Konso special woreda

Konso is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region (SNNPR) of Ethiopia. Because Konso is not part of any Zone in the SNNPR, it is considered a Special woreda. This woreda is named after the Konso people.

Located in the Great Rift Valley, Konso is bordered on the south by the Oromia Region, on the west by the Weito River which separates it from the Debub Omo Zone, on the north by the Dirashe Special Woreda, and on the east by Burji Special Woreda. The Sagan River, which flows south then west to join the Weito, defines part of the woreda's boundary with Burji and the entire length of the boundary with the Oromia Region. The administrative center is Karati; other towns in Konso include Fasha and Sagan.

Rivers in this woreda include the Talpeena, a tributary of the Sagan.

The Central Statistical Agency (CSA) reported that five tons of coffee were produced in this woreda in the year ending in 2005, based on inspection records from the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea authority. This represents less than 0.1% of the SNNPR's output and less than 0.1% of Ethiopia's total output. [ [http://www.csa.gov.et/text_files/2005_national_statistics.htm CSA 2005 National Statistics] , Table D.2]

Based on figures from the CSA in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 224,195, of whom 109,710 were males and 114,485 were females; 9,928 or 4.4% of its population are urban dwellers. With an estimated area of 2,276.25 square kilometers, Konso has an estimated population density of 98.49 people per square kilometer. [CSA 2005 National Statistics, Tables B.3 and B.4]

The "Sudan Times" reported that on 14 May 2008 continuing conflict between the Konso and Borena Oromo left 36 people dead and forced more than 5,000 inhabitants to flee their homes. “Among the dead, 35 of them belong to Konso tribes” Areke Geyto, the administrator of the special woreda told local reporters. The refugees were sheltered in the Aba-Roba , Kashale, Nalaya Segen and Gesergo kebeles. [ [http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article27148 "36 killed in tribal clashes in southern Ethiopia"] , by Tesfa-alem Tekle (accessed 1 June 2008)]

Notes