Liben

Liben is a toponym used in Ethiopia to designate more than one geographical area. The most widely recognized use is Liben Zone, an administrative zone in the Somali Region of Ethiopia. The zone is named after the Liben area in southern Ethiopia and forms part of the region's federal structure. Liben Zone comprises multiple woredas (districts) and numerous towns and rural communities, with livelihoods dominated by pastoralism and smallholder agriculture in arid and semi-arid landscapes. The population is predominantly Somali-speaking and Muslim; the zone is part of cross-border movement with Kenya and other Somali-inhabited areas.

The name Liben is also used for smaller administrative units and localities within the Somali Region and occasionally in maps to denote a district or locality that shares the name. The area has faced periodic droughts, humanitarian needs, and development projects aimed at improving water access, livestock health, and infrastructure. In the broader context, Liben reflects the cross-border, pastoralist geography common to the Ethiopian Somali and neighboring regions.