Nuer Zone

Nuer is one of the three zones of the Ethiopian Region of Gambela. It was created from former Administrative Zone 3 of Gambela. This zone is bordered by South Sudan on the south, west and north, by Mezhenger Zone on the east and by Anuak Zone on the southeast; the Pibor defines the border on the south and west, while the Baro defines it for the northern border. Towns in this zone include Tergol and Telut.

The economy of Akobo was predominately agricultural. There are no agricultural cooperatives, no documented roads, and little other infrastructure.^[1] Both Jikawo and Akobo woredas are 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 Zone.^[2]

Demographics

Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the Central Statistical Agency of Ethiopia (CSA), this Zone has a total population of 112,606, of whom 60,543 are men and 52,063 women. 12,266 or 10.89% of population are urban inhabitants. The three largest ethnic groups of Nuer were the Nuer (95.56%), the Anuak (2.06%) and the Sidama (1.16%); all other ethnic groups made up 1.22% of the population. Nuer was spoken as a first language by 96.68%, and 2.06% speak Anuak; the remaining 1.26% spoke all other primary languages reported. The largest group of the inhabitants said they were Protestant, with 88.82% of the population reporting they embraced that belief, while 5.7% practiced traditional religions, 5.3% were Muslim, 3.26% were Catholic, and 1.44% professed Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity.^[3]

Notes

1. Atlas of the Ethiopian Rural Economy, pp. 30f
2. Abraham Sewonet, "Breaking the Cycle of Conflict in Gambella Region, UN-Emergencies Unit for Ethiopia Assessment Mission: 23–29 December 2002
3. Census 2007 Tables: Gambela Region, Tables 2.1, 2.4, 2.5, 3.1, 3.2 and 3.4.