Regional Reports - the European External Action Service

3. Harari Regional Report
1. General remarks on NSA at territorial level.
Background about Harari
Harari is a small region by traditional relatively isolated from the major national dynamics and
therefore having a peculiar social organisation and model of social relationship.
The native population of Harari People National Regional State is estimated at 196,000,
consisting of 100,000 men and 96,000 women. 74,000 or 37.8% of the population are estimated
to be rural inhabitants, while 122,000 or 62.2% are urban. With an estimated area of 311.25
square kilometres, this region has an estimated density of 629.72 people per square kilometre.
These estimates are based on the 1994 census, in which the region's population was reported to be
131,139 and a male to female ratio of about 1:1. At the time of the census, 76,378 lived in urban
areas, while 54,761 lived in rural ones; it is the only region where the majority of its population
lives in urban area. However, a consistent decline in rainfall and water precipitation in the last
three decades and the series of attendant droughts; internal and external social conflicts; and
virulent mismanagement of human and natural resources instigated an unending series of rural
migrations and urban congestions.
Ethnic groups in the region include the Oromo (52.3%), Amhara (32.6%), Harari (7.1%), and
Gurage (3.2%). The Harari language is the official language of the State.
The religious composition of the population of the region indicated that 60.3% were Muslims,
38.2% were Orthodox Christian, 0.9% Protestant, 0.55 Catholic, and 0.1% followers of other
religions.
It is estimated in 2005 that farmers in Harari had a total 31,730 head of cattle (representing less
than 0.1% of Ethiopia's total cattle), 3,440 sheep (less than 0.1%), 26,910 goats (0.21%), 6,320
asses (0.25%), 31,430 poultry of all species (0.1%), and 670 beehives (less than 0.1%).
The regional capital town, Harar is a fortified town. The walls surrounding this sacred Muslim
city were built between the 13th and 16th centuries. Harar Jugol, said to be the fourth holiest city
of Islam, numbers 82 mosques, three of which date from the 10th century, and 102 shrines.
a. NSA in Harari - from the previous mapping
The previous mapping study highlights the fact that in Harari NSA are very few and also rather
weak. The study ascribed a considerable potential to the Harar Relief and Development
Association (HARDA) which has been found no more active and was pended by local
government.
Also the 2004 Mapping study underlines the scarce presence of organisations working on Human
rights, in the Private Sector and in the Professional Associations, excluding the regional chapter
of EWLA, which cannot be considered a Professional Association.
Major highlights of current findings
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