Ambassel

Ambassel (also spelled Amba Sel) is one of the 105 woredas of the Amhara Region in Ethiopia, and an amba, or mountain fortress, located in the woreda; the woreda is named for this feature. Located in the Debub Wollo Zone, Ambassel woreda is bordered on the west by Tenta, on the north by the Semien Wollo Zone, on the east by Were Babu, and on the south by Kutaber. Its largest town is Wuchale.

Rivers in this woreda include the Waha Titu. Ambassel has proven deposits of coal near Wuchale, which were exploited during the Italian occupation.

Based on figures from the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 151,254 of whom 74,125 were males and 77,129 were females; 6,811 or 4.5% of the population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 12.4%. With an estimated area of 918.91 square kilometers, Ambassel has a population density of 164.6 people per square kilometer which is less than the Zone average of 173.56.

History

The feudal family that historically held the fortress of Ambassel and the surrounding woreda is one of the most noble in Ethiopian history, though they never ruled any larger realm than their own district. The male members of the family holding the fortress were traditionally the sole bearers of the title of Jantirar.

Empress Menen Asfaw, consort of emperor Haile Selassie, was a daughter of Jantirar Asfaw of Ambassel.

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