Ethiopia is a state of superlatives in many respects. It is three times the size of Germany and has unique landscapes. But poverty, famine and civil wars also dominate Ethiopian life.
- Ethiopia is a multi-ethnic state with over 80 ethnic groups and numerous languages.
- The capital Addis Ababa is one of the largest metropolises Africa.
- It is not only the country of origin of coffee, but is also one of the gene centers of modern man.
Addis Ababa – With an area of 1,104,300 square kilometers counts Ethiopia one of the largest landlocked countries in North Africa. The country is full of contrasts. On the one hand, it harbors true cultural and scenic treasures, on the other hand, poverty and famine are widespread here. From a historical perspective, the country is regarded as the cradle of mankind.
Ethiopia: Prehistory and Abyssinian Empire
Especially for paleoanthropologists Ethiopia a real treasure trove. The East African country is also often referred to as the “cradle of humanity” designated. This includes the 1974 in Hadar found skeleton, which researchers named “Lucy‘ was baptized. The country has also been considered the oldest continuous state in Africa since ancient times.
found in biblical history Ethiopia than Empire of Aksum already mentioned. In fact, the empire was founded by the Abyssinian tribe, dating back to the first millennium BC South Arabia emigrated. The Abyssinian Empire existed into the 20th century. The capital Aksum was first Claudius Ptolemy mentioned in the 2nd century AD. Under King Ezana was that Christianity from the first half of the 4th century to the state religion. The spread of Islam In the 7th century, however, it ensured that Christianity was largely isolated from the universal church.
Ethiopia: Middle Ages and Colonial Period
In the Middle Ages the country spread under the dynasty of Zagwe further south. From the princely family were among others the eleven Rock churches in Roha commissioned, which remain among the largest man-made stone structures in the world. However, the Zagwe dynasty came to an abrupt end in 1270, as their descent from King Solomon was doubted. Among the noble Yekuno Amlak finally flourished the rule of Solomonids.
In the centuries that followed, contacts became more frequent Europe further expanded. In the 16th century there was a threat of Islamization of the Christian Ethiopia prevented with the help of Portuguese armed forces. the colonialism led to that Ethiopia repeatedly had to defend itself against the influence of European powers. The successful defense increased the national consciousness of the Ethiopians.
Ethiopia: Socialist military dictatorship and drought disaster
declared in 1935 Mussolini Ethiopia the war. The Fascist Kingdom Italy achieved a temporary end to the Abyssinian Empire. But Italian dominance ended in 1941, when Ethiopia was liberated by British and local troops. In 1973, however, the country fell into a major economic crisis due to a catastrophic drought. After mass demonstrations, revolts and strikes, he became Kaiser in 1974 Haile Selassie fell. This also marked the end of the Abyssinian Empire.
The military quickly got the upper hand and ensured that in March 1975 the monarchy in Ethiopia was finally abolished. It was formed with the support of Soviet Union and of Cuba a socialist military dictatorship. However, the regime collapsed in 1991 due to civil wars and further persistent famines. A political coalition of various liberation movements was formed. the Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front seized power and led a “ethnic federalism” one.
After almost 30 years of war, the split took place in May 1993 Eritrea. Border disputes and economic differences caused ongoing conflicts from 1998 onwards. It wasn’t until 2018 that tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea settled in a peace treaty. Nevertheless, there were further protests in the country afterwards. Since the parliamentary elections are officially due to the COVID-19 Pandemic had to be postponed, tensions between the regional government of tigray and the central government to civil war-like conditions. A nationwide state of emergency was declared in November 2021.
Ethiopia: The Political System
Valid since 1991 Ethiopia as a federal parliamentary republic. the federalism itself is strongly ethnic. The President is the head of government and is elected by Parliament. However, this has more representative tasks. The government of the country is taken over by the Prime Minister, who also appoints the Council of Ministers.
The parliament in turn consists of two chambers: the Federal Palace and the People’s House of Representatives. The members are in turn directly elected by the people for a term of five years. The juridical instance of the state is taken over by the Supreme Federal Court in Addis Ababa.
The Federal Constitution is also overseen by a Constitutional Council.
Ethiopia: facts at a glance
- Capital: Addis Ababa
- Official language: Amharic
- Area: 1,104,300 square kilometers
- Population: 115 million (as of 2020)
- Currency: Birr (ETB)
- Administrative divisions: Ten regions, two independent cities (Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa)
- Religion: predominantly Ethiopian Orthodox Christians Sunni Muslims
Ethiopia: languages and population
That Ethiopia one multinational state is also reflected in the country’s linguistic diversity. Over 80 languages are spoken throughout the republic. Applies at the federal level Amharic as an official language (spoken by about 19.8 million people). However, other languages were admitted as official languages in 2020: Among them Oromo (spoken by around 25.5 million people) as well as Tigrinya, Somali and Afar. The languages Ethiopia belong to two large language families (albeit with unequal distribution): namely the Afroasiatic (with 99 percent) and the Nilo-Saharan.
Demographic has Ethiopia a large and rapidly growing population. While around 11 million people were counted at the beginning of the 20th century, the number had doubled by 1960. In 1987 there were already 44 million people living in the country and in 2016 a population of around 100 million was estimated. The cause is the rapidly increasing life expectancy with high fertility. The population consists of 120 ethnic groups, each ranging in size from a few hundred to several million people.
Ethiopia: Geography and Cities
Ethiopia is in East Africa – on the so-called Horn of Africa – and is also the tenth largest with its area of 1,104,300 square kilometers Country of the continent. The country borders Eritreathe Sudanthe South Swan, Kenya, Somalia and Djibouti. In terms of landscape, it also plays a special role in Africa. Because 50 percent of the area is higher than 1,200 meters. Some mountain ranges even go up to 3,500 meters high.
The climatic conditions are correspondingly different. While it is relatively cool in the high plains, hot tropical weather conditions sometimes occur in the lowlands. However, the temperature fluctuations over the course of the year are only small.
The biggest cities Ethiopia at a glance (the population is based on estimates from 2016):
- 1 Addis Ababa: 3,352,000 inhabitants, region: Addis Ababa
- 2 Gondar: 341,991 inhabitants, region: Amhara
- 3 Merk’ele: 340,859 inhabitants, Region: Tigray
- 4 Adama: 338,940 inhabitants, region: Oromia
- 5 Hawassa: 318,618 inhabitants, Region: South
- 6 Bahir Dar: 297,794 inhabitants, region: Amhara
- 7 Dire Dawa: 285,000 inhabitants, region: Dire Dawa
- 8th Dese: 198,428 inhabitants, region: Amhara
- 9 Jimma: 186,148 inhabitants, region: Oromia
- 10 Jijiga: 164,321 inhabitants, region: Somali
Ethiopia: Interesting facts about the country
Even though Ethiopia is rich in mineral resources (including gold, tantalum, platinum metals, copper, chromium, ores, salts and precious stones), a large part of the population lives below the absolute poverty line. Child labor is also widespread. The number one export hit is still coffee, which is particularly popular in Germany.
housed next to it Ethiopia other cultural treasures, including some in the UNESCO World Heritage Site are listed: These include the imposing ones Rock Churches of Lalibela, the imperial city of Gondar with the palace district and the field of stelae in Tiya. So is the city harar with its 90 mosques and the Rimbaud house, a tip for Ethiopia enthusiasts.
The national parks (Awash, Mago and Nechisar) are also of impressive beauty. The hot springs in Afar, the Awash river with its waterfalls, the Semien folded mountains, the Danakil depression and the gorge and waterfalls of the Blue Nile are particularly attractive.
#multinational #state #Horn #Africa