Sheko (woreda)

Sheko is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. It is named for the Sheko people, whose homeland lies in this woreda. Part of the Bench Maji Zone, Sheko is bordered on the south by Debub Bench, on the west by Guraferda, on the northwest by the Gambela Region, on the north by the Sheka Zone, and on the east by Semien Bench. Towns in Sheko include Sheko. The western part of this woreda was added to Dimma woreda and central part of it was used to create Guraferda woreda.

The most important rivers in this woreda include the Bergi, Gacheb, Onja, Dama, Beko, and Kashu. One of the few remaining extensive natural forest areas in the country is found in Sheko, with tropical species covering lowland and low midland elevations. High points in this woreda include Mount Bokol (2160 meters) and Mount Guraferda (2494 meters).

Sheko suffers from a lack of roads and means of transport; remote locations are accessible only by air. Most of the inhabitants live a sedentary life, except in the pastoral area around Guraferda. Major cash crops in this woreda include wheat, peppers, barley and pulses. Another source of income is honey production, which along with some cash crops find their way via traders to the administrative center of the Zone, Mizan Teferi, and from there as far as Jimma.

Four opposition parties, the Council of Alternative Forces for Peace and Democracy in Ethiopia, the All-Amhara People's Organization, the Southern Ethiopia Peoples' Democratic Coalition and the Oromo National Congress reported that 1,760 people were killed and thousands more wounded in Sheko woreda in late March and early April 2002 while protesting what they believed were elections irregularities.

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