Online Encyclopedia
Ethiopia
The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (Ityop'iya, Amharic ኢትዮጵያ) is a country of northeastern Africa. It has one of the most extensive known histories as an independent nation in the continent. Unique among African countries, the Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule throughout the twentieth century, with the exception of the Italian occupation of 1936–1941. Ethiopia was known by another name, Abyssinia, until the 20th century.
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Official language | Amharic | ||||
Capital | Addis Ababa | ||||
President | Girma Wolde-Giorgis | ||||
Prime Minister | Meles Zenawi | ||||
Area - Total - % water |
Ranked 26th 1,127,127 km² 0.7% |
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Population -Total -Density |
Ranked 16th 67,673,031 60.0/km² |
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Currency | Birr (ETB) | ||||
Time zone | UTC +3 | ||||
National anthem | Whedefit Gesgeshi Woude Henate Ethiopia (March Forward, Dear Mother Ethiopia) | ||||
Internet TLD | .et | ||||
Calling Code | 251 |
Contents |
History
Main article: History of Ethiopia
In 1974 a pro-Soviet Marxist-Leninist military junta, the Derg, deposed Emperor Haile Selassie, who had ruled since 1930, and established a one-party socialist state. The ensuing regime suffered several bloody coups, uprisings, wide-scale drought, and massive refugee problem. It was eventually defeated in 1991 by a coalition of rebel forces under the name Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). In 1994 a constitution was adopted leading to Ethiopia's first multiparty elections in the following year. A border war with Eritrea (a nation which separated from Ethiopia in 1992) erupted in May 1998. This has hurt the nation's economy but since strengthened the ruling coalition.
- See Also: Rulers and Heads of State of Ethiopia
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 2 chartered 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 of Ethiopia
Culture
Main article: Culture of Ethiopia
Date | English name | Local name | Remarks |
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January 7 | Orthodox Christmas Day | Genna; | |
January 19 | Feast of Epiphany | Timket | |
February 2 | Feast of the Sacrifice | Eid-ul-Adha | |
March 2 | Battle of Adowa | ||
April 12 | Orthodox Easter Monday | ||
April 25 | Coptic Good Friday | ||
May 2 | Mulud | Mulud | |
May 5 | Patriots' Day | ||
May 28 | End of Military Regime | ||
September 11 | Ethiopian New Year/Coptic New Year | Inqutatash; | |
September 27 | Finding of the True Cross | Mesqel | |
November 14 | End of Ramadan | Eid-al-Fitr |
Miscellaneous topics
- Communications in Ethiopia
- Transportation in Ethiopia
- Military of Ethiopia
- Foreign relations of Ethiopia
External links and references
- CIA World Factbook page http://www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/et.html
- University of Pennsylvania African Studies Center Ethiopia page http://www.sas.upenn.edu/African_Studies/Country_Specific/Ethiopia.html
- Zeal profiles over 300 relevant websites http://zeal.com/category/preview.jhtml?cid=559917
- http://www.St-Takla.org Saint Takla Haymanout the Ethiopian Coptic Orthodox Church, Alexandria - Egypt
- http://www.EthioNetworks.com Ethio Networks - websites in Amharic (Ethiopian official language)
- http://www.ethioindex.com/
- http://www.ethiopiafirst.com/
- http://www.ethiozena.net/
- http://www.addistribune.com/
- http://www.waltainfo.com/
- http://www.capitalethiopia.com/
- http://www.ethiopianreporter.com/
- http://tezeta.org/
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Other areas: Canary Islands | Mayotte | Réunion | Saint Helena | Western Sahara |