Dollo Zone (Somali: Doollo) is one of eleven zones in Ethiopia’s Somali Region, in the far east of the region against the Somali border. Its administrative centre is Warder, also written Werder. The zone counted 306,488 people at the 2007 census and holds seven woredas. It was known as Warder Zone until the regional renaming of the 2010s, when it took the name of the Doollo plain.
| Somali name | Doollo |
| Former name | Warder (Werder) Zone |
| Administrative centre | Warder |
| Woredas | 7 |
| Population (2007 census) | 306,488 |
| Population (2022 projection) | 446,052 |
Woredas (Districts)
Dollo has seven woredas. Four carried separate figures at the 2007 census; the other three were created from them afterwards, so they have no published series of their own.
| Woreda | 2007 census | 2022 projection |
|---|---|---|
| Boh | 103,164 | 150,152 |
| Geladin | 98,053 | 142,512 |
| Warder | 58,035 | 85,005 |
| Danot | 47,236 | 68,383 |
| Daratole | created after 2007 | — |
| Gal-Hamur | created after 2007 | — |
| Lehel-Yucub | created after 2007 | — |
Major Towns
Urban settlement is sparse. Only 28,784 people, or 9.39 per cent of residents, lived in towns at the 2007 census. The places below are woreda seats.
| Town | Woreda | Position |
|---|---|---|
| Warder | Warder | 6°58′N 45°20′E |
| Boh | Boh | 7°21′N 46°36′E |
| Danot | Danot | 7°33′N 45°17′E |
| Daratole | Daratole | 7°17′N 45°30′E |
| Geladin | Geladin | Eastern Dollo, near the Somali border |
| Galhamur | Gal-Hamur | Northern Dollo |
Geography
Dollo occupies the eastern salient of the Somali Region, the wedge of territory that pushes furthest into the Horn. It is bordered on the south-west by Korahe Zone, on the north-west by Jarar Zone, and on the east and south-east by Somalia — Somaliland’s Sool and Sanaag claims to the north-east, Puntland beyond.
The Doollo is a broad, flat, semi-desert plain of red sand and acacia scrub, lying between roughly 400 and 700 metres. There are no perennial rivers. Water comes from deep boreholes, hand-dug wells and berkads, the cemented rain catchments that dot the plain. Rainfall averages under 300 mm a year and fails often. Drought here is a recurring emergency rather than an exception.
Demographics
The 2007 census recorded 306,488 residents: 175,624 men and 130,864 women. Somali was the first language of 99.58 per cent, and 99.36 per cent of the population reported being Muslim, the highest religious concentration of any zone in the region. The zone is Ogaden Somali country, with Reer Isaaq and Dhulbahante communities in the north-east.
Ethiopia has held no census since 2007. Central Statistical Agency projections put the zone’s four census-era woredas at 446,052 by 2022, about 45 per cent above the census figure. That is a projection, not a count.
Economy & Local Life
Dollo is almost purely pastoral; the 2007 census recorded 37 per cent of the population as pastoralists, with much of the remainder still dependent on livestock. Herds are large: the 2007 returns counted 2,253,550 sheep, 1,413,143 goats, 376,183 camels and 36,146 cattle. Camels matter most, both as a store of wealth and for milk.
Trade runs east rather than west. Stock from Dollo moves through Somali ports towards Gulf markets, and consumer goods return the same way. Warder, Danot and Boh hold the main markets. Water trucking is a season-long business in the dry months, and berkad ownership is a real form of local wealth.
Getting There
Access is by gravel road from the west. From Jijiga the route runs south to Degehabur, then east through Aware and Gashamo to Warder, roughly 500 km and slow in the rains. From Addis Ababa, count on Jijiga first — about 630 km of paved road — then the same eastern run. Warder has an airstrip used mainly by humanitarian flights; there are no scheduled commercial services, and the nearest airports with regular flights are at Kebri Dehar and Gode.
FAQ
Where is Dollo Zone?
In the far east of Ethiopia’s Somali Region, forming the salient between Jarar Zone, Korahe Zone and the Somali border.
What is the capital of Dollo Zone?
Warder, also spelled Werder, at about 6°58′N 45°20′E.
What was Dollo Zone called before?
Warder Zone, after its largest town. It was renamed Dollo, Somali Doollo, after the plain that covers it.
How many woredas does Dollo have?
Seven: Boh, Danot, Daratole, Gal-Hamur, Geladin, Lehel-Yucub and Warder.
What is the population of Dollo Zone?
306,488 at the 2007 census, projected to 446,052 by 2022. Ethiopia has not held a census since 2007.
Are there rivers in Dollo?
No perennial rivers. Households rely on boreholes, wells and berkad rain catchments.