Gabi Rasu, officially Administrative Zone 3, is the southern zone of Ethiopia’s Afar Region. At 6,594 square kilometres it is the smallest of the five. Its two largest towns are Awash Sebat Kilo and Gewane, both on the Addis Ababa–Djibouti corridor. The 2007 census counted 198,751 people; current projections for its woredas total about 319,000. It is the most ethnically mixed and most urbanised zone in Afar.
| Zone name | Gabi Rasu (Administrative Zone 3) |
|---|---|
| Region | Afar |
| Largest town | Awash Sebat Kilo |
| Area | 6,594 km² |
| Population (2007 census) | 198,751 |
| Population (2022 projection) | about 319,000 |
| Main language | Afar |
Woredas (Districts)
Six woredas appear in the 2007 census atlas and the current federal projections. One is the Argoba special woreda, set up for the Argobba community. Regional listings add further woredas and one town administration created since the census; those carry no separate population figures.
| Woreda | 2007 census | 2022 projection |
|---|---|---|
| Amibara | 63,378 | 114,496 |
| Bure Mudayitu | 31,794 | 40,879 |
| Gewane | 31,318 | 47,311 |
| Awash Fentale | 29,780 | 58,016 |
| Argoba (special woreda) | 21,794 | 30,613 |
| Dulacha | 20,687 | 28,039 |
Major Towns
| Town | Woreda | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Awash Sebat Kilo | Awash Fentale | 36,500 (2022 proj.) |
| Gewane | Gewane | about 11,300 (est.) |
| Melka Werer | Amibara | not reported |
| Dulecha | Dulacha | not reported |
Geography
Gabi Rasu forms the southern tip of the Afar Region. The Oromia Region lies to the south and the Amhara Region to the southwest. Hari Rasu is west, Awsi Rasu north and the Somali Region east.
The Awash River crosses the zone from southwest to northeast and defines it. Below Awash town the river drops through the Awash Falls gorge. Awash National Park spreads across the southern boundary around Mount Fentale, a volcano rising to about 2,007 metres. North of the park the valley opens into the Middle Awash floodplain, where the river braids past Amibara and Gewane. Lake Yardi and seasonal wetlands near Gewane hold water into the dry season. The Germama, also called the Kesem, joins the Awash from the Amhara highlands.
Demographics
The 2007 census recorded 198,751 residents: 108,995 men and 89,756 women. Towns held 54,328 people (27.33%), the highest urban share in Afar, and pastoralist households 24,075 (12.11%). Woreda projections sum to about 319,000 for 2022. Ethiopia’s last full census was in 2007, so later figures are projections.
The zone is the region’s most mixed. Afar people made up 64.78% of the 2007 population, Amhara 12.01%, Argobba 10.72%, Wolayta 4.05%, Oromo 2.75%, Hadiya 1.25% and Kambaata 1.19%. Afar was the first language of 64.66%, Amharic of 22.25%, Argobba of 5.42%, Wolaytta of 2.89% and Oromo of 1.51%. Muslims accounted for 81.3%, Ethiopian Orthodox Christians 13.8% and Protestants 4.45%.
Economy & Local Life
Irrigated farming carries more weight here than anywhere else in Afar. State and private schemes along the Middle Awash grow cotton, sugar cane, maize and sesame. The Melka Werer research centre in Amibara has tested lowland irrigation methods since the 1960s. The Kesem sugar estate works the zone’s southwestern edge. Pastoralists still herd camels, cattle and goats on the plains between the schemes. Competition for dry-season grazing along the river is a standing local issue. Awash Sebat Kilo lives off transit trade: fuel, freight and roadside markets serving the Djibouti corridor.
Getting There
The Addis Ababa–Djibouti highway runs through the zone and is the main approach. Awash Sebat Kilo lies about 225 kilometres east of Addis Ababa; Gewane is roughly 350 kilometres out on the same road. The Addis Ababa–Djibouti standard-gauge railway also passes through Awash, which has a station. From Awash a second highway branches southeast towards Dire Dawa and Harar. The nearest airports with scheduled flights are Semera to the north and Dire Dawa to the southeast.
FAQ
Where is Gabi Rasu?
In the far south of Ethiopia’s Afar Region, along the Awash River, bordering Oromia, Amhara and the Somali Region.
How many woredas does Gabi Rasu have?
Six are reported in census and projection tables: Amibara, Awash Fentale, Bure Mudayitu, Dulacha, Gewane and the Argoba special woreda. Regional listings add later creations.
What is the main town of Gabi Rasu?
Awash Sebat Kilo, with about 36,500 residents projected for 2022. Gewane is the second town.
Is Awash National Park in Gabi Rasu?
Yes, in part. The park straddles the zone’s southern boundary around Mount Fentale and the Awash Falls, extending into Oromia.
What languages are spoken in Gabi Rasu?
Afar is the first language of about two-thirds of residents. Amharic, Argobba, Wolaytta and Oromo are also spoken, a wider mix than in the rest of Afar.
Is Gabi Rasu the same as Zone 3?
Yes. Federal records use the number and regional records the Afar name.