The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (Ityop'iya, Amharic ኢትዮጵያ) is a country situated in the Horn of Africa. It has one of the most extensive known histories as an independent nation on the continent. Unique among African countries, Ethiopia maintained independence during the Scramble for Africa, and continued to do so until 1936, when the Italian army invaded the country. British and Ethiopian troops defeated the Italians in 1941, but Ethiopia did not regain sovereignty until the signing of the Anglo-Ethiopian Agreement of December 1944. (Pankhurst)

Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Ityop'iya Federalawi Demokrasiyawi Ripeblik
የኢትዮጵያ ፈደራላዊ ዲሞክራሲያዊ ሪፐብሊክ

(In Detail) (Full size)
National motto: —
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 60.0/km²
Independence	December 1944 (from the British) [1]
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

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 Peoples' 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 (kililoch; singular - kilil):

Afar; Amhara, Benishangul-Gumaz; Gambela; Harari; Oromia; Somali; Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region; Tigray.

Additionally, there are two chartered cities (astedader akababiwach, singular - astedader akabibi), Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa.

Geography

Main article: Geography of Ethiopia

Ethiopia is an ecologically diverse country with land below sea level and above 10,000 feet. Lake Tana in the north is the source of the Blue Nile. It also has a large number of endemic species, notably the Gelada Baboon and the Ethiopian wolf (or Simien fox).

Economy

Main article: Economy of Ethiopia

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Ethiopia

Ethiopia is home to many different groups of people, the three largest groups being the Oromo, Amhara (whose Amharic language is used for official purposes), and Tigrawot.

The Axumite Kingdom was one of the first nations to officially adopt Christianity, when St. Frumentius of Tyre converted Ezana of Axum during the fourth century CE. Islam in Ethiopia dates back almost to the founding of the religion; Islamic tradition states that Bilal was from present-day Ethiopia. A small group of Jews, the Beta Israel, lived in Ethiopia for centuries, though most have emigrated to Israel. There are numerous indigenous African religions in Ethiopia.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Ethiopia

• Cuisine of Ethiopia
• Music of Ethiopia
• Islam in Ethiopia
• Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church

Miscellaneous topics

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

External links

• CIA World Factbook page
• Nazret.com :: Ethiopian News Portal, Discussion Forum, Blog and Web Directory
• Maps of Ethiopia - Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection, University of Texas
• EthiopianRestaurant.com: Worldwide Listing
• University of Pennsylvania African Studies Center - Ethiopia page.
• Zeal profiles over 300 relevant websites
• Saint Takla Haymanout - Ethiopian Coptic Orthodox Church, Alexandria, Egypt
• Ethio Networks - Websites in Amharic (Ethiopian official language)
• MyEthiopia.info - Articles about Ethiopia.
• http://www.ethioindex.com/
• http://www.ethiopiafirst.com/
• http://www.ethiozena.net/
• Addis Tribune - Newspaper with a weekly online edition.
• Walta Information Center - News and information service.
• http://www.capitalethiopia.com/
• http://www.ethiopianreporter.com/
• http://tezeta.org/
• http://www.helmmagazine.com/ Helm Magazine - publication showcasing art, culture, fashion and talent from Ethiopia
• Meskel Square Weblog by journalist Andrew Heavens. The title refers to a chaotic 16-lane intersection and parade ground in downtown Addis.
• Friends of Ethiopia An American Ethiophile
• EthioPundit Eclectic Ethiopian & Ethio-American Commentary
• Amber Henshaw is a "ferenji", a "white foreigner" (a corruption of the word "French"), living and working in Addis Ababa
• Arat Kilo Weblog of Andrew Proud an Anglican missionary in Addis