Benishangul Human Rights Foundation

About

History

Benishangul was an integral pan of Sudan till 1898. A map that is available in the British Museum. the Archives !louse in Sudan. and the Archives House in Egypt supports this historical fact. After 1898, the Ethiopians hired this region from the British for 25 years in order to utilize the gold mines that were found there in abundance.

Genocide

About two millions of Beishangul population have been displaced, forced migration mainly to Sudan a result of systemic ethnic cleansing and genocide and campaigns carried out by Ethiopian regimes. The purpose of these campaigns has been to replace the indigenous people of Benishangul by the Ethiopian highlanders in order to change its ethnic identity.

Location & Population

Benishangul is located between Sudan and Ethiopia in a strip extending by approximately 250-300 kilometres and it borders Eritrea from the north, Sudan in the west and Ethiopia from the east and Gambela from the south. The population of Benishangul consists of four tribes such as Mao, Komo, Gumoz and Berta. These tribes have intermarried with the Sudanese tribes and constituted racial group known as Whataweet and Funj. There is no accurate census on the population of Benishangul because the population scattered in inaccessible jungles and mountains and there are not even seasonal roads to connect them in their hinterlands. However, it is estimated to be about six millions.

Human Resources

People in the region suffer from illiteracy as a result of lack of educational resources and facilities. Till 1995, there was only one Benishangul person who graduated from Ethiopian university. Most of the population depends on gathering: hunting and traditional farming that yields little production.

Natural Resources

Benishangul region is located between the savanna, rich savanna, and equatorial. Water resources are in abundance. Several rivers and streams are running in this region. Heavy rains are common with an average of 1500 millimetres. As a result, the land is covered with green grass for most of the year and thick forests with tall trees. The region is rich in timber. As well, the region is rich in unexploited natural resources such as gold, marble, cobalt, copper gas and oil. The satellites explorers have discovered them.

Political Movements

The people of Benishangul Berta, Gumoz, Mao and Kumo kept resisting Ethiopians atrocities and systematic genocide and racism.