Ethiopia

The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (Ityop'iya, Amharic የኢትዮጵያ) is a country of northeastern Africa , the oldest independent nation in the continent and one of the oldest in theworld. Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule, one exception being the Italian occupation of 1936 - 1941 .

History

Main article: History of Ethiopia

In 1974 a military junta , the Derg , deposed Emperor Haile Selassie (who had ruled since 1930 ) and established a socialist state. Torn bybloody coups , uprisings, wide-scale drought , and massive refugee problems, the regime was finally toppledby a coalition of rebel forces, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), in 1991 . A constitution was adopted in 1994 and Ethiopia's firstmultiparty elections were held in 1995 . A border war with Eritrea that erupted in May 1998 has strengthened the ruling coalition, buthas hurt the nation's economy.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Ethiopia

Regions

Main article: Regions of Ethiopia

Ethiopia is divided into 9 ethnically-based administrative regions (astedader akababiwach, singular - astedader akabibi) and 2chartered cities*:

Addis Ababa *; Afar ; Amhara , Benishangul/Gumaz ; Dire Dawa *; Gambela ; Harar ; Oromia ; Somali ; Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region ; Tigray ; Shewa ; Gojjam

Geography

Main article: Geography of Ethiopia

Economy

Main article: Economy of Ethiopia

Demographics

Main article: Demographics ofEthiopia

Culture

Main article: Culture of Ethiopia

• Cuisine of Ethiopia
• Music of Ethiopia

Miscellaneous topics

• Communications in Ethiopia
• Transportation in Ethiopia
• Military of Ethiopia
• Foreign relations of Ethiopia

External links and references

• CIA World Factbook [1]
• University of Pennsylvania African StudiesCenter Ethiopia Page [2]
• http://www.St-Takla.org Saint TaklaHaymanout the Ethiopian Coptic Orthodox Church, Alexandria - Egypt