Awsi Rasu, officially Administrative Zone 1, is the most populous of the five zones of Ethiopia’s Afar Region. Its administrative centre is Asayita, and it covers 30,242 square kilometres in the eastern lowlands, along the Awash River and the Djibouti border. The 2007 census counted 410,790 people; adding the current official projections for its woredas gives roughly 653,000.
| Zone name | Awsi Rasu (Administrative Zone 1) |
|---|---|
| Region | Afar |
| Administrative centre | Asayita |
| Area | 30,242 km² |
| Population (2007 census) | 410,790 |
| Population (2022 projection) | about 653,000 |
| Main language | Afar |
Woredas (Districts)
The 2007 census atlas and the current federal projections both divide Awsi Rasu into seven woredas. An eighth, Ada’ar, was carved out afterwards and does not appear in the census tables, so no separate figure exists for it.
| Woreda | 2007 census | 2022 projection |
|---|---|---|
| Chifra | 91,080 | 127,884 |
| Mille | 90,673 | 133,319 |
| Dubti | 65,342 | 122,641 |
| Elidar | 58,087 | 113,755 |
| Asayita | 50,803 | 84,161 |
| Kori | 30,652 | 39,470 |
| Afambo | 24,153 | 32,064 |
| Ada’ar | created later | not reported |
Major Towns
Most woredas take their name from their administrative centre. Semera, the capital of the whole Afar Region, sits inside Dubti woreda and is the zone’s fastest-growing settlement.
| Town | Woreda | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Semera | Dubti | about 50,000 (est.) |
| Asayita | Asayita | 39,400 (2022 proj.) |
| Dubti | Dubti | 36,100 (2022 proj.) |
| Logiya | Dubti | 34,500 (2022 proj.) |
| Chifra | Chifra | 22,400 (2022 proj.) |
| Mille | Mille | 21,700 (2022 proj.) |
| Afambo | Afambo | not reported |
Geography
Awsi Rasu occupies the centre and east of the Afar Region. It borders Gabi Rasu to the south and Hari Rasu to the southwest. The Amhara Region lies west, Fantí Rasu northwest and Kilbet Rasu north. Eritrea lies to the northeast and Djibouti to the east.
The land is hot lowland plain, most of it under 500 metres. Semera sits at 432 metres. The Awash River enters from the southwest and never reaches the sea. It ends in a chain of interconnected lakes on the Djibouti border: Gargori, Laitali, Gummare, Bario and Lake Abbe. The Mille and Logiya rivers join the Awash from the highland edge. Irrigated cotton and sugar schemes follow the river through Dubti and Asayita.
Demographics
The 2007 census recorded 410,790 residents: 224,656 men and 186,134 women, in 75,735 households averaging 5.4 people. That count put 82,886 people (20.18%) in towns and 178,557 (43.47%) in pastoralist households. Summing the current projections for the seven reported woredas gives about 653,000 for 2022. Ethiopia has held no full census since 2007, so every later figure is a projection.
Afar people made up 88.52% of the 2007 population and Amhara 9.97%. Afar was the first language of 88.43% and Amharic of 10.4%. Muslims accounted for 96.55% and Ethiopian Orthodox Christians 3.29%.
Economy & Local Life
Camel, goat and cattle herding supports most rural households, and herds move between wet-season and dry-season grazing. Along the Awash, irrigation supports cotton, sugar cane and maize; the Tendaho sugar scheme near Dubti is the largest. Salt cut in the north passes through the zone by road. Asayita holds the long-established market for the lower Awash, and Logiya trades on its position at the highway junction.
Getting There
The Addis Ababa–Djibouti highway runs the length of the zone through Mille, Logiya and Semera, and carries most of Ethiopia’s import traffic. Semera is roughly 590 kilometres from Addis Ababa by that road. Asayita lies about 60 kilometres east of Logiya on the branch towards Afambo. Sultan Ali Mirah Airport at Semera has scheduled flights to Addis Ababa. Chifra is reached from the Amhara side, off the Woldia road.
FAQ
Where is Awsi Rasu?
In the centre and east of Ethiopia’s Afar Region, between the Amhara highlands and the borders with Djibouti and Eritrea.
What is the capital of Awsi Rasu?
Asayita is the zone’s administrative centre. Semera, the capital of the Afar Region as a whole, also lies inside the zone, in Dubti woreda.
How many woredas does Awsi Rasu have?
Seven appear in the census and projection tables: Asayita, Afambo, Chifra, Dubti, Elidar, Kori and Mille. An eighth, Ada’ar, was created later.
What is Awsi Rasu also called?
Administrative Zone 1. Ethiopian federal records use the number; regional records use the Afar name.
What language is spoken in Awsi Rasu?
Afar, spoken as a first language by 88.43% of residents at the 2007 census. Amharic is the main second language.
What river runs through Awsi Rasu?
The Awash, joined by the Mille and Logiya. The Awash never reaches the sea; it ends in Lake Abbe and its neighbouring lakes on the Djibouti border.