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The Kunama people
The Kunama people are an ethnic group primarily residing in the western part of Eritrea, near the border with Ethiopia. With an estimated population of around 260,000, the Kunama make up about 4% of Eritrea’s total population. They are predominantly found in the Gash-Barka region, which is characterized by its remote and isolated landscape between the Gash and Setit rivers. There is also a smaller Kunama population in the Tigray region of Ethiopia, although their numbers have significantly declined over the years. The Kunama have a rich historical background that dates back to early recorded accounts. The earliest written references to the Kunama come from the 9th-century Arab geographer Ya’qubi,…