in Ge'ez, is the short name of the Coordinating Committee of the Armed Forces, Police, and Territorial Army, a committee of...
in the years 1984-6, when it was known as Mender 4 (or "Left 4", because the settlement was located on the left side of the Beles River
Beles River
Beles River is a river of western Ethiopia. A tributary of the Abay river , the Beles rises in Dangur woreda to flow in a south-west direction to its confluence. Its catchment area amounts to about 14,200 square kilometers....
). The town has been the scene of violent confrontations between the indigenous Gumuz and newcomers brought to the area by the resettlement project: the first such clash occurred 18 December 1991 when a number of the Gumuz attacked the town, killing 58 resettlers from Kambaata and Hadiya, reportedly in retaliation for the accidental death by shooting of a member of the Gumuz. The next clash happened 1 September 1993 when Gumuz men attacked the Felege Selam market, killing 20 people and wounding many more. Later that month (12 September), the townspeople organized themselves and retaliated with an attack on local Gumuz, killing several. At this point the authorities stepped in and enforced a cease-fire between the groups. Despite these conflicts, relations between the newcomers and the Gumuz are smooth in other ways. According to Wolde-Selassie Abbute, both parties interact and exchange goods at the markets in Felege Selam and Ketema, with the Gumuz selling finger millet
Finger millet
Eleusine coracana, commonly Finger millet , also known as African millet or Ragi is an annual plant widely grown as a cereal in the arid areas of Africa and Asia. E...
, 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...
, pumpkins, peppers and fire wood. Gumuz children attend the local schools together with the children of the newcomers.
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, Felege Selam has an estimated total population of 2,907, of whom 1,395 are men and 1,512 are women. According to the 1994 national census, its total population was 1,689 of whom 807 were men and 882 were women.