Ethiopia

(am)
YeItyopya Fdralawi Dimokrasiyawi Ripeblik (am)
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (en)
( Flag of Ethiopia ) ( Coat of arms of Ethiopia )
Official language	No (1) The Amharic is the working language of the federal government.
Capital	Addis Ababa 9 01'N, 38 44'E
Largest city	Addis Ababa
Form of State	Republic Federal
- President - Prime Minister	Girma Wolde-Giorgis Meles Zenawi
Area - Total - Water (%)	Ranked 27 th 1,127,127 km 2 0.7%
Population - Total ( 2010 ) - Density	Ranked 14 th 88,013,491 inhab. 78 inhabitants / km 2
Training Kingdom of D'mt	Eighth Ave. JC
Demonym	Ethiopian Ethiopian
GDP (PPP) ( 2009 )	75.91 billion ( 77th )
GDP (nominal) ( 2009 )	33.92 billion ( 81st )
HDI ( 2007 )	0.414 (medium low) ( 171st )
Currency	Birr ( ETB )
Time Zone	UTC 3
National anthem	Wedefit Gesgeshi Woude Enat Ityopya
Internet domain	. And
Indicative Telephone	+251
International Organizations
IGAD , AU , UN
(1) Since 1994, Ethiopia has no official language: all languages are recognized by the Ethiopian government, according to Article 5 of the Constitution .

Map of Ethiopia

The Ethiopia, the long form Republic of Ethiopia, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Amharic , And ye- tyy Fdralw Dmkrsyw Rpeblk , , is a state -owned and located in the Horn of Africa. Only country in the region without access to the sea, Ethiopia shares its borders with Somalia , the Sudan , the Kenya , the Republic of Djibouti and Eritrea. Two countries of Africa by population, Ethiopia is the ninth country in the continent's area. Essentially consists of highlands , extending from the Danakil Depression to -120 m to the snowy peaks of Mount Ras Dashan at 4543 m, the country has a very diverse environment crossed by six climatic zones. The capital Addis Ababa , located 2400 m above sea level, is the fourth highest capital in the world.

Considered the cradle of humanity , rather than the discovery of Lucy , Ethiopia is with Chad and Kenya , a country where one finds the earliest hominids , and since 2003 , where he was found the oldest specimen of Homo sapiens. The Ethiopian civilization is one of the oldest, the prophet Mesopotamian Mani mentioning ^the third century the Kingdom of Axum among the four largest powers in the world. Within Africa, Ethiopia is characterized as one of the only nations to have retained its sovereignty over the dismemberment of Africa in the nineteenth ^century.

Ethiopia is the second oldest nation Christian in the world alongside, she welcomes a Muslim population and minority Jews (the Falasha ) and animists. Ethiopia is now a country constitutionally secular ^{Place names}

The name "Ethiopia" remains uncertain. His oldest documented use dates back to the epics of Homer , the word appears twice in the Iliad and three times in the Odyssey. Its use to refer specifically to the Kingdom of Axum appears for the first time ⁱⁿ the fourth century on the registration of Ezana reflecting Habachat by Aithiops () in ancient Greek , meaning "burnt face . According to The Chronicle of the kings of Axum, a manuscript Ge'ez ^seventeenth century, the name "Ethiopia" is derived from Ityopp'is, a son of Cush , unknown to the Bible which according to legend, founded the city of Axum. Pliny the Elder states the same way that the country's name is derived from a man named "aethiops, son of Vulcan" . Ityopis's grave is still visible near Axum .

In France , and more generally outside of Ethiopia, the country has historically been known to Abyssinia , the Arab Habachy meaning "Abyssinian" , derived from thiosmitique Habeshat. The latter term is also the origin of the term Habesha, designating these days all Ethiopians and Eritreans while strictly speaking, it refers to people tegrated and Amhara. Modern Arabic still uses the word Al-Habacha or the word Ithyby to describe Ethiopia.

History

Ethiopia is the oldest independent state in Africa, born there around 3000 years. History of the State begins to ^eighth century BC. AD with the formation of D'mt kingdom from various successive regimes: the Kingdom of Axum , the Empire of Ethiopia , the government of the Derg , the Democratic People's Republic of Ethiopia and the current Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

Prehistory and Antiquity

Remnants of a kingdom of D'mt : the ruins of the Temple of Yeha in Tigray , Ethiopia.

Considered one of the cradles of mankind , Ethiopia is one of the oldest human settlements. The earliest evidence of hominids dating back 3 or 4 million years. The emergence of Homo erectus and the homo sapiens in the region is between 1.7 million and 200,000 years ago. There is little data on Ethiopia in ancient times seems to have been part of Punt ( -3000 - -1000 ).

The stelae of Axum with that of Ezana in the center. World Heritage of UNESCO .

The D'mt kingdom ( ^III - V ^centuryBC. ) is generally considered the first organized form of a state of Ethiopia. Very few archaeological traces have survived of that kingdom which would have had very close relations with the Sabean kingdom in Yemen. Some modern historians believe that civilization yet D'mt is indigenous and it would have suffered little influence Sabean, others argued it would be a mix between culture and Sabean dominant indigenous culture ^, . After the fall of the kingdom of D'mt in ^the fifth century BC. AD , various kingdoms dominated the region until the emergence in the ^first century BC. AD , the kingdom of Aksum , the first major empire in the history of Ethiopia.

The Kingdom of Aksum at its height.

The kingdom of Aksum was the first big state known for Africa , its capital, Axum , is a cosmopolitan city inhabited by Jews , the Greeks and the people of Arabia to the south. Located along the Red Sea , the kingdom thrives on the export of primary products is built around trade and begins to control the main routes through the region . The characteristic feature of Axum is the practice of writing with the development of the Ethiopian alphabet . Around 330, Ezana , Negus Axum converted to Christianity , which became the official religion , adopted by the local population mostly Jewish and Gentile . Towards the end ^of the sixth, governors and Aksumite military garrisons set up in southern Arabia were expelled by local forces with the support of the Persians . Its decline continued with the expansion of Islam in the ^mid-sixth that threatens the hegemony of Axum Marine . The destruction by the Arab port of Adulis affect state revenues, destabilizes the authority of the kingdom and exacerbates internal strife . The lack of security makes the caravan routes impassable, access to the sea is always more complicated and natural resources are depleted . All these factors contribute to the fall of Axum and the displacement of political power to southern Ethiopia .

The Middle Ages Ethiopia

The Zagwe and restoration Solomonid

Bete Giyorgis , one of the Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela constituting the greatest legacy of the famous dynasty Zagwe.

Around 990, the Aksumite kingdom finally collapsed. Due to the growth of Islam from the coast, Ethiopia retreated to the hinterland and various contenders vie for control of the center of the country . Around 1140 , the Zagwe , a family of Lasta , came to power. She initially dominates the northern part of his province of origin but from the beginning of the ^thirteenth, it extends its control over the Tegra , the Bgemeder and current Wello . The feudal structure of the Empire offers a relatively autonomous regional lords . The sovereign is the most famous Gebre Mesqel ordering the construction of a complex of churches carved into the rock . The support of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Zagwe ensures their dominance .

The Ethiopian Empire before the medieval invasion of Ahmed Gragn.

In 1270, the last ruler Zagwe, Yetbarek , was overthrown by Yekouno Amlak. The arrival in power of the latter marks the restoration of the Solomonic dynasty that reigns almost continuously until 1974 . For nearly three centuries, the country faces a period of cultural development, administrative, territorial expansion and wars against the neighboring Muslim sultanates installed north and south of Ethiopia Christian . This phase of Ethiopian history is sometimes nicknamed the "Golden Age of the Solomonic dynasty. Amda Syon I led the first large territorial gains during the thirty years of his reign (1314 - 1344) , a expansion consolidated Dawit I and I Yeshaq the late ^fourteenth to early ^fifteenth .

In addition to his military successes, Ethiopia is experiencing a phase of development of Orthodox Christianity and the national literature. In this area Zara Yaqob seems to be the sovereign emblem. During his reign from 1436 to 1468, he converted the pagans of Damot and Gojjam and participates in the theological debates . There is also a great writer, his best known work remains the Metsehafe Berhan (Book of Light) . During these centuries, various administrative and financial reforms reorganized the Empire. One of the characteristics of this period is the continuous movement of the court, a practice which employ the majority of sovereign and allows them to maintain contact with regional governors, while ensuring control of Ethiopian territory .

War, unrest and destabilization of imperial authority

img alt = "" src = "http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6a/Lebna_Dengel.png/200px-Lebna_Dengel.png" width = "200" height = "265" class = "thumbimage" />

Lebna Dengel , one of the Ethiopian kings who fought against the forces of Ahmed Ibn Ibrahim Al-Ghazi.

This period of prosperity ended in the early ^sixteenth century, under Lebna Dengel. Economic troubles and the population explosion in the Islamic sultanates lead in 1527 at the outbreak of war between the Muslim forces led by Ahmed Ibn Ibrahim Al-Ghazi , Ahmed said "Gragn" (left in Amharic ) and ' Ethiopian Christian Empire . Nevertheless, the conflict will change from 1541, with the arrival of the Portuguese which Lebna Dengel has appealed. February 21, 1543, after the Battle of Wayna Daga , Ahmed was killed and his army defeated, leaving behind a country in ruins and weakened .

Given the weakness of the Empire, the Oromos will migrate from Bale and Sidamo , north, central and western Ethiopia, and these population movements will last three decades from 1550 to 1580 . The fragility of Ethiopia has encouraged the arrival of the Jesuits. During the second half of the ^sixteenth century , they manage to impose Catholicism on sovereign Sousnyos who converted in 1621 . Protests after it turned into a veritable civil war and Sousnyos abdicates June 14, 1632, in favor of his son Fasilidas .

The palace of Fasilidas to Gonder

In 1632, the new sovereign bases Gonder where he built a castle . The new city became the capital of the country and an important religious and commercial center. The year 1632 marks the beginning of the period gonderienne which expires in 1769 and during which the doctrinal divisions of the Church, the penetration of Islam and the fight against offensive Oromo lead to a collapse announced . During the first half of the eighteenth ^century, economic stagnation and destabilization of the imperial authority grow the local lords to take ever more powers .

In January 1769, with the murder of Iyoas ^I. begins Zemene Mesafent ("Era of Princes") . Until 1855, a series of sovereign with limited powers to rule Gonder , the real holders of power are the mayors of the palace and the local lords. The Zemene Mesafent is a phase of economic stagnation, innovation is discouraged by the endless wars . The Ethiopian population has particularly suffered during this period and during the 1830s, resurfaced an ancient prophecy that a ruler comes to power, will establish a reign fair and ensure peace in the country . The ^{mid-nineteenth} century, the military exploits of a young Kassa Hailou seem to announce the arrival of that monarch as expected.

Centralization and independence: the construction of the modern Ethiopian state

The Ethiopian Empire from threats foreign

Full sharing of Horn of Africa , Ethiopia restores an empire to resist successfully the onslaught of colonialism.
Ethiopian empire before the conquests of Menelik II (1875) Ethiopian empire after the conquest

From 1855 to the early ^twentieth century, three major successive sovereigns. The first is Tewodros II, whose coronation in 1855 marked the end of Zemene Mesafent and early modern history of the country . First real modernization, it starts the process of unification and centralization, which ends in 1974 with the fall of Haile Selassie I. Nevertheless, the reluctance of local governors at the measures adopted and diplomatic disputes with Britain led to his downfall in 1868 . After a brief reign from 1868 to 1871 Tekle Giyorgis, Yohannes IV , the second great ruler comes to power in January 1872. Less than centralizing Tewodros II, it nevertheless ensures the supremacy of the civil Negusse Negest and manages to build a national unity collapsed throughout the past century.

Menelik II at the Battle of Adwa , ensuring a victory for Ethiopia to maintain its independence.

However, the opening of the Suez Canal promotes its coveted foreign empire which divert domestic policy issues. From 1875 to 1889, he defended against Ethiopian borders three countries. First, the Egyptians, whom he inflicts a heavy defeat in 1875-1876. Then the Italians, settled at Metsewa since 1885, are defeated at the Battle of Dogal in 1887 by Major General Yohannes, Ras Alula Engida. Finally, Yohannes faces the troops madhistes. On 10 March 1889, the day after the battle of Metemma , he died following injuries, and forfeit his life defending the territory of Ethiopia.

The same year, the Negus of Shewa Negusse Negest is proclaimed under the name of Menelik II. The third great ruler of the late twentieth century accelerated the process of unification and modernization while facing the threat of colonialism. He signed with the Italians Wuchale treaty , meant to ensure peace and friendship. However, following reports by the Ethiopians of Italian deception, they abrogate the treaty in 1893, leading the Empire to the war , launched in 1895. The conflict ended with the famous battle of Adwa in which more than 100,000 Ethiopians struggling Italian Army . This success warrants to the Empire's independence and Menelik II, the international recognition of Ethiopian sovereignty. In addition to this victory against colonialism, Negusse Negest will mark the Ethiopian history through its policies of modernization and its territorial conquests giving the country its present boundaries.

Ethiopia in the early twentieth ^century to the fall of the Empire

The Negusse Negest Haile Selassie ^I. in 1934.

In the early twentieth ^century, during the years 1910-1920, two very different personalities sovereign will succeed: Ledjit Eyassou and I Zewditou. The first is officially in power from 1913 to 1916, his short reign was particularly agitated . His disinterest in public affairs, its proximity to the Muslim community and its political antagonist with neighboring European powers pushed the Ethiopian nobility to overthrow in the coup of September 27, 1916 . Zewditou I arrived on the throne Imperial, his reign saw the emergence of Teferi Mekonnen , and prince regent during the coup . During the 1920s, liberals and conservatives opposed to the Court . The latter oppose the wishes of openness to the world that defend first. In 1923, making Ethiopia the first African country joining the League of Nations , Teferi Wins .

During the 1920s he pursued policies of modernization in all spheres, social as well, with the abolition of slavery, economic and legal . This process continues his reign began April 3, 1930, following the death of Zewditou; Teferi is crowned November 2, 1930 under the name Haile Selassie I. A new constitution, the first in Ethiopian history, was enacted in 1931, many schools are built, the economy is reformed and centralized political power, everything is done to make Ethiopia free from invasion Colonial . This does not prevent the outbreak of war with the Italian fascist in 1935 leading to a defeat of Ethiopia and the beginning of a partial occupation of the country for five years during which a national resistance organized . In 1941, year of release, opens a new period called Addis Zemen (French: New Era). This is for Haile Selassie to resume sites open in early reign. The country is experiencing a period of industrialization and economic growth but also various disorders . Indeed, rebellion broke out in the Tegra in 1943, and in the Gojjam , the Bale , the Ogaden and Eritrea in the 1960s . In these movements are complemented by demonstrations against political power and strikes. The movement is handled by a committee of soldiers called the Derg , which manages in September 1974 to remove Haile Selassie ^I and reverse the oldest monarchy in the world .

Ethiopia from 1974 to Today

Revolution and the Derg regime

Mengistu Haile Mariam , member of the Derg , led the country from 1977 to 1991.

On September 12, 1974, Haile Selassie was deposed and arrested former officials are imprisoned, strikes and demonstrations are banned . The Derg, the military junta, began to settle in power. Students are sent to the provinces to conduct literacy campaigns and disseminate the new ideology . The State takes control of the economy, many companies are nationalized. Finally, a big party is set up on a national and socialist . If the Derg initially arrives to assert his authority, the civilian political parties demanding a transfer of power and the return of the military barracks. The two main opposition parties are meison and the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party (EPRP). Clashes between the second party and the regime will degenerate and the end of 1976 to late 1978, a phase during which the country saw "two terrible years" . Confrontations are particularly brutal repression and radicalism increases. Family members of the EPRP are involved and the participation of schoolchildren alongside EPRP the Derg led to slaughter entire classes . From 29 April to ¹ May 1977, over one thousand students and high school students are murdered . This period of political violence, known as Red Terror , marked the Ethiopians. The killings are also common within the Derg, where rivalries between individuals lead to arrests and shootings . It finally Lieutenant-Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam that emerges within the junta, which ruled the country from 1977.

That same year, the country is facing an army offensive in Somalia who invaded the country in July. The Ogaden war is triggered, with the support of the USSR and Cuba , Ethiopia won the war . However, it is in the north that the system met real difficulties facing the movement of military Tegra and the Eritrea. During the civil war , violence affecting civilians and also promote the Eritrean separatists are progressing. The end of the Derg seems closer when the two main guerrilla groups, the People's Liberation Front Tigray (FLPT) and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Eritrea (EPLF) coordinate their operations from the mid-1980s . A series of victories led the first movement to broaden its objectives by forming a coalition, the People's Revolutionary Democratic Front, Ethiopian (EPRDF), which is supposed to free the country. On 21 May 1991, Mengistu Haile Mariam decides to flee the country and a week later, the EPRDF forces entered the capital. On May 28, 1991, the Derg regime fell and the date has become a national holiday.

Ethiopia under the EPRDF

Meles Zenawi , the current Prime Minister of Ethiopia.

From 1991 until 1995, the country is run by a transitional government to conduct the Ethiopia towards democracy. In 1992, the Front Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic (EPRDF) won the first multiparty elections in the history of the country and prepare a new constitution. The following year, the referendum for independence of Eritrea, made in agreement with the EPRDF, sees the victory of the separatists. In 1994, the Constituent Assembly voted to ratify the new Constitution comes into force in August 1995. The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is officially proclaimed. The transition was made quickly and in a relatively calm atmosphere.

The EPRDF will still face some difficulties. In 1998, Eritrea invaded Ethiopia and triggers a war that lasted two years. The conflict claimed more than 80,000 dead and sees the victory of Ethiopian troops. Since the reports are difficult between the two states. The central government is also faced with two armed rebellions, the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and the National Front for the Liberation of Ogaden (ONLF). This is also supported by the Islamic Courts Union , a movement active in Somalia, where Ethiopia has intervened in support of the government official in Mogadishu from 2006 to 2009.

In 2005, general elections saw the rise of political parties of the opposition who have won many seats in national parliament and regional councils. These, however, contested the results that have enabled the EPRDF to stay in power, violent protests erupted in Addis Ababa and several dissidents have been arrested.
If the 2010 general elections have aroused a passion with a participation rate of 90% , the results did not confirm the trend of 2005. Instead, the EPRDF and its allies won nearly all seats in the lower house while the opposition has emerged in only two districts . This overwhelming victory to 99% , challenged by opponents, reinforces the presence of the party of Meles Zenawi throughout Ethiopia. Finally, these elections are different from previous ones by the calm and serene atmosphere in which the process unfolded.

Geography

Physical Geography

Covering an area of 1,137,000 square kilometers, Ethiopia is between 3 N and 14 N, halfway between the equator and the Tropic of Cancer. Located on the African Great Rift , which houses the Afar depression at the meeting point of three tectonic plates and draining the main rivers of the Horn of Africa , Ethiopia has a very diverse environment.

The topography ranges and the Danakil Desert to 120 m below sea level to snow-capped Mount Ras Dashan culminating at 4543 meters. The topography of the country combining highlands (including the central plateau at an altitude ranging between 1 800 and 3 000 m), massive and steep canyons, volcanic regions , savannah, desert and high plains green.

The country has been explored and mapped from 1838 to 1848 by Antoine d'Abbadie D'Arrast.

Simien Massif - World Heritage of UNESCO

Canyon in northern Tigray

Falls Blue Nile near Lake Tana

Savannas in the Mago National Park

Volcano Erta Ale in the Danakil Desert

Mountains in the region Bale

Geological formation

Satellite View of Ethiopia.

In the era Precambrian , following the fracturing of the supercontinent Rodinia (about - 750 million years), three main blocks (the Gondwana East Gondwana central and western Gondwana) collide there are 600 million years; colossal mountain ranges are formed at that time, representing the orogeny Pan. The Precambrian Proterozoic (visible Meqel ) is also formed during the same period . Over 375 million years, a process of erosion blurs these mountains giving way to low plains on the outskirts of Ethiopia . In the era Mesozoic (250 - 70 million years) an elevation of northern Ethiopia occurs in parallel with a sagging South .

Saline area in the wilderness of the Danakil Depression

This is the era Oligocene (35 million years) that occurs a major geological event drawing the current Ethiopian geology: an abrupt rise of the Arab-Ethiopian plate occurs as a result of the rise of a mass magmatic melt after hot spots located between 2 900 and 700 km depth. The mass of materials, and the strong rise in temperature to which they lead (100 to 300 C) can cause a brittle collapse of the crust. Three fracture then appear for bringing two of them to the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden , the third in the Rift Valley . Following the break that follows (some areas sinking at 120 m below sea level), the Red Sea depression formed invaded north-eastern Ethiopia. The continuation of volcanic eruptions form later basaltic dikes leading to the formation of an inland sea .
It evaporates slowly giving way today to beds of salts of several kilometers thick and a few salt lakes . The volcanoes are still active, constituting the region of Africa where they found there in greater numbers, sources of water and bubbling geysers testify even today of those times.

Climate

Representation of the five main climatic zones in Ethiopia

Through its positioning in the tropical zone , its topography and its proximity to the Indian Ocean , Ethiopia has a wide variety of climates. Overall, only the South West have a tropical climate, climates on other areas being affected by the altitude and the monsoon in the Indian Ocean .

A distinction is usually six climatic zones across the major territories:

• alpine , above 3,800 m, the average temperature is 5 C and the climate of alpine
• temperate subalpine to 1400 m, an average temperature of 15 C
• Tropical , between 500 m and 1000 m altitude, average temperature of 30 C
• tropical savanna , between 100 m and 1400 m altitude,
• Semi-desert between 100 m and 800 m altitude, the climate is semi-arid areas in these two
• desert between -130 m and 100 m altitude, the climate is arid and the average temperature reaching 40 C .

The trays and North Shoa Central, which is the historic heart of Ethiopia, are subjected to heavy rainfall (annual average of over 1000 mm) during the summer monsoon (late June to late September), followed a dry season until February. The monsoon enters the country from the south-west before rushing out to meet the highlands, thus saving the plains of the Danakil on the eastern slopes to the arid climate .

Because the terrain of the country the lowlands to the east and southeast and are generally subject to more arid climates than the highlands. The region of Ogaden in the southeast receives lower rainfall in spring and autumn, the climate is semi-desert (annual average between 50 and 300 mm only) / Sup>. Regions of South and South-Western countries are less sensitive to the monsoon. The climate is tropical , the rains are intermittent and high humidity ^Vegetation

Ethiopia has an extremely diverse vegetation because of the wide variety of climates and landforms in the country. The Ethiopian region in this respect is one of eight "centers of diversity" (in) identified worldwide by biologist Nikolai Vavilov , that is to say parts of the globe where you can find a very strong Genetic diversity of particular species that can be identified as the center of origin of this species. The diversity is such that we can discover even today new species . In areas of very high altitudes (above 3800 m) only remaining alpine vegetation ( lichens , heather ). Several plants are characteristic of these regions, particularly the giant lobelia.

In regions of the highlands (2400 m - 3800 m), the climate is temperate and the soil richer. It is in its regions that form the historic heart of Ethiopia that we can still find most of the farm ( teff , sorghum , maize ), as well as the Ethiopian forests largely subject to progressive deforestation.

Along the borders Sudan to the west, the tropical climate and heavy rainfall leading to lush vegetation, especially along rivers. In areas of lower elevations in the south-west, drier climate helps to develop an environment-type savanna (grass, shrubs) and plants resistant to extreme climatic conditions ( succulents ). Finally, in the outlying desert areas, arid climate and rainfall almost nonexistent help develop a xerophytic vegetation or very short life, with vegetation lower ( acacias , palm trees ) around the few rivers.

Viola abyssinica

Euphorbia abyssinica

Candelabra cactus

Arabica coffee

Giant lobelia

Fauna

Gelada baboon in the valley of Nile blue

There are significant numbers in Ethiopia for endemic species equally among mammals than in birds that constitute the Ethiopian fauna. The biodiversity of species is mainly due to the implantation of human activities to areas defined enough.

In this regard it is possible to distinguish mountain lowland devices. On the high plateaus, the human presence has over the story changed the environment through its sedentary agricultural practice, some regions have rugged terrain they were naturally protected, this is the case of massive Simien , who is TODAY 'Today a thriving nature park where many endemic species (including the Walia ibex (Capra walie), the Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis), the mountain nyala (Tragelaphus buxtoni), the corbivau raven (Corvus crassirostris), the baboon gelada ).

Nomadic practices in the lowlands favoring livestock were much less impact on the environment. Today there are nine national parks , three wildlife sanctuaries and eight reserves throughout the territory.

Ethiopian wolf (Canis simensis)

Walia ibex (Capra walie)

Bucorvus abyssinicus

Bostrychia carunculata

Corvus crassirostris

Geography administrative

Since the entry into force of the Ethiopian constitution of 1994 , Ethiopia is based on a federal system and is divided into nine regions and two "city regions" indicated by asterisks :

1. Addis Ababa *		Regions and city regions of Ethiopia. Click on the image to access the description of the area.
2. Afar
3. Amhara
4. Benishangul Gumaz
5. Dire Dawa *
6. Gambela
7. Harar Region
8. Oromia
9. Somali
10. Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region
11. Tigray

Administrative areas of Ethiopia.

Each region has its own government and a constitutional right to self-determination and secession . These provisions, although theoretical, marking the end of the process of centralization that began in Tewodros II. They reflect the nature of movements that fought the central government during the civil war from 1974 to 1991 , mainly regional, national autonomy or even independence.

Administrative regions since 1994 replacing the old system of provinces established by Haile Selassie I. Their names are sometimes still used today to describe a place in the country. These regions are divided in turn into 68 administrative zones throughout the territory. The country is further subdivided into 550 woredas and six special woredas. This is actually the equivalent of a township or district. The woredas are themselves divided into kebeles representing a municipality or district.

The people and culture

Demographics

General Information

Population density in Ethiopia

Demographic change between 1961 and 2003 (figures FAO , 2005). Population in thousands.

In July 2009, according to estimates from the World Factbook Ethiopia had a population of 85,237,338 inhabitants which earned him the ^14th place worldwide and the second in Africa.

The country has experienced a steady evolution and growing its population until the early 1980's. Thereafter, the growth accelerated until today with an average rate of 2.3% per year, with the exception of a decline seen between 1992 and 1993 due to the independence of Eritrea , May 24, 1993 whose population was around at that time 3.2 million people. Ethiopia's population is predominantly young and rural areas they live in the highlands.

Summary indicators

This section contains the main demographic indicators:

Population structure of Ethiopia
Pyramid of Ethiopia, 2005
Population	85,237,338 inhabitants
Population Density	inhabitants / km
Rate of population growth	3.208%
Median age - Males - Females	16.9 years 16.6 years 17.2 years
Age Structure - 0-14 years - 15-64 years - Age 65 and over	46.1% 51.2% 2.7%
Sex ratio - At birth - Under 15 years - 15-64 years - Age 65 and over	0.97 male / female 1.03 male / female 1.00 male / female 0.96 male / female 0.75 male / female
Share of urban population	17%
Sources: ;

Mortality in Ethiopia
Crude mortality rate	11.55
Infant mortality rate - Males - Females	80.8 92.06 69.2
Life expectancy at birth - Males - Females	55.41 years 52.92 years 57.97 years
Source:

Birth in Ethiopia
Crude birth rate	43.66
TFR	6.12 Child (s) / female
Source:

Other social indicators Ethiopia
Literacy - Males - Females	42.7% 50.3% 35.1 (est. 2003)%
Average number of years spent in school	8 years
Seropositivity rates to HIV / AIDS (Adults)	4.4%
Access rate to drinking water	42%
Unemployment rate	N / A%
Sources:

Largest cities (2006)
Addis Ababa	2 973 004
Dire Dawa	281 750
Nazreth (Region Oromia )	228 623
Gondar (Region Amhara )	194 773
Mekel (Region Tigray )	169 207

Languages and populations

Languages of Ethiopia

Main articles: Languages of Ethiopia and Ethiopian Alphasyllabaire.

Schematic representation of the distribution of four major Ethiopian languages

Ethiopia has six major languages: Amharic (32.75%), Oromo (31.6%), Tigrinya (6.1%), Somali (6.0%), guaragigna (3.5%) and Sidama ( 3.5%, but also many other *.

Due to the "impressive" concentration of diverse languages, Ethiopia is considered a "paradise for linguists" . The languages of the country may fall into four main branches :

• the Semitic branch
• the Cushitic branch
• the branch Omotic
• the Nilotic branch

The first three parts belong to the family of Afro-Asiatic , while the fourth belongs to that of the Nilo-Saharan languages. Some languages are still unclassified. There are a total of about 80 languages throughout the territory of which some are younger than 10 000 members. All languages of Ethiopia enjoy the same status since entry into force of the 1994 constitution , its Article 5 guarantees "equal state recognition." The text of the Constitution guarantees all people the right to develop their language and set as mother tongue at the primary school.

A passage from Genesis written in Ge'ez , a language using the national writing system.

Semitic languages are spoken mainly in areas of the highlands in central and northern countries. They are derived from Ge'ez , the language of Axum Kingdom of national importance to the emergence of Amharic in the thirteenth ^century . Spoken today by a minority of the population, it is the liturgical language of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church . The two major Semitic languages of Ethiopia are the Amharic and Tigrinya. The first is the most practiced of the country by about 32.7% of the population , mainly in the north central Ethiopia. National language since the reign of Tewodros II (1855 - 1868) , it loses its official status in 1995 with the adoption of the new Constitution . The second most Semitic language is Tigrinya , spoken by 6.1% of the population, mainly in Tigray. Other Semitic languages include the Hareri the Argobba or Gurage, spoken by 4.3% of the population ^, .
Ethiopian Semitic languages are unique in using the system write Ge'ez , a alphasyllabaire called "Ethiopic" and locally called fidel (). Ethiopia is, with Eritrea, the only country in the world using this writing system. It contains 182 basic characters to which we must add the special characters, totaling more than 200 characters .

The Cushitic languages are mainly spoken in parts of southern and central-west and in the east, in the valley of the Awash and the Afar Triangle. The most important is the Afaan oromoo second language, spoken by 31.6% of the population, overwhelmingly the Oromo Peoples . The Somali , fourth national language, is used by 6% of the population, mainly Somalis of the Ogaden in eastern Ethiopia . The Afar is talking about him in the Northeast, a region which is also practiced the Saho . Finally, among the principal Cushitic languages of Ethiopia, it is worth mentioning the Sidama , practiced by 3.5% of the population and clustered within the eastern group of the highlands with the Burji .

Omotic languages are unique to Ethiopia where they are spoken by people living in the basin of the Omo , south-west . Although their precise number is difficult to assess, it is estimated that over 40 languages of this branch. If very few people speak a language Omotic, small geographical spread does not prevent a large heterogeneity . Of this branch include the gamo , the YEMS or gimira.

The branch is the branch of the Nile Ethiopian less widely spoken languages . It is practiced by people of south-west to the border with Sudan. The low number of speakers and their remoteness makes it a relatively unknown language group and studied in Ethiopia . All of the Nilotic languages in Ethiopia includes: Nuer-Dinka and Anyu.

Peoples of Ethiopia

Main article: Peoples of Ethiopia.

The peoples of Ethiopia can be divided into several large groups with as essential features, language. The first major group consists of people Habesha essentially speaking Semitic languages. The Amhara people is the largest demographic and the second at the national level after the Oromos. They inhabit the highlands and are farmers . From the mid-nineteenth ^century and especially under the reign of Menelik II , they play an important role in building the modern state of Ethiopia . They speak Amharic , now working language of the federal government and are Orthodox Christians. The Tigray people are demographically the second group Habesha. Their language is Tigrinya and they are also Orthodox Christians. They settled in northern Ethiopia and feel so strongly linked to inheritance and to the Aksumite Ethiopian national identity . Other populations are Habesha Agew and the Beast Esral .

A second entity is constituted by the Oromos , the first people of the land to the Amhara. Previously they have been designated by the term "Galla", a word with a pejorative connotation today . "Identity elastic" is explained by the extent of the settlement area from the border with Sudan in the west to the Ogaden in the east and .org / wiki / Fronti% C3% 27% C3% A8re_entre_l 89thiopie_et_le_Kenya% "title =" border between Ethiopia and Kenya "> border with Kenya to the south. Their activities vary by region but the beef is shared by the various Oromo groups . Oromo political integration in society and Ethiopian state took place from the ^sixteenth to the ^eighteenth century, after the invasion Gragn and as a result of immigration patterns . Several groups of populations are all such as the Oromo Borana, Arsi and the the Gujis, etc.. .

In eastern Ethiopia, live two pastoral peoples: the Afars and the Somalis. Predominantly Muslim, they speak, respectively, Afar and Somali. About 1 to 1 5 million Afars live in the north-eastern Ethiopia, while the 4 million Somalis are living in the region of Ogaden . Both peoples are nomadic and organized into clans although historically, they have formed stable states .

Finally, a variety of peoples living in the Southwest, and in the western and southern outskirts of the Ethiopian State. Gerard Prunier identified two groups. First, the "first suburbs south-west" , near the center, which live among other Gurage , the Kaffas , the Sidama , the Welaytas , etc.. . The second group is the "big peripheries" . These people live in the south and borders with Sudan and Kenya, according to the terms of a plum on "indifference" the central government. Every nation is demographically small but comprehensive set contains truly homogeneous cultures, different languages and various societal organizations .

Religions

Main article: Religion in Ethiopia.

Freedom of worship is guaranteed by the Ethiopian constitution of 1994 , indicating the absence of state religion. There is thus forbidden to create a political party based on religion, any religious group should be declared and registered with government authorities.

Christianity

Main article: Christianity in Ethiopia and Ethiopian Orthodox Church.

Priest of the church Yemrehanna Krestos.

Church Debre Berhan Selassie in Gondar

Christianity in Ethiopia is dominated by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church , which is mainly distributed in the highland regions (city-region: Addis Ababa , regions, Amhara and Tigray ).

According to the official national census of 2007, the Christian population is divided along three lines :

• 43.5% of the population of Ethiopia is a member of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church
• 18.6% are Protestants , such as members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Tehadeso of P'ent'ay and the Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus ,
• 0.7% claim to the Ethiopian Catholic Church.

Christianity was introduced to Ethiopia around 330 when Saint Frumence of Tyre , called locally or Abba Selama Fremnatos ("Father of Peace"), converted King Ezana of Axum , making it one of the oldest Christian state in the world , the second after Armenia. The cross replaced at this time the symbolism of the Sun and the Moon on parts of the kingdom. Around 480 , a group of monks, the Nine Saints introduce the monasticism and monophysitism the form of a refusal of the formulations of the Council of Chalcedon in 451, adhering to the unique nature of Christ. These contribute to the spread of Christianity in the kingdom including the first by translating religious texts in Ge'ez ]. The monasteries, the architecture through rock churches of Lalibela in particular, art, painting, literature , demonstrate the significant influence of Orthodox Christianity throughout the history of Ethiopia and the reigns of dynasties Zagwe and Solomon Islands. The attempt to introduce Roman Christianity in Ethiopia through the voice of missionaries also reveals a failure leading to a civil war ending with the expulsion of the Jesuits in Fazilidas.

Until 1959, the Ethiopian Orthodox Church is part of the Coptic Orthodox Church , the date from which it becomes autocephalous. It is the only Orthodox Church precolonial of sub-Saharan Africa. It will be a state religion until 1974 date of the overthrow of the Solomonic dynasty and the Ethiopian revolution.

Islam

The city of Harar , World Heritage of Unesco

According to the official national census of 2007, the Islam is practiced by about 33.9% of the Ethiopian population .

This is especially present in today's warmer lowlands of South and East, in areas of Harar , Afar and Somali ) and in parts of southern Oromia region. Islam generally follows the Sunni tradition.

The presence of Islam in Ethiopia dates back to the founding of the Muslim religion and the AH. Around 615, a group of Muslims led by Mohammed , fled the persecution they are subjected to Mecca , and found refuge in Ethiopia led by the then King Christian named Asham bin Abjar in the Arab tradition. One of the companions of Muhammad, the first muezzin Bilal , is also described as originating in Ethiopia. Those settled in Negash , in Tigray , considered the first implantation of Islam in Ethiopia. In exchange for the protection granted by the king against the injunctions of the Quraysh who request their return to Saudi , Muhammad asked his companions to respect and live in peace with the Christians of Ethiopia. A cemetery dating from the ^seventh century has since been found in the region Negash. The Ethiopian region and is where one finds some of the oldest sultanate in the world, including those of the Holocaust , founded by the dynasty in 896 Makhzumite, later replaced by the sultanate of Ifat.

Muslim cemetery outside the fortification of Harar

Islam was later developed in the coastal trading regions in the south of Horn of Africa , thus following the routes, particularly in the Somali region. The campaign in Somali Ahmed Gragn to the highlands from 1527 also contribute to its expansion in southern Ethiopia. The expansion of the Oromo tradition Waaqa northward in the decades following its influence weakens a time, before it gradually adopt the new religion. Today Islam is practiced by about 40% of the Oromos in the form of syncretism between Islam and ancient beliefs.

The city of Harer , home to 82 mosques, three of them dating back to the ^twentieth century tombs and 102 is now considered the fourth holiest city of Islam by Muslims in Ethiopia. Harer is also a UNESCO World Heritage.

Judaism

Main article: Falasha.

The origin of the Beta Israel ( Ge'ez : ) remains poorly understood, creed probably coexisted with animists before the arrival of Christianity. Since ancient Ethiopian they live in the north, particularly the provinces of Gondar and Tegra. After benefiting from small independent states until the ^seventeenth century , they were conquered by the Empire of Ethiopia and the Beast Esral become a marginalized minority.

Religious practices of Falasha of Ethiopia are based on the same version of the Pentateuch as used by the Ethiopian Christians , written in Ge'ez. Any rabbinic literature, especially the Talmud , is ignored. Communities Beta Israel had no synagogues or rabbis , at the symbolic, they do not use the Star of David , the latter being a symbol of the Ethiopian monarchy. Their place of worship is called masgid . It reads the Bible , and there sacrifice the paschal lamb.

They come into contact with the Western version of Judaism in the late ^nineteenth century. At the beginning of the ^twentieth century , a deep redefinition of community identity emerges and leads him to regard themselves as Jewish now, and not just as Beast Esral , especially since the repatriation operations in Israel. This reduces progressively stronger and closer to the original religious particularities of the Beta Israel religion of Orthodox Judaism. Since their secular practices have declined consistently in favor of practices of rabbinic Judaism, but not disappear. There in 2009, 3188 Falasha in Ethiopia, then they are more than 100 000 in Israel.

Animism and Rasta movement

Main article: Rastafarian Movement.

Arts and Culture

Main article: Culture of Ethiopia.

Because of his continued independence and following the bad experience in the seventeenth ^century Catholic The Ethiopian art is only slightly influenced by the Western world . However, its proximity to the Byzantine world is seen in Christian art. Before the 1990s, the Ethiopian art is relatively unknown to the Western public . The first European study in 1892 and the first shipment archaeol was conducted in 1906 . Numerous private collections and libraries have kept the unknown Ethiopian art. His international recognition began in 1960 with the publication by UNESCO of illumination gradually exhibitions are held in different cities, Addis Ababa , Paris or Baltimore . The most famous remains of Christian art, while the craft is little studied .

Ethiopian Christian art

Processional Cross

Christianity in the ^fourth century and then cut off from the Christian world after the expansion of Islam from the ^seventh, Ethiopia has developed a religious tradition but also an original Christian art. This is expressed in three main forms: architecture, jewelry and painting . Christian architecture is partially influenced by the Aksumite civilization and the first rock-cut monuments date from the ^seventh - X ^e . They appear first in the province where Tegra, the ^tenth - ^twelfth, is dug a large cruciform church funeral dedicated to the rulers and Abreha Atsbeha. All the most famous is that of Lalibela where Gebre Mesqel hewn in the ^thirteenth first churches monoliths . When they are not carved in stone, the Ethiopian churches often have an octagonal shape. The interiors of religious buildings are decorated and sometimes it is mainly in this area that the Ethiopian painting has developed, influenced by Byzantine art .

The oldest Christian paintings are illuminations kept dating, about the ^seventh, the contacts between the kingdom of Axum and the Middle East can be seen through the style works . The country's isolation from the rest of the Christian world is visible in the paintings of the ^twelfth - ^fifteenth in which a true Ethiopian style develops. The first school of painting original Ethiopian appears around 1400, painters illustrate mainly manuscripts . In addition to architecture and painting, there is an art of cross that is "probably the most original part of Ethiopian Christian art" , notes Jacques Mercier, an art historian. The latter work would have appeared during the centuries of Christianization of the country during the ^Fifth - ^sixth to truly prosper from the ^tenth - ^twelfth. The engravings are geometric, anthropomorphic sculptures are absent and Christ is sometimes represented . The diversity of styles, sizes and materials allows one to recover original forms by reports of other Christian arts .

Body Art and Craft

The shield, an object of war often worked by artisans in Ethiopia.

Unlike Christian art, the crafts of daily life kept no more than 200 years . The different crafts were developed based on cultural areas, as defined in relation to farming systems. Thus, in the Southwest, particularly in the area horticulture, found furniture dugout , tables and chairs, these being specially tailored . The regional culture of coffee explains the development of a craft designed for this purpose, such as trays receiving cups or coffee makers. The head restraint is an important object of the Ethiopian crafts, its use has spread from south to north from the ^seventeenth . They are often dugout but may consist of two parts.

Pottery, an "extraordinary diversity" , is of high quality especially in areas of the Tegra of Harer , the Illubabor of Welayta and Gayent . The jewelry is equally diverse, from the Argobba Harerr in this field who developed an original craft. Also in the Harer, there are colorful baskets decorating the interior of some houses in the regional capital . In the past, the craft hit the military since shield and war material have been worked. In the north, the shields are reinforced and decorated with embossed metal plates .
Finally, the Ethiopian art is tangible. In the seventeenth ^century, Christian give great importance to their hairstyle , nowadays, women's Tegra are a distinct hairstyle. In the south, in addition to clay Nyangatom hairstyles, there are wigs of Oromo , the most famous ones in the region of Jimma . Tattoos are also developed. They are relatively quiet in rural populations where Christian women are sometimes tattooed a cross on the forehead. However, they are much more visible in Mursi tattoo that a significant portion of the body .

Literature and philosophy

Main article: Ethiopian Literature , List of Ethiopian writers alphabetically and Philosophy.

Of the existence of a writing system Ge'ez , Ethiopia has a literary tradition dating back to its former ancient Aksumite. There are generally two major periods in literature corresponding to Ethiopian literature Ge'ez , now dead language preserved as a liturgical language and literature Amharic. On their side also remains a Muslim literature arose in the ^sixteenth century, and some specific books Ethiopian Jews , as Te'ezaza Sanbat (Order of the Sabbath).

Literature Ge'ez

Eliza Codex (Museum Hill)

In ancient times Ethiopia, the Ge'ez is a living language, the Greek is also spoken in court. The earliest known inscriptions mention royal campaigns, registration of Ezana in this respect is the first official history in Ethiopia. The Bible is translated ⁱⁿ the fifth century from the Greek canon of the Ethiopian Bible contains several books considered apocryphal by other Christian churches. Many texts, such as Qerillos (Cyril), the monastic rules of St. Pachomius, The Fisalgwos ("The Physiologist") and "bie'afe Mikael" ("Book of philosophers") , are translated while simultaneously the object, according to Claude Sumner (fr) , enrichments typically Ethiopian.

From the ^thirteenth century, the power of Aksum and weakens the Ge'ez language is increasingly recognized as a scholarly writing Amharic face during the period of the dynasty Solomonides. This period marks the beginning of an intense period of literary productivity Ge'ez. Theology and religious thoughts influenced the writings. The lives of saints and miracle stories are numerous. Among these writings may face particular Kebri Negest written around 1314 during the reign of Amda Zion (1314-1344), one of the major works of Ethiopian literature, referring to the founding of the Solomonic Dynasty , the reign of David ^I (1382-1413), or that of Zara Yacoub (1434-1468) author of theological works, primarily the most famous is "The Book of Light."

Ethiopian Bible (Oregon Museum)

New genres of poetry appeared: qens the deggwas (collection of hymns) but also Malki (portrait of someone vocals), generally stanzas with rhyme, about 55 lines, each addressed to an attribute moral or physical saint described.

During the ^sixteenth century, the national written philosophy, which extends over twelve centuries of literary production , grows only in the form of Ethiopian works, including The Life and Maxims of Skendes, the Treaty of Zera Yacob ( Hatata) and that of his pupil Walda Heymat. In his treatise written in the seventeenth ^century, including Zara Yacoub develops a rationalist philosophy, adopting a critical stance on religious discourse emphasizing the role of Reason . During the ^seventeenth century, the Ethiopian cultural genres, including poetry, music and dance are in a phase of intense development .

Amharic Literature

Literature Amharic appears from the thirteenth ^century, during the Zagwe dynasty , the form of short chants royal, paraphrases, Psalters and some theological treatises. However, it is only during the reign of Tewodros II (1855-1868) she develops with the royal chronicles, first chronicles entirely in Amharic .

The translation of Pilgrim's Progress of John Bunyan in 1892 opened the way for a new genre: the new allegorical, often partly in verse, the first is Lebbe wellad tarik (1908) of Afeworq Gebre Eyesus. It is also the author of educational books and a "Life of Menelik II. " Later, Hiruy Walde Selassie became the principal writer of literature in the Regency Amharic Teferi Mekonnen (1916-1920). He is the author of biographies of collections of poems, stories and historical essays. Among the writers of the twentieth ^century include notably Endalkatchew Makonnen , Mikael Kebbede , Mengistu Lemma , Lebanon Tadesse , Alemayehu Mogas and Tekle Tsodeq Makuria.

Some authors for their works famous Ethiopian Amharic have also published novels, plays and poems in English. That is particularly true for the most famous of them, Tsegaye Gabre-Medhin who, at age 29, was awarded the Haile Selassie I Amharic literature.

Music

Main article: Ethiopian Music.

Mahmoud Ahmed in February 2009

Ethiopian music is extremely diverse, each of the 80 people of the country has its own peculiarities. The influences are many and include liturgy and Christian Muslim and folk music of countries in the Horn of Africa , Somalia and Sudan in particular. Ethiopian music often uses a single pentatonic modal system, characterized by long intervals between some notes.

The music of the highlands uses a method called single qenet, based on four modes main Tezeta, built, ambassel and anchihoy . Three additional modes can be regarded as changes: Tezeta minor bati bati major and minor.

Mulatu Astatke , creator of the Ethio-jazz

Some songs take the name of their qenet, as Tezeta, a song of nostalgia. Accompanied by traditional instruments, these modes are generally not tempered , but played on Western instruments like piano and guitar they use the Western tempered tuning system. The music of the highlands is generally homophonic or heterophonic . Besides, some of which are polyphonic.

The main instruments are traditional masenqo (lute), krar (lyre), washint (flute), begena (harp), kebero (double drum), cistree and tom (at the Anuak ). In popular tradition, the Azmari , Ethiopian singer and musician, male or female, are gifted to sing to the accompaniment of a masenqo or krar. The modern Ethiopian music also leaves a significant part in the Ethio-jazz , through its creator Mulatu Astatke , and musicians such as saxophonist Gtatchw Mekuria. Some popular musicians are known Mahmoud Ahmed , Gigi Shibabaw, Teddy Afro, Tilahun Gssss , Aster Aweke , Almayhu Esht , Neway Debebe, Asnatqch Wrqu and Ali Birra. In the late 1990s, the French label Buda Musique has reissued the greatest voices of the Ethio-jazz collection with Ethiopiques to the rediscovery, for Westerners, the groove of the Horn of Africa.

Sport

Main article: Sports in Ethiopia.

Meseret Defar Olympic champion in the 5,000 meters at the World Athletics Championships in Osaka, 2007

The football is a sport popular in Ethiopia, even if the football team Ethiopia does not get very convincing results. Nationally, there are two main competitions, the soccer championship of Ethiopia and the Ethiopian Football Cup. The country has several clubs, among which may include the EEPCO , the Ethiopian Coffee and Saint-George SA.

On the African continent, the Ethiopian Football Federation is part of the Confederation of African Football. The country hosted the CAN in 1962 when she won the championship in 1968 and 1976. Ethiopia participated in the CECAFA Cup of Nations it organized in 1987, 2001, 2004 and 2006, and she won in 1987, 2001, 2004 and 2005. Ethiopian clubs are however much less efficient in the context of the Kagame Cup Inter-Club they have never won. If the country had hosted in 2001 after the African Cup of Nations junior , she has never shown in this competition. At the international level, Ethiopia is the ^123rdin the FIFA world rankings in April 2010, she never managed to qualify for the finals of the World Cup.

Haile Gebrselassie and distance runners in the final of the Ethiopian 10,000 m at the Sydney Olympics, 2000

The athletics is also popular in Ethiopia who has won numerous awards in international competitions. Among Ethiopians dominated the racing funds globally in recent years have seen particularly Haile Gebrselassie , world champion and Olympic champion, who has established more than twenty new world records and currently holds the world record in 2010 the marathon. Kenenisa Bekele , world champion in cross country and twice Olympic champion in Beijing, which currently holds the 2010 world record of 5,000 meters and 10,000 meters. Among women, Tirunesh Dibaba , double Olympic champion in Beijing, holds the record for 5000 meters. Meseret Defar carries about it the second best performance in the world in the same subject ^{, ,} .

Among other Ethiopian runners who have distinguished themselves in this discipline, we must mention also Abebe Bikila , Tulu , Mamo Wolde , Miruts Yifter , Gebregziabher Gebremariam and Million Wolde. Abebe Bikila was about him the first African gold medalist by winning the Marathon Olympic 1960 and 1964 , setting a new world record twice. The Ethiopian Tulu was the first African woman to win a gold medal at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992 in the 10,000 meters. Since 2001 , Ethiopia organized the Great Ethiopian Run which is a multi-marathon runners and thousands being held in Addis Ababa.

Society

Timetable and specific indication of the time

Main article: Ethiopian calendar.

The Ethiopian calendar is like the Julian calendar , Coptic and the ancient Egypt , structured in the form of twelve lunar months of thirty days each completed a thirteenth of five or six days epagomenal. The Ethiopian New Year, enqoutatash () on ¹ month of Meskerem () corresponds to 11 September the Julian calendar when the sixth day is added, corresponding to the Gregorian calendar , with 11 and 12 September for the years between 1901 and 2099. For the year indication, the original timetable, which sets the date of the Incarnation of Jesus , corresponds to 25 March in the year 9 in the Julian calendar. It corresponds to the indication given by Anianus of Alexandria in the ^first century and therefore it differs from that of its amendment by the Little Dionysius the early ^fifth century that was adopted for the Gregorian calendar. The first calendar year therefore began August 29 of year 8 of the Julian calendar , which causes a delay of eight years with the computation of the Gregorian January ¹ to September 10 and then a gap of seven years for the rest of the year Gregorian. Entering the third millennium has been celebrated at a date corresponding to 11 September 2007 Gregorian calendar.

The months of the Ethiopian calendar is shown in the following table.

Amharic	Copt	Commencement date	Commencement date after the 6th day epagomena
(Meskerem)	Tut	September 11	September 12
(Teqemt)	Babah	October 11	October 12
(Hedar)	Hatur	November 10	November 11
(Tahesas)	Kiyahk	December 10	December 11
(Ter)	Tubah	January 9	January 10
(Yekatit)	Amshir	February 8	February 9
(Megabit)	Baramhat	March 10	March 10
(Miyazya)	Baramundah	April 9	April 9
(Guenbot)	Bashan	May 9	May 9
(Sene)	Ba'unah	June 8	June 8
(Hamli)	Abib	July 8	July 8
(Nehas)	Misra	August 7	August 7
/ (Pagoumn)	Nasi	September 6	September 6

Counting the hours are so distinct from that commonly used in the rest of the world. This is done on the basis of two cycles of twice twelve hours from sunset. The distinctive qenou ke ("The Day") and ke meshetou ("the evening") are the equivalent of "AM" and "PM" in the American system.

Proximity to the equator (latitude 9 03 'North and longitude 38 42' east for Addis Ababa ), in effect making the minimal change in day length, remaining almost constant from 6 to 18h (12h- 12h Ethiopia) during the year. Thus, 6 h 00, local solar time, it is 12 hours 00 hours in Addis Ababa to 19 h 00, it is 13 h 00 to Addis Ababa and 17 h 00 of the afternoon, it is 23 pm 00.

Correlation table

Ethiopian system

12 pm

13 h

14 h

15 h

16 h

17 h

18 h

19 h

20 h

21 h

22 h

23 h

0 h

1 hr

2 h

3 h

4 h

5 h

6 am

7 am

8 am

9 am

10 am

11 am

French system

6 am

7 am

8 am

9 am

10 am

11 am

12 pm

13 h

14 h

15 h

16 h

17 h

18 h

19 h

20 h

21 h

22 h

23 h

0 h

1 hr

2 h

3 h

4 h

5 h

Ethiopia has a lead of 3:00 on the meridian of Greenwich and has not adopted daylight saving time.

Holidays and Celebrations

Celebrating Temqet to Gonder

Celebrating Mesqel on Mesqel adebabay , Addis Ababa

Date	Local Name / Amharic	French name	Note
September 11	( Enqoutatash )	New Year Ethiopia
September 27	( Mesqel )	Feast of the True Cross
October 24	'Id al-Fitr	End of the month of Ramadan	Variable. The date was for 2006
6 or 7 January	( Genna / Ledet )	Christmas Orthodox	Birth of Jesus Christ
January 10	'Id al-Adha	Feast of Sacrifice	Variable. The date was for 2006
January 19	( Temqet )	Feast of the Epiphany
March 2	(or Ba'al Ye'adowa del Adwa)	Commemorating the victory of Adwa	Victory of Menelik II against the Italians ( 1896 )
April 11	Mawlid an-Nabi	Birth of Prophet Muhammad	Variable. The date was for 2006
April 21	(Seqlet)	Friday Orthodox	Variable. The date was for 2006
April 23	(Fasika)	Easter Orthodox	Variable. The date was for 2006
April 24	(Tensa)	Easter Monday	Variable. The date was for 2006
May 1	(Yeserategnoch qen)	Labor Day
May 5	(Omdla del)	Liberation Day Victory of the Ethiopian Patriots	Return of Haile Selassie I. in Addis Ababa ( 1941 )
May 28	(Behrawi beal)	National Day	Fall of the Derg
August 18	( Buhe )		Transfiguration of Jesus Christ

State politics and institutions

Main articles: Politics of Ethiopia and Ethiopian political parties.

Separation of powers

Main article: Ethiopian Constitution of 1994.

Since 1995, Ethiopia is officially called: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (RFDE) . The functioning of its institutions is codified by the constitutional text was ratified in December 1994 and came into effect August 22, 1995. Ethiopia is a parliamentary system Federal and bicameral . According to the constitution, RFDE two bodies: the federal government and the Member States, nine federal regions . All sovereign powers belong to the "Nations, Nationalities and Peoples of Ethiopia", they express sovereignty through elected representatives by direct universal suffrage and serving on the Council of Peoples' Representatives. Due to the nature of the Federal Republic, one of the two houses of parliament representing the regions, it is the Council of the Federation.

Main article: President of Ethiopia.

The Head of State is the President of the Republic, a largely ceremonial function. He is elected by both houses by a majority of two thirds, for a term of six years, renewable once . The powers and duties of the President include, among others: the enactment of laws and international treaties ratified by the Council of Peoples' Representatives, the convening of the annual session of the meeting of two assemblies, receiving credentials of ambassadors. In addition, it has the right to pardon . The current President is Girma Welde Giyorgis , October 9, 2007 reelected to this position.

Main article: Ethiopian Prime Minister and Cabinet (Ethiopia).

The executive power belongs to the Prime Minister and Cabinet . The Prime Minister is appointed among the members of the majority party in the Council of Peoples' Representatives . He heads the Council of Ministers and leading the country's political . He is the Chief Executive, Chairman of the Council of Ministers, which he heads, and commander in chief of the armed forces. It must monitor and ensure implementation of laws, policies, directives and other decisions adopted by the Council of Peoples' Representatives . In addition to management of national affairs, he oversaw the implementation of foreign policy . The current Prime Minister Meles Zenawi at the head of the Revolutionary Democratic Front of the Ethiopian people , the majority coalition in the Council of Peoples' Representatives.

Main article: Council of Peoples' Representatives and the Federation Council (Ethiopia).

The Council of Peoples' Representatives has the legislative authority within the limits set by the Constitution in Article 55 . The Council's powers affect both areas of taxation and budgetary matters criminal or administrative. Its members are elected for a term of five years by direct universal suffrage . Of the 550 seats, 20 are reserved for "Nationalities and Peoples' minority . The laws adopted are submitted to the President for promulgation . Council members must also designate the party or majority coalition, the Prime Minister. It may dissolve the Council to organize new elections .
The COF is a special institution of the political system of Ethiopia. He has the power to interpret the Constitution and resolve issues relating to rights of "Nations, Nationalities and Peoples" . It resolves disputes between various regions and must prevent them from endangering the constitutional order . Its members are elected by indirect suffrage by regional councils that they can organize a direct election system allowing people to express themselves . Each "Nation, Nationality and People" must be represented by at least one member . Each additional million residents, a member in addition to what people are allowed to sit .

Main article: Ethiopian Judiciary and the Constitutional Council (Ethiopia).

The judiciary is constitutionally independent . The Supreme Court is the highest court in the country. It prepares the budgets submitted to the Council of Peoples' Representatives , provided for federal courts. It is the appellate jurisdiction of all cases handled by the Federal High Court, it is competent for civil cases involving amounts in excess of 500 000 Birr. There are also two types of regional courts: courts of woredas and those awrajas. In addition to the ordinary courts, there are military courts , incorporated in the Federal Supreme Court. The Ethiopian government gave to Muslims in the country the opportunity to deal with disputes of family law by the Islamic Courts.
The Supreme Court is associated with constitutional council. Indeed, the President and the Vice-President of the Supreme Federal Court are respectively president and vice president of the Constitutional Council . This body is responsible for reviewing cases of constitutional order and submit its recommendations to the Federation Council that must decide . If satisfied that a federal statute or regional is unconstitutional, he studied the standard at issue and submit its decision to the Council of the Federation for a final decision .

Political Life

Since the mid-1990s, the country is undergoing democratization. The People's Revolutionary Democratic Front Ethiopian (EPRDF) has won every election since 1995. The coalition is dominated by the People's Liberation Front Tigray , a party headed by Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of Ethiopia since 1995. Since the EPRDF came to power, and politics in general, the Ethiopian society, have been liberalized. The single-party system established under the Derg was abolished and the opposition political parties are legally entitled. As to security, the government has faced insurgencies in the region of Ogaden , repressed in 2007-2008 and the rebellion of the Oromo Liberation Front.

The main opposition coalition is the Forum for Democracy and dialogue, dubbed Medrek. It includes the Unity Party for Democracy and Justice, called Andenet ("unit" in Amharic ), founded in 2008 in preparation for general elections in May 2010 and led by Bertoukan Mideksa. It includes the parties of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy who participated in the 2005 poll. Bertukan Mideksa is part of the people arrested during the post-election unrest in 2005. Released in 2007 with other members of the opposition, she spoke publicly in 2008 on the conditions of grace, citing political manipulation. Following the refusal to reconsider that statement, she is sentenced to life imprisonment, original sentence.

The elections of May 2010 have significantly strengthened the EPRDF. The discussions revolved mainly around economic issues. If the government claims a positive and strong annual growth, the opposition says it is only statistical changes rather than real change.

Foreign policy and international relations

Main article: Foreign Policy of Ethiopia.

Meles Zenawi and Vladimir Putin in December 2001.

If since its founding the Ethiopian state has diplomatic relations with other countries, the establishment of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1907 . Foreign policy is developed by the Foreign Minister then studied by the government. If he agrees, it allows its implementation by the Minister, supervised by the Prime Minister . Teferi Mekonnen, holding the position from 1917 to 1930, remains one of the largest foreign ministers. During the 1920s, he argues in Ethiopia for more openness to the world. One of his major successes was the admission of his country in 1923, the League of Nations . The following year, he visited various European leaders, becoming the first foreign minister was fully involved in diplomatic matters . From the 1950s, it strengthens ties with many Western countries especially the U.S. military with which agreements have been signed . The Derg regime (1974 - 1991) constituted a kind of parenthesis in the Ethiopian diplomacy. The socialist ideology of power and violence take the country to be isolated while counting on the support of the USSR.

The coming to power of the Revolutionary Democratic Front of the Ethiopian people marks the beginning of a new period in the country's foreign policy whose image normalizes. Ethiopia resumed its ties with the United States, collaboration between the two countries include among others the fight against terrorism in the Horn of Africa. More generally, relations are good with most Western countries and Africa where Ethiopia has participated in various operations Peacekeeping .
However, relations with its various neighbors can be very cordial and bad. Ethiopia has good relations with three neighbors: the Sudan , Djibouti and Kenya , mainly commercial with the first two and rather historical and geopolitical with the last. Improved relations with Sudan date from the early 2000s with discussions on oil supplies from Ethiopia . Relations are cordial with Djibouti, whose capital's port is the port of entry and departure of commercial products transported by the only rail line from Ethiopia . The issue of access to the sea is also one of the factors determining the choice diplomacy, being the only country in the region has none of coastline. Relations with Kenya are particularly cordial upon gaining independence in 1960 . The two heads of state, a href = "Haile_Selassie_I" alt = "Haile Selassie I" class = "mw-redirect"> Haile Selassie I and Jomo Kenyatta are close, in addition, both countries face the same threat: the irredentist Somali to the creation of a Greater Somalia . In addition, Mogadishu has supported rebel movements Ogaden in the 1960s. However, relations have evolved since Ethiopia supports the Transitional Federal Government deal with the Islamic Courts even going to intervene militarily in Somalia from 2006 to 2009. In parallel, Addis Ababa maintains good relationship with Somaliland. Again the issue of sea access, including via the ports of Zeila and Berbera , is crucial; Ethiopia sees the stability of this region, a positive factor for trade. The country lost its access to the sea for Eritrea's independence in 1993. Initially, relations with the new state are good, Ethiopia has also been the first government to recognize the independence of its former province . From 1997, the deterioration of relations leads to a suiante year border war that ended in 2000. Since then, relations between the two countries remain strained .

Education system

Main article: Education in Ethiopia.

The University of Addis Ababa , the first institute of higher education in the country, founded by Haile Selassie I.

Historically influenced by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church , the educational system was secularized in 1974 and regionalized since 1991. The first public schools were built during the reign of Menelik II. Education has been a privileged areas under Haile Selassie , many institutes are based across the country so the University of Addis Ababa. However, teaching is still marked by an influence of the Church and a great emphasis on the Amharic language. Since the adoption of the new Constitution of 1994 , primary schools may teach in the regional language. Mainly financed by the state school is free, in parallel, there are private institutes usually managed by foreign organizations or churches. Managed and prepared by the Ministry of Education, the school curriculum in Ethiopia is generally composed of six years of primary school, four years of secondary schooling and two years of upper secondary curriculum .

Education meets with several problems in Ethiopia. The vast majority of the population is rural, access to a public school can be difficult. In addition, the lack of manpower and resources in public schools make it difficult for teachers. These problems are unknown in private schools pay, tending to create a two tier system. Nevertheless, the situation seems to be improving since the 1990s. The number of women going to school has doubled between 1996 and 2000. In 2004, the statistical office of UNESCO showed that 44.6% of primary teachers were women and 93.4% of girls were enrolled in primary education . During the late 1990s, Ethiopia has trained about 7,000 teachers each year. In higher education, there are just over 2,200 teachers of which two thirds have a master's or doctoral degree, the other with at least the baccalaureate level. There are also nearly 6,000 administrative staff in higher education who spend 75% of their time teaching and devote the remaining time to research activities .

Health System

Main article: Health in Ethiopia.

According to data from the World Bank , Ethiopia would have 1 physician per 100 000 persons . However, in its 2006 annual report, the World Health Organization suggests a figure of 1 936 physicians, representing about 2 6 physicians per 100 000 persons .

The main health problems in Ethiopia are related to diseases that are transmitted mainly due to poor health conditions and malnutrition. These problems are compounded by the lack of skilled labor and health infrastructure. The country has 119 hospitals, including 12 in Addis Ababa , and 412 health centers .
Ethiopia had a mean life expectancy of 45 years. The infant mortality rate is relatively high with about 10% of children dying during or just after birth, a figure which must be added post-natal complications such as fistula obstetric, which affect many women. The AIDS is also widespread in the country.

The low number of health professionals with modern medical training and lack of funding for medical services, explains that many Ethiopians do even turning to traditional healers that use home therapies to heal common ailments. A growing number of "false healers alongside the true healers who only really knew the healing plants and minerals. The high unemployment rate that many Ethiopians are unable to provide for their families and thus even less able to buy drugs. This is mainly due to the cost of modern medicine that traditional medicine continues to be the most widespread.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Ethiopia.

Natural Resources

Map showing open blocks for oil exploration in the basin of the Ogaden.
See the complete map on the website of the Ministry )

Covering over a million square kilometers, Ethiopia has 65% of arable land. The 14 rivers large or medium across the country are also of immense water resources . In addition, its rich stock consists of 27 million cattle , 24 million sheep and 18 million goats , putting the country at the forefront continental and tenth globally . The deforestation has increased dramatically during the twentieth ^century and is a major environmental problem: forests constitute only 3% of the territory in 2007, against an estimate of 40% in the last century . However, reforestation efforts have helped reverse this trend reversed since the figure was 9% in 2010 .

Geological resources are gold (43 million dollars in export earnings in 2009-10 ), the natural gas , iron, tin, lignite and potassium . There are also stones gemstones ( opal ^, , topaz , olivine , corundum ), rare metals (including tantalum used in consumer electronics, for an income of 4 million in 2009-2010 ) and industrial minerals . Ethiopia has five sedimentary basins potentially rich in hydrocarbons : the basin of the Ogaden , in Gambella , the basin of the Omo , and in the Abay Tigray . The oil exploration in Ethiopia began in 2000 with the establishment of the U.S. company Hunt Oil .

Since 2007, the government plans to extend the concessions in trays in the center of the country . There in 2009, 11 companies in the country . In terms of fossil fuels, the ministry expects a potential of 113 billion tonnes of natural gas and 253 billion tons of oil shale . So far Ethiopia belongs to non-oil producers .

These holdings are subject to tension with local people, including the Ogaden separatist movement accused the Ethiopian government to defend the implementation of these companies leading to massive deforestation of the oil areas, movement of nomads and the destruction of a fragile ecological balance . In 2007, an attack against a Chinese oil company made 74 victims .

Energy Sector

The hydroelectric potential is estimated at 45,000 megawatts, 5,000 megawatts of geothermal energy, 300 million tons of coals, 15 to 20 million tonnes for energy from agricultural waste, 1.120 million tons of wood and a potential of 100 GW of wind energy. In some regions, climatic conditions were also favorable for the development of solar energy . A public program of universal access to electricity (Universal Electrification Access Program) was implemented to expand the electricity network in rural areas. Production capacity has increased significantly and should continue to rise due to the construction of four new dams, hydroelectric .

The first dam (Gilgel Gibe Dam, also known as Gibe I) with a capacity of 184 MW was completed in 2004. The Gibe II (420 MW ) is under construction. In March 2010 a contract was signed with Chinese company China Gezhouba Group Company for the construction of hydraulic power plant Genale Dawa 3 with a capacity of 254 MW . With a capacity of 1,800 MW (6,500 GWh per year), it would double the electricity generation capacity in Ethiopia, allowing access to 70% of people who are currently lacking . It is the second largest dam hydraulectrique of the SSA . This project is also under heavy criticism for its environmental impact abroad ^, , although supported by the United Nations fund for the environment .
A report by the OECD from 2008 notes that, despite the presence of abundant resources, distribution and water management remain patchy and generally ineffective .

Current Status

After a period of economic recession in 2003, the GDP since 2004 following a growth exceeding 6%, reaching 8.2% in 2006-2007 to enjoying a variety of sectors of the economy . The GDP per capita , rising, remains low at 1 346 in 2008 . In December 2009, the British magazine of Economics, The Economist, provides the fifth highest global growth in Ethiopia in 2010, reaching a double digit growth for the seventh consecutive year .

GDP distribution by sector in Ethiopia in 2006-07 (source: OECD, 2008)

The share of industry in GDP is rising (12% of GDP in 2006-07), as well as the manufacturing sector (10.5%), wholesale trade (15%), construction (10.9% ), electricity and water (13.6%), transport and telecommunications (7.6%) . The economy remains dominated by agriculture (47% of GDP in 2006-07) still occupies a relatively decreasing share to GDP (56% in 1996-97). Volume sector shows a growth rate of 9.4% in 2006-07, mainly due to strong growth (40%) of export of coffee , the strong increase in volume offsetting the decline in unit price .

The monetary policy pursued is aimed at maintaining price stability, exchange rates and protect the financial system. The money and credit grew by 19.7 and 23.1% respectively. in 2006-07. However, due to the strong increase due to the large public projects and the rising price of fuel, food prices and other commodities underwent a inflation of 18.9% in 2006-07. National Bank of Ethiopia has responded by slowing direct prices of basic necessities, some by banning exports (maize) and distributing subsidized goods to the poor (wheat, oil) .

Young woman harvesting the coffee in Ethiopia

The exports followed a rise of 18.05% in 2006-07, totaling 1.2 billion. The coffee is about a third of them, followed by oilseed. Exports of meat and meat products are falling, those of non-agricultural products like flowers rising sharply. Over half of these exports go to European countries, one third of Asia (Saudi Arabia, China, Japan) and among African countries, there is mainly neighboring countries ( Djibouti , Somalia and Sudan ) . The imports have followed a rise of 11.6% to 5 billion. Much higher, it reflects the growth of the industrial sector, including construction. Capital goods account for one third of total imports in 2006-07. Three-fifths of imports come from Asia (Saudi Arabia, China, Japan), over a quarter are from Europe, one tenth are of African origin .

The external debt of Ethiopia is 2 3 billion in 2006-07. This is in sharp decline since 2005-06 ( 6 billion) mainly due to the initiative of multilateral debt relief in respect of international financial institutions ( HIPC ). In 2007, the country has also signed an agreement to cancel debt with China .

National Bank of Ethiopia in Addis Ababa

Various programs are underway to reduce poverty, including the plan to accelerate sustainable development to end poverty (PASDEP - Plan for Accelerated and Sustained Development to End Poverty), which covers the period 2005/06-2009 / 10, the National Programme for Food Security (National Food Security Program) funded by the government, and the safety net for a minimum production level (PSNP), funded by the World Bank. The latter aims to employ the poor to build infrastructure (roads etc.) and distribute free food to the needy. According Pasped poverty declined to 38.7% in 2005 . The unemployment remains high (26%) and difficult to quantify, it is estimated at 40% in Addis Ababa .

Bamboo scaffolding in Addis Ababa

Economic outcomes in Ethiopia are subject to varying interpretations, both between the government and the opposition as international experts, related to the fact that privatization and structural reforms recommended by international financial institutions are carried out sparingly by the Ethiopian authorities. Thus, the OECD notes that "privatization plays a key role in the reforms launched in the mid 90s. While Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi in 2003 denounced the "pressure from the International Monetary Fund on the government to sell public enterprises, but we will resist these measures, which could cause the collapse of our economy " . To Joseph Stiglitz , Nobel Laureate, Ethiopia is a glaring example of the excesses of globalization, noting that the measures advocated by international financial institutions like the IMF have consistently hampered social progress .

Moreover, the role of these institutions in the abandonment of the International Coffee Agreement in 1989, is strongly denounced by the anti-globalization activists and NGOs , this abandonment has led to the disappearance of all the tools to control prices by countries Producers subject since the stock market fluctuations , and a drop in cost to producers of coffee (halved between 1988 and 2003) According to a report by the NGO Oxfam , "coffee is a veritable mine gold roasters international "while producers" receive only about 6% of the value of the package of coffee sold in supermarkets and grocery stores " .

In 2005 the documentary Black Gold (en) reflects the operating conditions of coffee in Ethiopia by multinationals. A controversy broke out between Ethiopia and the National Association of American Caf (National Coffee Association) led by Starbucks in 2007 , the latter objecting to a labeling procedure of the coffee and the development could yield 88 million dollars per year in Ethiopia as Oxfam .

In May 2009, a report by the UN agency for food and agriculture updates a trend is developing in Africa, and Ethiopia as an example in the report, involving the purchase of Large-scale agricultural land by foreign investors. The report shows that these transactions, they can create opportunities in infrastructure, can also be harmful, local people generally being adequately compensated for loss of land (p. 93), the production being directed towards the needs of foreign private investors (eg, biofuel, p. 50, 100, Flora EcoPower company ( Germany ), p. 41 ). The report indicates that these investors are both Asian countries , those in the Gulf , that the European Union and the United States although they are rarely reported on this in the international press (p. 34).

International finance and global organizations

In February 2003, Ethiopia filed an application for entry to the World Trade Organization . The process is slowed by the refusal of the Ethiopian government to liberalize the banking and telecommunications. He considers that these reforms could undermine the recent economic progress ^, .

At the continental level, Ethiopia is a member of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) which Meles Zenawi has been Chairman of the Committee of Heads of State and Government responsible for the implementation of NEPAD . At the regional level, Ethiopia is a member of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) . She is also a member of its financial institution, Bank of East African and Southern African Trade and Development ( PTA Bank (en) ) ^, .

In March 2010, a report number for the first time the leakage of funds associated with illicit financial practices out of African countries . Capital flight out of Ethiopia through illegal financial practices are estimated to 10 9 billion in 1970 to 2009 . These massive and illegal leaks are facilitated by an opacity global financial system .

Infrastructure and Telecommunications

Main article: Transport in Ethiopia.

The Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa , a major hub of the Horn of Africa.

Ethiopia has a road network of 37,000 km in strong trends. The proportion of roads in good condition fell from 17% in 1997 to 49% in 2004 . Currently, the only railroad in the country connects the capital Addis Ababa to the port of Djibouti. Negotiations are under way in February 2010 with an Indian company to improve and increase the capacity of this binding . In 2010 a program to expand rail network is run, considering the final construction of 5,000 kilometers of additional voice lines connecting Addis Ababa with the various regions of the country .

Ethiopia has 56 airports including 13 with paved runways . Founded in 1951, the Company Ethiopian Airlines has since received numerous international awards .

The national telecommunications infrastructure are among the less developed world for fixed telephony and mobile. Meanwhile, Ethiopia is one of the countries investing the most in information technologies and communications in relation to its GNP . The number of users of mobile phones has more than doubled during 2006 reaching 866,700 subscribers against 410,000 in 2004-05 . In 2009, the country has 3.168 million subscribers to mobile telephony and 360,000 Internet users . The carrier state Ethiopian Telecommunication Corporation including over 600 high schools connected to Internet , and launched the network Agri-Net, which connects more than 50 agricultural research centers in the country . The installation of cables to fiber optics is also progressing.
Binding Gonder - Metemma is underway to connect the network Ethiopian Sudan . In March 2010, an agreement was signed with the company Seacom to develop the network to Djibouti , Ethiopia directly connecting the network to India and Europe by submarine cables .

Codes

Ethiopia has the code:

• AND , according to the standard ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 (list of country codes)
• AND according to the list of country codes used by NATO , alpha-2 code,
• AND , according to the list of prefixes ICAO aircraft registration ,
• . And , according to the list of Internet TLDs (Top Level Domain)
• ETH , according to the standard ISO 3166-1 (list of country codes), code alpha-3,
• ETH , according to the list of country codes IOC ,
• ETH , according to the list of international codes of plates ,
• ETH , according to the list of country codes used by NATO , code alpha-3,
• HA , according to the list of prefixes ICAO airport codes.

Notes

Notes

1. "It is said that even today the Ethiopians are shared between forty five kings. The whole country was called Aethrie then Atlantis, then Ethiopia, Ethiopia, son of Vulcan. " Pliny the Elder , Natural History, VI, 35.
2. Habachy in Arabic abay, : Abyssinian, Ethiopian
3. Al-Arab al-Habacha in Habasit ,
4. Ithyby Arabic iyby, ,
5. Amharic acronym for Pan-Ethiopian Socialist Movement
6. See the article a href = "% C3% Article_5_de_la_Constitution_ A9thiopienne_de_1994" title = "Article 5 of the Constitution of Ethiopia 1994"> section 5 of the Ethiopian Constitution.
7. In Arabic, the word masjid means mosque , and is borrowed from Aramaic masged, which derives from a proto-Semitic root meaning "to ask the forehead to the ground," recalling that it is a place of prostration. Masgid the term 'seems borrowed from the Arabic word for mosque, but may have an origin independent, based on the common root.
8. The Jesuits were able to convert to Catholicism, the ruler of the day, triggering a civil war
9. The tone may slightly differ from the Western tempered tuning system
10. At the Olympic Games in Rome , Abebe Bikila ran the marathon barefoot.

References

• Articles in English, the Ethiopian Constitution

1. Article 11
2. Article 47
3. Article 39
4. ^{a and b} Section 1
5. Article 45
6. Article 53
7. Article 50
8. Article 8
9. Article 70
10. Article 71
11. Article 72
12. Article 73
13. ^{a , b , c and d} (in) Article 74
14. Article 55
15. ^{a and b} Section 54
16. Article 57
17. Article 60
18. ^{a and b} Section 62
19. ^{a , b and c} Article 61
20. Article 78
21. Article 82
22. ^{a and b} Section 84

• (En) Under the direction of Gerard Prunier, The contemporary Ethiopia, Karthala, 2007, 440 pages

1. ^{a and b} Gerard Prunier, P. 140
2. ^{a and b} Gerard Prunier, P. 141
3. ^{a , b , c and d} Gerard Prunier, P. 143
4. ^{a , b , c , d and e} Gerard Prunier, P. 52
5. Gerard Prunier, P. 53
6. ^{a , b , c and d} Gerard Prunier, P. 55
7. ^{a , b and c} Gerard Prunier, P. 54
8. Gerard Prunier, P. 61
9. Gerard Prunier, P. 62
10. ^{a and b} Gerard Prunier, P. 65
11. ^{a , b and c} Gerard Prunier, P. 74
12. ^{a and b} Jacques Mercier, P. 255
13. ^{a and b} Jacques Mercier, P. 256
14. ^{a , b , c , d , e and f} Jacques Mercier, P. 257
15. ^{a , b , c , d , e , f , g and h} Jacques Mercier, P. 258
16. ^{a and b} Jacques Mercier, P. 260
17. ^{a and b} Jacques Mercier, P. 261
18. ^{a and b} Jacques Mercier, P. 259

• Historic Structures

1. Berhanou Abebe 1998 , p. 8
2. ^{a and b} Berhanou Abebe 1998 , p. 28
3. ^{a and b} Berhanou Abebe 1998 , p. 29
4. ^{a , b and c} Berhanou Abebe 1998 , p. 31
5. ^{a and b} Berhanou Abebe 1998 , p. 32
6. Cite error: Beacon <ref> incorrect, no text was provided for the named references Berhanou33 .
7. ^{a , b and c} Berhanou Abebe 1998 , p. 34
8. Berhanou Abebe 1998 , p. 35
9. Berhanou Abebe 1998 , p. 37
10. Kiros Habte Selassie, Dina Mazengia 1969 , p. 62
11. Berhanou Abebe 1998 , p. 41
12. Berhanou Abebe 1998 , p. 42
13. Kiros Habte Selassie, Dina Mazengia 1969 , p. 64
14. Berhanou Abebe 1998 , p. 44
15. Kiros Habte Selassie, Dina Mazengia 1969 , p. 67
16. Berhanou Abebe 1998 , p. 50
17. Berhanou Abebe 1998 , p. 51
18. ^{a and b} Berhanou Abebe 1998 , p. 53
19. Berhanou Abebe 1998 , p. 55
20. Berhanou Abebe 1998 , p. 56
21. ^{a , b and c} Berhanou Abebe 1998 , p. 87
22. Harold G. Marcus 2002 , p. 47
23. Harold G. Marcus 2002 , p. 48
24. Harold G. Marcus 2002 , p. 50
25. Harold G. Marcus 2002 , p. 64
26. Bahru Zewde 2002 , p. 27
27. Paul B. Henze 2004 , p. 141
28. Delesse Tadesse, Girma Alemayehu 2005 , p. 186
29. Delesse Tadesse, Girma Alemayehu 2005 , p. 188
30. Delesse Tadesse, Girma Alemayehu 2005 , p. 189
31. ^{a , b and c} Delesse Tadesse, Girma Alemayehu 2005 , p. 193
32. Delesse Tadesse, Girma Alemayehu 2005 , p. 198
33. Delesse Tadesse, Girma Alemayehu 2005 , p. 209
34. Delesse Tadesse, Girma Alemayehu 2005 , p. 223
35. Delesse Tadesse, Girma Alemayehu 2005 , p. 242
36. Delesse Tadesse, Girma Alemayehu 2005 , p. 256
37. Bahru Zewde 2002 , p. 261
38. Bahru Zewde 2002 , p. 268
39. Paul B. Henze 2004 , p. 78

• Other sources

1. Sources

   Bibliography

   Main article: Project: Ethiopia / Library.
   • (En) Berhanou Abebe , History of Ethiopia in Axum revolution, Maisonneuve & Larose, Paris 1998, 238 p. ( ISBN 2706813407 )
   • (In) Kiros Habte Selassie, Mazengia Dina, Ethiopia, A Short Illustrated History, Selam Haile Selassie I Berhanena Printing Press, Addis Ababa, 1969, 156 p.
   • (En) Paul B. Henze, History of Ethiopia. The work of time, Mill Bridge, Paris, 2004, 386 p. ( ISBN 2845865376 )
   • (En) Gerard Prunier, The contemporary Ethiopia, Karthala, 2007, 440 p. ( ISBN 9782845867369 )
   • (In) Richard Pankhurst, The Ethiopians: A History (Peoples of Africa), Wiley-Blackwell, 2001, 320 p. ( ISBN 0631224939 )
   • (In) Delesse Tadesse, Girma Alemayehu, Ethiopian History - From early Axumite priode To The downfall of Emperor Haile Selassie I, Aster Nega Publishing, 2005, 258 p.
   • (In) Harold G. Marcus, A History of Ethiopia, University of California Press, 2002, 394 p. ( ISBN 9780520224797 )
   • (In) Bahru Zewde, A History of Modern Ethiopia, 1855-1991, Oxford University Press and Addis Ababa, London, 2002, 254 p. ( ISBN 9780821414408 )
   • OECD, "African Economic Outlook 2008", May 2008 ( ISBN 9264046437 ) Internal Links
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     • Ethiopia's culture : literature , music and cuisine
     • Ethiopia's geography : rivers , environmental problems and highlands
     • Peoples of Ethiopia : demography , languages and religions
     • Policy of Ethiopia : elections , Prime Minister of Ethiopia , constitution , parliament and judiciary
     • Horn of Africa

     External Links

     • Ethiopia category directory dmoz
     • (En) Ethiopia on the website France-Diplomatie
     • (En) Site of the Ethiopian Parliament
     • (In) Ethiopia on the CIA World Factbook

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