West Omo, also called Mirab Omo, is the south-western corner of the South West Ethiopia Peoples’ Region, with Jemu as its administrative centre. It holds seven woredas and 116 kebeles, of which 112 are rural. The zone’s population is about 272,943, roughly 12% of the region’s total.
West Omo was carved out of the former Bench Maji Zone, whose remaining districts were renamed Bench Sheko. Both zones moved from the Southern Nations region into the South West Ethiopia Peoples’ Region on 23 November 2021. This is the least densely settled and least urbanised zone in the region: roughly 60% of households are pastoral.
Woredas (Districts)
Gachit and Gori Gesha were created after the census, from land inside the five districts below.
| Woreda | 2007 census | 2022 projection |
|---|---|---|
| Meinit Goldiya | 88,863 | 119,144 |
| Meinit Shasha | 43,305 | 60,197 |
| Maji | 31,088 | 47,168 |
| Surma | 24,598 | 33,264 |
| Bero | 12,256 | 18,523 |
| Gachit | created later | counted above |
| Gori Gesha | created later | counted above |
Major Towns
| Town | Role |
|---|---|
| Jemu | Zone administrative centre |
| Bachuma | Trading town on the road from Mizan Aman |
| Maji | Historic highland centre, Maji woreda |
| Kibish | Border settlement in Surma woreda |
None of these towns is large enough to be reported separately in national population tables. Jemu and Bachuma handle most of the zone’s trade; Maji, high on its ridge, was an imperial administrative post from the early twentieth century.
Geography
West Omo lies west of the Omo River, on Ethiopia’s south-western frontier. The land falls from the Maji highlands, above 2,000 m, into hot savanna and bushland along the Kibish and Akobo drainages. The zone is the largest in the region by area and the emptiest.
It borders Bench Sheko to the north and the Gambela Region to the north-west. South Sudan lies west and south-west, and the South Omo Zone of South Ethiopia across the Omo River to the east.
Omo National Park sits on the western bank of the Omo, inside the zone. It covers open savanna and riverine forest and holds eland, buffalo, giraffe, zebra and elephant, though access is difficult and visitor numbers are low.
Demographics
The zone reports about 272,943 residents in 55,703 households, 49.5% men and 50.5% women. The five districts that existed at the 2007 census counted 200,110 people between them, projected to 278,296 for 2022 — consistent with the zone figure. Ethiopia has held no census since 2007, so all later numbers are projections.
Three peoples dominate. The Me’enit farm the wetter north around Meinit Goldiya and Meinit Shasha and speak Me’en. The Dizi hold the Maji highlands. The Suri, or Surma, are cattle-keepers in the far south-west along the South Sudan border. Amharic is used for administration and schooling.
Economy & Local Life
Livestock and rain-fed farming carry the zone. Suri and neighbouring groups keep large cattle herds and move with them between wet and dry season grazing. In the Me’enit and Dizi areas, households grow sorghum, maize, enset and root crops, and coffee does well on the Maji slopes.
Honey is collected from forest and bush hives and traded north. Gold is panned in several riverbeds. Markets at Jemu, Bachuma, Maji and Kibish bring the pastoral and farming economies together and are the main points of contact between the zone’s peoples.
Getting There
The usual approach is from Mizan Aman in Bench Sheko, south by gravel road through Bachuma towards Jemu and on to Maji. The run is slow and the last stretches are hard going in the rains from May to October. There is no asphalt road into the zone and no scheduled air service; the nearest airport is at Mizan Teferi.
Kibish and the Surma areas are remote, and travel there needs local permission and a high-clearance vehicle.
FAQ
Where is West Omo Zone?
In Ethiopia’s far south-west, west of the Omo River, in the South West Ethiopia Peoples’ Region, on the border with South Sudan.
What is the capital of West Omo?
Jemu. Bachuma and Maji are the other main towns.
How many woredas are in West Omo Zone?
Seven: Bero, Gachit, Gori Gesha, Maji, Meinit Goldiya, Meinit Shasha and Surma, with 116 kebeles between them.
Which peoples live in West Omo?
Mainly the Me’enit, the Dizi and the Suri, alongside smaller groups and settlers from elsewhere in Ethiopia.
What was West Omo before?
Part of the Bench Maji Zone, which was divided into West Omo and Bench Sheko.
Is Omo National Park in West Omo Zone?
Yes. The park lies on the western bank of the Omo River, inside the zone.