# Asosa Zone

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Zone in Benishangul-Gumuz Region of Ethiopia

Map of the regions and zones of Ethiopia

**Assosa** is a zone in [Benishangul-Gumuz Region](/source/Benishangul-Gumuz_Region) of [Ethiopia](/source/Ethiopia). This Zone was named after the [Assosa Sultanate](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Assosa_Sultanate&action=edit&redlink=1), which had approximately the same boundaries. Assosa is bordered on the south by the [Mao-Komo special woreda](/source/Mao-Komo_special_woreda), on the west by [Sudan](/source/Sudan), and on the northeast by the [Kamashi](/source/Kamashi_Zone). The largest town in this zone is [Assosa](/source/Assosa). Its highest point is [Mount Bambashi](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mount_Bambashi&action=edit&redlink=1), located in the [woreda](/source/Woreda) of the [same name](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bambashi_(woreda)&action=edit&redlink=1). The majority ethnic group in the zone is the [Berta people](/source/Berta_people).

The area Assosa occupies came under Ethiopian control in 1898, when Emperor [Menelik II](/source/Menelik_II_of_Ethiopia) skillfully exploited the traditional rivalry of the three local rulers, Sheikh Ejail al-Hassan of Assosa, Sheikh Mahmud of Khomosha and Sheikh Abd al-Rahman Al-Ejail of Bela-Shangul proper. When Ethiopia and the British administration of Sudan demarcated their common border in 1902, this finalized their annexation.[1]

## Demographics

Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the [Central Statistical Agency](/source/Central_Statistical_Agency_(Ethiopia)) of Ethiopia (CSA), this Zone has a total population of 310,822, of whom 158,932 are men and 151,890 women. 39,957 or 12.86% of population are urban inhabitants. A total of 72,879 households were counted in this Zone, which results in an average of 4.27 persons to a household, and 69,378 housing units. The four largest ethnic groups reported in the Assosa Zone were the [Berta](/source/Berta_people) (59.95%), the [Amhara](/source/Amhara_(ethnicity)) (23.86%), the [Oromo](/source/Oromo_people) (10.31%), and the [Tigrayans](/source/Tigrayans) (1.5%), 1.48% of the population was from [Sudan](/source/Sudan); all other ethnic groups made up 2.9% of the population. Main languages are the [Berta](/source/Benishangul_language) (59.31%), [Amharic](/source/Amharic) (25.7%), [Oromo](/source/Oromo_language) (10.68%), and [Tigrinya](/source/Tigrinya_language) (1.07%). The majority of the inhabitants were [Muslim](/source/Islam_in_Ethiopia), with 74.08% of the population reporting that they held that belief, while 16.51% practiced [Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity](/source/Ethiopian_Orthodox_Christianity), and 8.57% were [Protestant](/source/P'ent'ay).[2]

Based on figures from the [Central Statistical Agency](/source/Central_Statistical_Agency_(Ethiopia)) in 2005, this zone has an estimated total population of 282,596, of whom 143,544 are men and 139,052 are women; 28,264 or 10% of its population are urban dwellers. With an estimated area of 14,166.12 square kilometers, Assosa has an estimated population density of 19.95 people per square kilometer.[3]

The 1994 national census reported a total population for this Zone of 208,155 in 47,755 households, of whom 106,017 were men and 102,138 were women; 16,420 or 7.89% of its population were urban dwellers. The five largest ethnic groups reported in the Assosa Zone were the [Berta](/source/Berta_people) (54%), the [Amhara](/source/Amhara_(ethnicity)) (26%), the [Oromo](/source/Oromo_people) (11%), the [Tigrayans](/source/Tigrayans) (1.5%), and the [Mao](/source/Mao_people) (1.3%). [Berta](/source/Benishangul_language) was spoken by 53.6%, [Amharic](/source/Amharic_language) is spoken as a first language by 26.7% and as a second language by another 6.2%, [Oromiffa](/source/Oromo_language) by 11.3% and as a second language by another 5.5%, [Fadashi](/source/Fadashi_language) by 4.2%, and [Tigrinya](/source/Tigrinya_language) by 1.4%. The majority of the inhabitants were [Muslim](/source/Islam_in_Ethiopia), with 78% of the population reporting they professed that religion, while 18.7% practiced [Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity](/source/Ethiopian_Orthodox_Christianity), and 2.7% were [Protestant](/source/P'ent'ay).[4]

According to a May 24, 2004 [World Bank](/source/World_Bank) memorandum, 9% of the inhabitants of Assosa have access to electricity, this zone has a road density of 35.6 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers, the average rural household has 1 hectare of land (compared to the national average of 1.01 hectare of land and an average of 2.25 for pastoral Regions)[5] and the equivalent of 0.4 heads of livestock. 17.1% of the population is in non-farm related jobs, compared to the national average of 25% and a regional average of 28%. 72% of all eligible children are enrolled in primary school, and 13% in secondary schools. 34% of the zone is exposed to [malaria](/source/Malaria), and 58% to [Tsetse fly](/source/Tsetse_fly). The memorandum gave this zone a drought risk rating of 324.[6]

## Notes

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Abdussamad H. Ahmad, "Trading in Slaves in Bela-Shangul and Gumuz, Ethiopia: Border Enclaves in History, 1897-1938", *[Journal of African History](/source/Journal_of_African_History)*, **40** (1999), pp. 435f

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Census 2007 Tables: Benishangul-Gumuz Region](http://www.csa.gov.et/index.php?option=com_rubberdoc&view=doc&id=268&format=raw&Itemid=521), Tables 2.1, 2.4, 2.5, 3.1, 3.2 and 3.4.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [CSA 2005 National Statistics](http://www.csa.gov.et/text_files/2005_national_statistics.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20061123121716/http://www.csa.gov.et/text_files/2005_national_statistics.htm) November 23, 2006, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), Table B.3

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [*1994 Population and Housing Census of Ethiopia: Results for Benishangul-Gumuz Region, Vol. 1*](http://www.csa.gov.et/surveys/Population%20and%20Housing%20Census%201994/survey0/data/docs/report/Statistical_Report/k06/k06.pdf) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20081120000024/http://www.csa.gov.et/surveys/Population%20and%20Housing%20Census%201994/survey0/data/docs/report/Statistical_Report/k06/k06.pdf) November 20, 2008, at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) Tables 2.1, 2.7, 2.11, 2.14, 2.17, 2.19 (accessed 30 December 2008). The Census takers included the numbers for [Mao-Komo special woreda](/source/Mao-Komo_special_woreda) in the totals for the Assosa Zone.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Comparative national and regional figures comes from the World Bank publication, [Klaus Deininger et al. "Tenure Security and Land Related Investment", WP-2991](http://econ.worldbank.org/external/default/main?ImgPagePK=64202990&entityID=000094946_03032704080562&menuPK=64168175&pagePK=64210502&theSitePK=477938&piPK=64210520) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20070310150244/http://econ.worldbank.org/external/default/main?ImgPagePK=64202990&entityID=000094946_03032704080562&menuPK=64168175&pagePK=64210502&theSitePK=477938&piPK=64210520) 2007-03-10 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine) (accessed 23 March 2006). This publication defines Gambela, Afar and Somali as "pastoral Regions".

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [World Bank, *Four Ethiopias: A Regional Characterization*](http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTETHIOPIA/Resources/PREM/FourEthiopiasrev6.7.5.May24.pdf) (accessed 23 March 2006).

[10°20′N 34°40′E / 10.333°N 34.667°E / 10.333; 34.667](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Asosa_Zone&params=10_20_N_34_40_E_type:adm2nd_region:ET)

v t e Zones and woredas of the Benishangul-Gumuz Region List of districts in the Benishangul-Gumuz region Asosa Zone Asosa Bambasi Komesha Kurmuk Menge Oda Buldigilu Sherkole Kamashi Zone Agalo Mite Belo Jegonfoy Kamashi Sirba Abbay Yaso Metekel Zone Bulen Dangur Dibate Guba Mandura Wenbera Special woredas Mao-Komo Pawe

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Asosa Zone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asosa_Zone) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asosa_Zone?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.