East Gurage Zone (Amharic: ምስራቅ ጉራጌ ዞን) is a zone of Ethiopia’s Central Ethiopia Region, administered from Butajira. It was created in 2023 out of the eastern edge of Gurage Zone, bringing together the Meskan and Sodo districts and their town administrations. Its constituent districts counted about 335,000 people at the 2007 census, and CSA projections put the 2022 figure near 533,000.
| Region | Central Ethiopia |
| Administrative centre | Butajira |
| Created | 2023, from eastern Gurage Zone |
| Districts | 4 woredas + 3 town administrations |
| Population (2022 proj.) | About 533,000 |
| Main language | Gurage (Meskan and Soddo varieties) |
Woredas (Districts)
The zone was formed from three districts and two town administrations of eastern Gurage Zone, and now runs four rural woredas alongside three town administrations. Meskan and Sodo are the parent districts; East Meskan and South Sodo were carved from them. Census and projection figures below are published for the parent districts and the towns.
| District | Administrative centre | Population |
|---|---|---|
| Meskan | Butajira | 155,782 (2007); 218,370 (2022 proj.) |
| East Meskan | Enseno | Counted within Meskan in 2007 |
| Sodo | Bue | 134,683 (2007); 194,253 (2022 proj.) |
| South Sodo | Kella | Counted within Sodo in 2007 |
| Butajira town | Butajira | 33,406 (2007); 89,824 (2022 proj.) |
| Enseno town | Enseno | 11,388 (2007); 30,500 (2022 proj.) |
| Bue town | Bue | Not published separately |
Major Towns
| Town | District | Population (2022 proj.) |
|---|---|---|
| Butajira | Meskan | 89,824 |
| Enseno | East Meskan | 30,500 |
| Bue | Sodo | Not published |
| Kella | South Sodo | Not published |
Geography
East Gurage occupies the western escarpment of the Rift Valley, dropping from highland ridges above 2,000 metres near Butajira towards the lakes plain in the east. The zone borders Siltʼe Zone to the south-east, the Oromia Region to the north and east, and Gurage Zone to the west. Its East Meskan district also meets Mareko Special Woreda.
The Tiya stele field, a UNESCO World Heritage site of carved grave markers, stands in the Sodo district about 40 km south of Butajira. Nearby are the Adadi Mariam rock-hewn church and the Melka Kunture prehistoric site, both just over the Oromia boundary.
Demographics
Meskan and Sodo together held 290,465 people at the 2007 census, and with Butajira and Enseno towns the zone’s present area counted about 335,000. Summing the CSA’s 2022 projections for the same districts gives roughly 533,000.
Gurage varieties, chiefly Meskan and Soddo, are the main first languages, with Amharic widely used in Butajira’s markets and offices. Islam and Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity are both long established here, and Butajira has a mixed Muslim and Christian population.
Economy & Local Life
Farming combines enset with cereals, chat and pulses, and the warmer eastern slopes grow pepper and maize. Butajira is a substantial market town on the Rift Valley road and handles trade between the Gurage highlands and Ziway. Chat is a significant cash crop and moves quickly by road to Addis Ababa. Livestock, mainly cattle and goats, supply the weekly markets at Butajira, Enseno and Kella.
Getting There
Butajira is about 130 km south of Addis Ababa on the asphalt Rift Valley road through Alem Gena and Tefki, a two-to-three hour drive. Minibuses and long-distance buses run all day. Enseno lies about 20 km east of Butajira, and Bue and Kella are reached on feeder roads running south. Hosaena and Ziway are each roughly 90 km away by road. The nearest scheduled airport is Addis Ababa Bole.
FAQ
Where is East Gurage Zone?
In the Central Ethiopia Region, on the western side of the Rift Valley about 130 km south of Addis Ababa.
What is the capital of East Gurage Zone?
Butajira, which is also the seat of the Meskan district.
When was East Gurage Zone created?
In 2023, when districts in the eastern part of Gurage Zone were grouped into a separate zone as the Central Ethiopia Region was formed.
How many districts are in East Gurage Zone?
Four rural woredas — Meskan, East Meskan, Sodo and South Sodo — plus the Butajira, Enseno and Bue town administrations.
What is there to see in East Gurage Zone?
The Tiya stele field, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Sodo district, holds 36 carved standing stones marking medieval graves.