Nogob Zone (Somali: Nogob) is one of eleven zones in Ethiopia’s Somali Region, on the western edge of the Ogaden. Its administrative centre is Elweyne, and the zone has seven woredas. Nogob is the successor to the former Fik Zone, which was renamed and then split, with its western woredas going to Erer Zone.
| Somali name | Nogob |
| Former name | Fik Zone |
| Administrative centre | Elweyne |
| Woredas | 7 |
| Urban share, former Fik Zone (2007) | 33,930, or 9.74% |
| Main watercourse | The Erer River |
Woredas (Districts)
Nogob has seven woredas. Three carried separate figures at the 2007 census; the other four were created afterwards. Because the old Fik Zone was split rather than simply renamed, no census total exists for Nogob as it now stands.
| Woreda | 2007 census | 2022 projection |
|---|---|---|
| Gerbo (Garbo) | 45,413 | 66,476 |
| Dihun | 25,082 | 36,496 |
| Segeg | 23,986 | 35,269 |
| Ayun (Ayuun) | created after 2007 | — |
| Elweyne | created after 2007 | — |
| Hararey (Xaraarey) | created after 2007 | — |
| Hora-shagax | created after 2007 | — |
Those three census-era woredas counted 94,481 people in 2007 and are projected at 138,241 for 2022.
Major Towns
Nogob has no large town. Under 10 per cent of the old Fik Zone’s population lived in towns at the 2007 census, and the settlements below are woreda seats and market points.
| Town | Woreda | Position or role |
|---|---|---|
| Elweyne | Elweyne | Zone administrative centre |
| Segeg | Segeg | 7°39′N 42°46′E |
| Dihun | Dihun | 7°13′N 42°42′E |
| Gerbo | Gerbo | Woreda seat |
| Hararey | Hararey | Woreda seat |
| Hora-shagax | Hora-shagax | Woreda seat |
| Ayun | Ayun | Woreda seat |
Geography
Nogob lies where the western highlands give way to the Ogaden plain, at roughly 700 to 1,300 metres. It is bordered on the north-west and west by Erer Zone, on the north and east by Jarar Zone, on the south-east by Korahe Zone, on the south by Shabelle Zone, and on the south-west by Afder Zone.
The Erer River runs through the zone, seasonal along most of its course, and its valley carries the main settlements. Elsewhere the country is acacia and commiphora bushland over sandy and stony soils, with limestone ridges to the north. Rainfall comes in two short seasons and averages 300 to 500 mm, higher on the western ground than in the east.
Demographics
No census total exists for Nogob in its present shape. The former Fik Zone returns, which covered today’s Nogob and Erer together, recorded Somali as the first language of 98.81 per cent of residents and 99.27 per cent as Muslim. Urban dwellers were 9.74 per cent of the population, or 33,930 people, and pastoralists 55.45 per cent, or 193,207.
Nogob’s three census-era woredas counted 94,481 people in 2007, projected to 138,241 by 2022. Ethiopia has held no census since 2007; every later figure is a Central Statistical Agency projection. Zone totals above a million that circulate for Nogob do not match the published woreda series and are not supported by any census return.
Economy & Local Life
Households here are agro-pastoral. Goats, sheep, camels and cattle provide the bulk of income, and stock moves north to Jijiga or east towards the Somali ports. Along the Erer valley and on the better western ground, sorghum and maize are grown on rain-fed plots, with fodder cut for the dry season. Market days at Segeg, Gerbo and Elweyne draw herders from a wide radius. Frankincense and gum are collected in the bushland.
Getting There
Access is from Jijiga, the regional capital, by gravel road running south through the Fafan valley and Fiq — around 250 to 300 km to the Nogob woredas, and slow after rain. From Addis Ababa the route runs east to Jijiga, some 630 km paved, then south. Roads east to Degehabur and south to Kebri Dehar link Nogob to the rest of the Ogaden. There is no airport in the zone; the nearest scheduled flights are at Jijiga and Kebri Dehar.
FAQ
Where is Nogob Zone?
On the western edge of the Ogaden, in Ethiopia’s Somali Region, between Erer Zone and Jarar Zone.
What is the capital of Nogob Zone?
Elweyne.
What was Nogob Zone called before?
Fik Zone, after the town of Fiq. The zone was renamed Nogob, and its western woredas — including Fiq itself — were later separated to form Erer Zone.
How many woredas does Nogob have?
Seven: Ayun, Dihun, Elweyne, Gerbo, Hararey, Hora-shagax and Segeg.
What is the population of Nogob Zone?
No census total exists for the zone in its present shape. Its three census-era woredas counted 94,481 in 2007 and are projected at 138,241 for 2022.
Which river runs through Nogob?
The Erer, which is seasonal for most of its course.