Ale Zone, also written Alle, is a zone of the South Ethiopia Region with its capital at Kolango. It is one of the smallest and newest administrative units in Ethiopia: the Ale only gained their own woreda in 2011, and the zone itself dates from August 2023. It lies in the hills between Gamo, Gardula, Konso and South Omo, at about 5°35′N 37°11′E.
The zone is named for the Ale people, whose homeland it covers. Before 2011 they had no district of their own and were a minority inside the then Konso and Dirashe special woredas, which is why no separate census figure exists for them.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capital | Kolango |
| Region | South Ethiopia |
| Woreda status | 2011 |
| Zone status | August 2023 |
| Woredas | 2 (one rural, one town) |
| People | Ale (Alle) |
Woredas (Districts)
| Woreda | Note |
|---|---|
| Kolango Zuria | Rural woreda covering the zone outside the capital |
| Kolango city administration | Town administration, seat of the zone |
Major Towns
| Place | Note |
|---|---|
| Kolango | Zone capital and only town |
| Gawwada | Long-established settlement of the Dullay-speaking country |
Other places recorded on official maps within the zone’s boundaries include Bussa, Mashile, Govase, Ganada, Weshele and Uarase. Settlement is dispersed across ridges and slopes, and Kolango is the only urban centre.
Geography
Ale occupies dry hill country west of the Segen valley, on the western side of the Rift Valley wall. The ground is broken and cut by seasonal streams, with cultivated middle slopes giving way to thorn scrub on the lower ground. Rainfall is unreliable and comes in two short seasons, so terracing and water harvesting matter as much here as in neighbouring Konso.
The zone borders Gamo Zone to the north, Gardula Zone to the east, Konso Zone to the south, and South Omo Zone to the west.
Demographics
No separate population figure has been published for Ale. The zone’s territory was counted within the Konso and Dirashe special woredas at the 2007 census, and the Central Statistical Agency’s projections still follow those older boundaries. Konso recorded 235,087 people in 2007 and Dirashe 142,758, and Ale’s population is contained within those totals.
The Ale speak Alle, a variety of the Dullay cluster of East Cushitic languages and closely related to Gawwada, which is spoken by 27.43 per cent of residents in neighbouring Gardula Zone. Amharic is the language of administration and schooling. Long-standing contact with Konso and Dirashe neighbours means many residents are multilingual.
Economy & Local Life
Ale households farm and herd together, as their neighbours do. Sorghum and maize are the grains, grown on terraced slopes, with cotton and livestock providing cash income. Goats and cattle are kept on the drier lower ground. Kolango’s market is the zone’s only trading point of any size, and much of the surplus moves east to Gidole or south to Karati.
The push for a separate administration ran for decades before it succeeded, first for woreda status in 2011, then for zonal status in 2023. That campaign is the defining fact of recent local history and the reason the zone exists.
Getting There
Kolango is reached by road from Gidole in Gardula Zone to the east, or north from Karati in Konso Zone. Both approaches are unsurfaced for much of their length and are slow in the rains. The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Arba Minch, north through Gidole.
FAQ
Where is Ale Zone?
In the South Ethiopia Region, in the hills west of Gidole and north of Karati, between the Gamo, Gardula, Konso and South Omo zones.
What is the capital of Ale Zone?
Kolango, the zone’s only town.
When was Ale Zone created?
Ale became a woreda in 2011 and joined the Segen Area Peoples Zone the same year. It became a zone in its own right in August 2023, when the South Ethiopia Region was formed.
How many woredas are in Ale Zone?
Two: Kolango Zuria woreda and the Kolango city administration.
How many people live in Ale Zone?
No separate figure has been published. Ale’s territory was counted within the Konso and Dirashe special woredas at the 2007 census, before the woreda existed.
What language do the Ale speak?
Alle, an East Cushitic language of the Dullay cluster, closely related to Gawwada.