Arba Minch
| Arba Minch አርባ ምንጭ Ganta Garo |
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 Arba Minch
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| Coordinates: 6°2′N 37°33′E / 6.033°N 37.55°ECoordinates: 6°2′N 37°33′E / 6.033°N 37.55°E | |
| Country | Ethiopia |
| Region | Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples |
| Zone | Gamo Gofa Omo |
| Elevation | 1,285 m (4,216 ft) |
| Population (2005) | |
| • Total | 72,507 |
| Time zone | EAT (UTC+3) |
Arba Minch {'አርባ ምንጭ'} (Amharic, "forty springs") is a city in southern Ethiopia; less common names for this city include Ganta Garo and Minghi. Located in the Gamo Gofa Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region about 500 kilometers south of Addis Ababa, at an elevation of 1285 meters above sea level. It is the largest town in Gamo Gofa Zone as well as Arba Minch Zuria woreda and the second town in SNNPR next to Awassa.
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[edit] Overview
Arba Minch received its name for the abundant local springs which produce a groundwater forest. Besides the forty springs crossing the town is a river kulfo, affectionately referred to as "cock river", which is used by the local people for washing cloths and farming. Located at the base of the western side of the Great Rift Valley, Arba Minch consists of the uptown administrative centre of Shecha and 4 kilometers away the downtown commercial and residential areas of Sikela, which are connected by a paved road. On the eastern side of Sikela is the gate to Nechisar National Park, which covers the isthmus between Lake Abaya to the north and Lake Chamo to the south. Buses and taxis connect the uptown and downtown parts; both parts have schools.[1]
Arba Minch was connected by dry-weather roads until they were upgraded in 1966. A telephone line connecting the town to the capital, costing E$ 250,000, was turned up on 15 July 1967.[2] According to the SNNPR's Bureau of Finance and Economic Development, as of 2003[update] other amenities in Arba Minch include postal service, 24-hour electrical service, a bank and a hospital.[3] May 2010, the Ethiopian Roads Authority awarded a contract worth 563 million E$ to the construction firm of Brehane Hagos to build a road 60 kilometers in length from this town to Belta.[4] Arba Minch is known as a source for fruit, including mango, banana, orange, apple, guava and pineapple, and is also known for its fish farms.Indicating its richness of fish a local singer named Abile Chedo sang the song Nu Dere Gamo Gofa Oycha Arbaminche. It is the home of Arba Minch University and the Southwest Synod of the Mekane Yesus Church. The town also is served by Arba Minch Airport, (ICAO code HAAM, IATA AMH).
[edit] History
Arba Minch was founded in the 1960s and the city succeeded Chencha as the provincial capital of Gamu-Gofa,[5] holding this honor until the reorganisation of provinces in 1995. It retains a degree of government importance as the administrative center for its Zone.
The Norwegian Lutheran Mission opened a station at Arba Minch in 1970, which included a trade school; the school's operation was later taken over by the Mekane Yesus Church. At the beginning of the Ethiopian Revolution public demonstrations occurred in the town,[6] and four people were killed in clashes with the police on 28 March 1974.[2] Following the revolution privately-held plantations were made into state farms.[6]
The 193 million birr Arba Minch Textile Mill was opened on 6 May 1992 in the presence of Ethiopian Prime Minister Tamirat Layne. The mill would produce polyester mixed with cotton grey fabrics.[2]
The town's police and militia were accused of human rights violations in 2008 by the US State Department, who alleged that they broke into the home of an Arba Minch resident, beat him and detained him, with local authorities taking no action following complaints.[7] In December of that year, police opened fire at a public gathering outside a church in Arba Minch, wounding three individuals.[citation needed] Police were reportedly attempting to disperse a crowd following a disagreement between Ethiopian Orthodox priests.[citation needed] The other claim is that federal police were chasing down 3 escaped prisoners that took asylum in the church hoping that the police would not open fire on them in the church. They were wrong.
The US military has begun flying drone aircraft from Arba Minch civilian airport base in Ethiopia, as part of its fight against Islamist militants in neighbouring Somalia. The US military has reportedly spent millions of dollars upgrading the airport from which Reaper drones are flown. Their role is surveillance of the Al-Shabab militant group based in Somalia. But US officials say the drones are flying unarmed because their use is considered sensitive by Ethiopia's government.[8]
[edit] Demographics
Based on figures from the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, Arba Minch has an estimated total population of 72,507 of whom 36,296 were males and were 36,211 females.[9] The 1994 national census reported this town had a total population of 40,020 of whom 20,096 were males and 19,924 were females.
[edit] References
- ^ Philip Briggs, Ethiopia: The Bradt Travel Guide, 3rd edition (Chalfont St Peters: Bradt, 2002), p. 229
- ^ a b c "Local History in Ethiopia" The Nordic Africa Institute website (accessed 6 June 2008)
- ^ "Detailed statistics on hotels and tourism", Bureau of Finance and Economic Development website (accessed 4 September 2009)
- ^ "Tigray, Southern Towns Get First Roads", Addis Fortune 2 May 2010 (accessed 5 May 2010)
- ^ Freeman, Dena (2002). Initiating change in highland Ethiopia: causes and consequences of cultural transformation. p. 37. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=OCVF_xFbM50C&pg=PA37&dq=arba+minch&hl=en&ei=pT8nTbe1DoT78Abqo5S4AQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=8&ved=0CEkQ6AEwBw#v=onepage&q=arba%20minch&f=false.
- ^ a b Günther Schlee, Elizabeth E. Watson (2009). Changing identifications and alliances in North-East Africa, Volume 1. 2: Ethiopia and Kenya. Berghahn Books. p. 150. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=XKLmgm4VfGoC&pg=PA150&dq=arba+minch&hl=en&ei=JkEnTcuHPIOYOoP49fgC&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCUQ6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q=arba%20minch&f=false.
- ^ "2008 Human Rights Reports: Ethiopia", Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, US State Department (accessed 8 July 2009)
- ^ Craig Whitlock, "U.S. drone base in Ethiopia is operational", Washington Post, published 27 October 2011
- ^ CSA 2005 National Statistics, Table B.3
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