Abobo (woreda)

Abobo is one of the eight woredas in the Gambela Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Administrative Zone 2, Abobo is bordered on the southwest by the Godere special woreda, on the south by Gog, on the southwest by Jor, on the west by the Administrative Zone 3, on the north by the Administrative Zone 1, and on the east by the Oromia Region; part of its northern bundary is defined by the Alwero River. The major town in Abobo is Abobo.

The terrain of Abobo is dominated by comparatively high ground extending on a southeast-northwest axis; the elevations range 400 - 600 meters above sea level. Major bodies of water in this woreda include Lake Alwero. According to the "Atlas of the Ethiopian Rural Economy" published by the Central Statistical Agency (CSA), around 20% of the woreda is forest. [ [http://www.csa.gov.et/text_files/Atlas%20of%20the%20Ethiopian%20Rural%20Economy.pdf "Atlas of the Ethiopian Rural Economy"] , p. 18] A notable landmark is the Gambela National Park, which occupies the land west of the Fugnido - Gambela road.

The economy of Abobo is predomantly agricultural; however, there are no agricultural cooperatives. Estimated road density is reported to be between 5.1 and 10 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers. ["Atlas of the Ethiopian Rural Economy", pp. 30f]

Based on figures published by the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 18,618, of whom 9,005 were males and 9,613 were females; 2,103 or 11.30% of its population are urban dwellers, which is greater than the Zone average of 10.3%. With an estimated area of 3,515.78 square kilometers, Abobo has an estimated population density of 5.3 people per square kilometer, which is greater than the Zone average of 3.66. [ [http://www.csa.gov.et/text_files/2005_national_statistics.htm CSA 2005 National Statistics] , Tables B.3 and B.4] The ethnic composition of this woreda is predominantly Anuak, with a sizeable minority consisting of Amhara, Tigray and other "highlanders", as well as small groups of the Mezhenger. [ [http://www.who.int/disasters/repo/8684.pdf "Breaking the Cycle of Conflict in Gambella Region"] , p. 2. (PDF file)]

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