Fiq, Ethiopia

Fiq Fiiq
Central Market of Fiq, Ethiopia
Fiq Location within Ethiopia
Coordinates: 8°8′N 42°18′E / 8.133°N 42.300°E / 8.133; 42.300
Country	Ethiopia
Region	Somali
Zone	Fiq
Woreda	Fiq
Elevation	1,229 m (4,032 ft)
Time zone	EAT (UTC+3)

Fiq is a town in eastern Ethiopia. Located in the Fiq Zone of the Somali Region, this town has a latitude and longitude of 08°8′N 42°18′E / 8.133°N 42.300°E / 8.133; 42.300 with an elevation of 1229 meters above sea level.

The Guida dell'Africa Orientale Italiana described Fiq in 1938 as a place where the OGADENSomali would gather during certain months. Travel by motorcar between Fiq and Babille was possible by a track. Administrative buildings present at the time included a post office, telegraph office and an infirmary.

Early in the Ogaden War, Fiq was captured by Somali units; following the fall of Jijiga they used the town as a base for the southern jaw of a pincher attack with the goal of capturing Harar, which raged for four months from September 1977 to January 1978. Despite unexpectedly heavy resistance from the Somali, the Ethiopian Eighth division, supported by a Cuban artillery battalion, entered Fiq 8 March 1979.

Based on figures from the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this town has an estimated total population of 12,911, of whom 6,932 were men and 5,979 were women. The 1997 national census reported a total population for this town of 8,656, of whom 4,580 were men and 4,076 were women. The predominant ethnic group reported in Fiq was the Somali (99.03% of the population). It is the largest town in Fiq woreda.