# Metekel Zone > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Metekel_Zone > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Metekel_Zone.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metekel_Zone > Source revision: 1333245500 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Region in Benishangul-Gumuz region of Ethiopia Map of the regions and zones of Ethiopia **Metekel Zone** ([Amharic](/source/Amharic): መተከል ዞን) is located in the current [Benishangul-Gumuz](/source/Benishangul-Gumuz_region) region of [Ethiopia](/source/Ethiopia). It is bordered on the south and southwest by [Kamashi](/source/Kamashi_Zone), on the west by [Sudan](/source/Sudan), and on the north and east by the [Amhara region](/source/Amhara_region). The [Abay River](/source/Abay_River) which formerly defined the western border of Gojjam, defines the Zone's boundaries with Kamashi, while the [Dinder River](/source/Dinder_River) defines part of its boundary with the Amhara region. The administrative center of Metekel Zone is [Gilgil Beles](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gilgil_Beles&action=edit&redlink=1); other towns include [Manbuk](/source/Manbuk). The highest point is [Mount Belaya](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mount_Belaya&action=edit&redlink=1) (3,131 meters), which is part of the [Dangur range](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Dangur_range&action=edit&redlink=1). [MIDROC Gold](/source/MIDROC) reported in 2009 that it was exploring the Zone for [gold](/source/Gold) deposits.[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 276,367, of whom 139,119 are men and 137,248 women. 37,615 or 13.61% of population are urban inhabitants. A total of 58,515 households were counted in this Zone, which results in an average of 4.72 persons to a household, and 56,734 housing units. The five largest ethnic groups reported in the Metekel Zone were the [Gumuz](/source/Gumuz_people) (36.8%), the [oromo](/source/Oromo_people) (11.09%), the [Shinasha](/source/Shinasha_people) (21.6%), the [Awi](/source/Awi_people) (11.33%), a subgroup of the [Agew](/source/Agew), and the [Amhara](/source/Amhara_people) (17.39%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.81% of the population. Main languages are [Gumuz](/source/Gumuz_language) (36.31%), [Amharic](/source/Amharic) (34.21%), [Oromo](/source/Oromo_language) (19.89%), [Shinasha](/source/Shinasha_language) (12.81%) and [Awngi](/source/Awngi) (10.91%). [Amharic](/source/Amharic_language) is spoken as a first language by 24% of the population and as a second language by another 10%. The majority of the inhabitants practiced [Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity](/source/Ethiopian_Orthodox_Christianity), with 54.49% of the population reporting that they held that belief, while 20.31% were [Muslim](/source/Islam_in_Ethiopia), 17.65% observed traditional religions, and 6.36% were [Protestant](/source/P'ent'ay), source Keneni JIbat ,2020, Addis Ababa university.[2] According to a May 24, 2004 [World Bank](/source/World_Bank) memorandum, 8% of the inhabitants of Metekel have access to electricity, this zone has a road density of 28.4 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers, the average rural household has 1.4 hectare of land (compared to the national average of 1.01 hectare of land and an average of 2.25 for pastoral regions)[3] and the equivalent of 0.6 heads of livestock. 10% of the population is in non-farm related jobs, compared to the national average of 25% and an average of 28% for pastoral regions. 93% of all eligible children are enrolled in primary school, and 25% in secondary schools. 68% of the zone is exposed to [malaria](/source/Malaria), and 100% to [Tsetse fly](/source/Tsetse_fly). The memorandum gave this zone a drought risk rating of 433.[4] The [Metekel conflict](/source/Metekel_conflict) began in 2019. A [massacre](/source/Massacre) [occurred](/source/Metekel_massacre) on 23 December 2020. ## Notes 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Minassie Teshome, ["Ethiopia: Midroc Signs Up for Second Gold Mine"](http://allafrica.com/stories/200912070630.html?viewall=1), *Addis Fortune* 29 November 2009 (accessed 29 April 2010) 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) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20101114004725/http://www.csa.gov.et/index.php?option=com_rubberdoc&view=doc&id=268&format=raw&Itemid=521) 2010-11-14 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), Tables 2.1, 2.4, 2.5, 3.1, 3.2 and 3.4. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** 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 Benishangul-Gumaz, Afar and Somali as "pastoral regions". 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [World Bank, *Four Ethiopias: A Regional Characterization*](http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTETHIOPIA/Resources/PREM/FourEthiopiasrev6.7.5.May24.pdf) (accessed 23 March 2006). [11°00′N 35°45′E / 11.000°N 35.750°E / 11.000; 35.750](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Metekel_Zone¶ms=11_00_N_35_45_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 --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Metekel Zone](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metekel_Zone) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metekel_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.