Harari Region

The Harari Region is a unique political territory in eastern Ethiopia.

It is officially called the Harari People's National Regional State. This region serves as the ancestral homeland for the Harari people. It is a very small area compared to other parts of Ethiopia. In fact, it is the smallest regional state in the country. This status applies to both its total land area and its total population. The region is an enclave, meaning it is entirely surrounded by the Oromia region.

The region was formed through a specific administrative process. It was created by splitting the Hundane woreda from the East Hararghe Zone. A woreda is a local administrative division. Today, the capital of the region is the city of Harar. The borders of the state include the city and its immediate surroundings. The region is organized into nine different woredas. Some of these are urban, such as Hakim, Abadir, or Shenkor. Others are rural, including Erer, Sofi, and Dire-Teyara. Within these woredas, there are 19 city kebeles and 17 rural kebeles. A kebele is the smallest unit of local government.

Demographic data shows a very specific way of life in Harari. According to the 2007 Census, the total population was 183,415 people. This included 92,316 men and 91,099 women. The region has a high population density. There are approximately 589.05 people living in every square kilometer. The total land area is estimated at 311.25 square kilometers. Harari is the only region in Ethiopia where the majority of people live in urban areas. In 2007, 54.18% of the population lived in cities. This is a significant difference from other Ethiopian regions.

Many different ethnic groups and languages exist within the region. The Oromo people are the largest group, making up 56.41% of the population. The Amhara are the second largest group at 22.77%. The Harari people themselves account for 8.65% of the residents. Other groups include the Gurage, Somali, Tigray, and Argobba. Because of this diversity, several languages are used. Oromiffa is the most common language at 56.84%. Amharic is spoken by 27.53% of the people. The Harari language is spoken by 7.33% of the population. Somali and Gurage are also spoken by smaller groups.

Religion plays a major role in the culture of the region. Most residents follow Islam, which accounts for 68.99% of the population. The second largest religious group is Ethiopian Orthodox at 27.1%. There are also small numbers of Protestant and Catholic believers. These numbers have changed slightly over time. In 1994, the Muslim population was recorded at 60.28%. During that same year, the Ethiopian Orthodox population was 38.09%. These figures show how the religious landscape has shifted over the decades.

Economic activities in the region include both urban work and farming. In 2005, data showed that farmers managed various types of livestock. There were 31,730 head of cattle in the region. Farmers also kept 26,910 goats and 3,440 sheep. Other animals included 6,320 asses and 31,430 poultry birds. Some residents also manage beehives, with 670 recorded in 2005. Access to resources is also an important factor for the population. In 2007, 73.28% of the people had access to safe drinking water. This access was much higher in cities, where 95.28% had safe water.

The history of the region's leadership includes several different administrators. The first chief administrator listed for this period was Ali Abdullahi Gutu. He served from 1992 to August 1995. Since then, many leaders have guided the region. This includes leaders like Fuad Ibrahim and Murad Abdulhadi. More recently, Ordin Bedri has served as the administrator. These leaders manage the unique needs of a small, urban-centered enclave. The region continues to be a distinct part of the Ethiopian political system.