Babille is a town in eastern Ethiopia. Named after one of the 12 major clans of the Oromo people (the Babille Oromo), it is located in the Misraq Hararghe Zone of the Oromia Region, 30 kilometers east of Harar. The town has a latitude and longitude of 09°13′N 42°20′E / 9.217°N 42.333°E / 9.217; 42.333 with an elevation of 1648 meters above sea level.
Located on the main road between Harar and Jijiga, Babille is reported to have had telephone service by 1967.
Babille is known for its hot springs, mineral water and the Babille Elephant Sanctuary. The Dakhata Valley (also called the "Valley of Marvels"), known for its rock formations and birdlife, lies seven kilometers from the town. Also nearby is the pass known as the Babille Gap, which has been used at least twice as a strongpoint held against invaders: once by the Italians in 1941 during the Second World War, and later by the Ethiopian army in 1977 during the Ogaden War against the Somali army.
Ethiopia's population is highly diverse. Most of its people speak a Semitic or Cushitic language. The Oromo, Amhara and Tigreans make up more than three-quarters (¾) of the population, but there are more than 80 different ethnic groups within Ethiopia. Some of these have as few as 10,000 members. English is the most widely spoken foreign language and is taught in all secondary schools. Amharic was the language of primary school instruction but has been replaced in many areas by local languages such as Oromifa and Tigrinya.