Map of Ethiopia highlighting the Gambela region.

Gambela is one of the nine ethnic divisions (kililoch) of Ethiopia. Previously known as Region 12, its capital is Gambela. Covering 25,369 km² in the west of the country along the border with Sudan, Gambela's population (as of 1999) is 206,000. Ethiopia is divided into 9 ethnically-based administrative regions (kililoch; singular - kilil): Afar Amhara Benishangul-Gumaz Gambela Hariai Oromia Somali Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region Tigray Additionally, there are two chartered cities (astedader akababiwach, singular - astedader akabibi): Addis Ababa Dire Dawa These administrative regions replaced the older system of... Ethiopia is divided into 9 ethnically-based administrative regions (kililoch; singular - kilil) and two chartered cities (astedader akababiwach, singular - astedader akabibi), indicated by asterisks: Addis Ababa* Afar Amhara Benishangul-Gumaz Dire Dawa* Gambela Harari Oromia Somali Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region Tigray These administrative regions replaced the older system... Gambela is a city in Ethiopia and the capital of the Gambela Region or kilil. ...

Gambela is believed to have major oil resources. In June 2003, the Ethiopian government signed an agreement with Petronas of Malaysia for the joint exploration and development of oil resources in Gambella region. Petronas then awarded a contract for seismic data acquisition to China’s Zhongyuan Petroleum Exploration Bureau (ZPEB) October of that year. [1] 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Petronas, short for Petroleum Nasional Berhad, is Malaysias state owned oil and gas company that was founded on August 17, 1974. ... Exploration geophysics is the applied branch of geophysics which uses deep and primarily near surface methods to probe or image the earth. ...

Historically, Gambela is home to the indigenous Anuak. In recent years there has been significant violence between the Anuak and more recently arrived Ethiopians, who are generally referred to in this context as "Highlanders". The Anuak are a river people whose villages are scattered along the banks and rivers of southeastern Sudan and western Ethiopia, in the region of Gambela. ...

External links

• "Violence in Gambella: An Overview" on the site of Oxfam America.
• Map of Gambela Region at UN-OCHA

Subdivisions of Ethiopia
Regions
Afar | Amhara | Benishangul-Gumaz | Gambela | Harari | Oromia | Somali | Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region | Tigray
Chartered cities
Addis Ababa | Dire Dawa
Provinces prior to 1995
Arsi | Bale | Gamu-Gofa | Gojjam | Begemder | Hararghe | Illubabor | Kaffa | Shoa | Sidamo | Tigray | Welega | Wollo