Last modified: 2012-06-13 by bruce berry
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Image by Jorge Candeias, 16 Dec 1999 (1st variant)
Image by Željko Heimer,
18 June 2002 (2nd variant)
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According to the Ethiopian Parliament
website,
the State of Gambella is "located in the
western tip of Ethiopia bordering with the
Sudan in the west, south, and
north, the State of Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples in the
south and east; and with the State of Oromiya in the north and east. It
is composed of two administrative zones and eight woredas and the area
of the State is estimated at 25,274 square kilometers (not including a woreda recently integrated in to the region)."
So it is a pretty small state by Ethiopian standards. The capital is Gambella.
Gambella is a relatively unimportant
city on the Baro river in the western portion of the old province of
Ilubabor, only about 20 km to the south of the border with the old province
of Welega.
Despite being a small state, Gambella is quite diverse, ethnically, with a
population estimated at only 181,862 inhabitants (1994). As stated in the
website, "the main nationalities of the State are Nuer, Agnuak, Mezhenger, Apana and Komo. Moreover, the Oromo, Amhara,
Kembta, Keffa, Tigray and other nations and nationalities live in the
State. Of the total ethnic composition the Nuer consists 40%, the Agnuak
27%, Amhara 8%, Oromo 6%, Mezhenger 5.8%, Keffa 4.1%, Mocha 2%, Tigraway
[Tigray?] 1.6% and other ethnic groups predominantly from Southern Ethiopia
5.5%".
Jorge Candeias, 15 Dec 1999
The flag of Gambella comprises four horizontal stripes of black, green, white and red with a black
5-pointed star in the center of the white stripe (1st variant). It has possibly a
symbolism related to the state's diversity, but I can't help noticing
that the very same colours appear in the flag of nearby Sudan. Which is
even more curious when according to the site of the Ethiopian Parliament,
Muslims account for only 5% of the state's population.
Jorge Candeias,
15 Dec 1999
An Ethiopian stamp series (Auf 2000 as shown here) shows the
state flag of Gambella the other way around, red stripe on top, but star pointing upwards (2nd
variant).
Dr. Andreas Birken, 01 May 2002
A photo of the flag of Gambella Region can be seen
here and the design appears to be the flag shown as the "2nd Variant" above.
Brendan Hennessy, 11 April 2012
