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 the world. Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule, one exception being the Italian occupation of 1936-1941.

Ityop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik
የኢትዮጵያ ፈደራላዊ ዲሞክራሲያዊ ሪፐብሊክ

coat of arms (In Detail) (Full size)
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%
Population  -Total  -Density	Ranked 16th 67,673,031 0/km²
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

Table of contents

1 History 2 Politics 3 Regions 4 Geography 5 Economy 6 Demographics 7 Culture 8 Miscellaneous topics 9 External links and references

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 by bloody coups, uprisings, wide-scale drought, and massive refugee problems, the regime was finally toppled by a coalition of rebel forces, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), in 1991. A constitution was adopted in 1994 and Ethiopia's first multiparty elections were held in 1995. A border war with Eritrea that erupted in May 1998 has strengthened the ruling coalition, but has 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 2 chartered cities*:

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

Geography

Main article: Geography of Ethiopia

Economy

Main article: Economy of Ethiopia

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Ethiopia

Culture

Main article: Culture of Ethiopia

• Cuisine of Ethiopia
• Music of Ethiopia

 

Holidays

Date	English Name	Local Name	Remarks
January 7	Orthodox Christmas Day
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
September 27	Finding of the True Cross
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 [1]
• University of Pennsylvania African Studies Center Ethiopia Page [1]

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