Surma (woreda)

Surma is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. It is named for the Surma people, whose homeland lies in this woreda. Part of the Bench Maji Zone, Surma is bordered on the south and west by South Sudan, on the northwest by the Gambela Region, on the north by Bero, and on the east by Maji. A portion of the Omo National Park extends into the southern part of this woreda.

The average elevation in this woreda is 2088 meters above sea level. Rivers include the Kaia River, a tributary of the Akobo, which has its origins in this woreda. High points include Mount Naita (2560 meters) on the Ethiopian-South Sudanese border. According to a 2004 report, Surma had 26 kilometers of dry-weather roads, for an average road density of 5 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers. This lack of roads means remote locations are accessible only by air. Moreover, there is no radio communication available in this woreda. As of 2008^[update], about 30% of the total population of Surma has access to drinking water.

On 29 September 2003, violence erupted between Surma and Anuak people following the killing of an Anuak woman by Surma men. The next day armed Anuak tribesmen shot and killed 20 Surma who were mining for gold in Naymei kebele. It remained unclear at year's end whether the government made any response to these incidents.

Based on the 2007 Census conducted by the CSA, this woreda has a total population of 24,598, of whom 11,794 are men and 12,804 women; 914 or 3.72% of its population are urban dwellers. The majority of the inhabitants practiced traditional beliefs, with 96.25% of the population reporting that belief, 1.63% practiced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 1.59% were Protestants.

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