Jor (woreda)
Encyclopedia
Jor is one of the eight woreda
s in the Gambela Region
of Ethiopia
. Part of the Anuak Zone, Jor is bordered on the south by the Akobo River
which separates it from South Sudan
, on the west and north by the Nuer Zone, on the northeast by Abobo
, and on the east by Gog
; the Alwero River defines part of its northern boundary. The administrative center of this woreda is Chentua.
. According to the Atlas of the Ethiopian Rural Economy published by the Central Statistical Agency
(CSA), around 15% of the woreda is forest. A notable landmark is the Gambela National Park
, which occupies the woreda north of the Gilo.
The economy of Jor is predominantly agricultural. There are no agricultural cooperatives, no documented roads, and little other infrastructure.
; however between 2001 and 2007 the Zone was reorganized and Gambela became part of the Anuak Zone.
On 11 April 2007, it was reported that over 1000 well-armed members of the Murle
crossed from southern Sudan and attacked an Anuak village named Angela in Jor, some 150 kilometers from the capital. The attack claimed the lives of 26 people, left 13 people seriously wounded, 200 houses burnt, and large herds of cattle stolen. This raid was preceded by one on a Nuer village, called Bilimkuon, 95 kilometers from the capital; this attack left seven people dead, and rustled over 3,936 head of cattle.
According to the 1994 national census, the woreda's population was reported to be 7,093 in 936 households, of whom 3,271 were men and 3,822 women; no urban inhabitants were recorded. (This total also includes an estimate for four kebele
s which were not counted; these were estimated to have 2,866 inhabitants, of whom 1,337 were men and 1,529 women.) The largest ethnic group in Jor was the Anuak (99.69%), and Anuak
was spoken as a first language by 99.81% of the inhabitants interviewed. The majority of the inhabitants said they were Protestant
, with 56.3% of the population reporting they practiced that belief, while 33.57% practiced traditional beliefs.
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...
. Part of the Anuak Zone, Jor is bordered on the south by 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 separates it from 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...
, on the west and north by the Nuer Zone, on the northeast by Abobo
Abobo (woreda)
Abobo is one of the 12 woredas in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Anuak Zone, Abobo is bordered on the southwest by the Mezhenger Zone, on the south by Gog, on the southwest by Jor, on the west by the Administrative Zone 3, on the northwest by Itang, on the north by Gambela, and on the...
, and on the east by Gog
Gog (woreda)
Gog is one of the 12 woredas in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Anuak Zone, Gog is bordered on the south by the Akula or Chiarini River which separates it from the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, on the southwest by the Akobo River which separates it from South...
; the Alwero River defines part of its northern boundary. The administrative center of this woreda is Chentua.
Overview
The terrain of Jor is flat, and the eastern part is swampy; the elevation ranges from 300 to 400 meters above sea level. Important rivers in this woreda include the GiloGilo 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 15% of the woreda is forest. A notable landmark is 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...
, which occupies the woreda north of the Gilo.
The economy of Jor is predominantly agricultural. There are no agricultural cooperatives, no documented roads, and little other infrastructure.
History
At the start of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Jor was part of the Administrative Zone 2Administrative 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...
; however between 2001 and 2007 the Zone was reorganized and Gambela became part of the Anuak Zone.
On 11 April 2007, it was reported that over 1000 well-armed members of the Murle
Murle
The Murle are an ethnic group residing in Pibor County, Jonglei State, South Sudan as well as in Ethiopia. They have also been referred to in the literature as Beir by the Dinka or others who got information from them...
crossed from southern Sudan and attacked an Anuak village named Angela in Jor, some 150 kilometers from the capital. The attack claimed the lives of 26 people, left 13 people seriously wounded, 200 houses burnt, and large herds of cattle stolen. This raid was preceded by one on a Nuer village, called Bilimkuon, 95 kilometers from the capital; this attack left seven people dead, and rustled over 3,936 head of cattle.
Demographics
Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the CSA, this woreda has a total population of 9,366, an increase of 32.00% over the 1994 census, of whom 4,360 are men and 5,006 women; with an area of 3,342.31 square kilometers, Jor has a population density of 2.80, which is less than the Zone average of 4.83 persons per square kilometer. Reportedly 633 or 6.76% are urban inhabitants. A total of 1,808 households were counted in this woreda, which results in an average of 5.2 persons to a household, and 1,766 housing units.According to the 1994 national census, the woreda's population was reported to be 7,093 in 936 households, of whom 3,271 were men and 3,822 women; no urban inhabitants were recorded. (This total also includes an estimate for four 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; these were estimated to have 2,866 inhabitants, of whom 1,337 were men and 1,529 women.) The largest ethnic group in Jor was the Anuak (99.69%), and Anuak
Anuak language
Anuak or Anywa is a Nilotic language of the Nilo-Saharan language family. It is spoken primarily in the Western part of Ethiopia by the Anuak. Other names for this language include: Anyuak, Anywa, Yambo, Jambo, Yembo, Bar, Burjin, Miroy, Moojanga, Nuro.Anywa does not have phonemic fricatives.-...
was spoken as a first language by 99.81% of the inhabitants interviewed. 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 56.3% of the population reporting they practiced that belief, while 33.57% practiced traditional beliefs.