 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
Info
Regions
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Country Guide > Africa > Ethiopia | |
|
History and Government History During the Middle Ages, Ethiopia was famous for being the home of Prester John, the mythical Christian King. Although Ethiopia was indeed a Christian kingdom (Ethiopian Coptic) and had been for many centuries, it never fulfilled the expectations of Western Christendom, by failing to be a staunch ally of Rome in the struggle against the infidel. Later, the Portuguese were equally unsuccessful in their efforts to convert the country to orthodox Catholicism. During the so-called ‘colonial period’, Ethiopia was the only country in Africa never to be fully colonised, despite the efforts of Italy, who suffered a series of devastating defeats at the hands of the Ethiopians in the late 19th century, most notably at the battle of Dogali. The 20th-century history of Ethiopia is dominated by the figure of Haile Selassie, who became emperor in 1930 and ruled until the military coup of 1974. The country was occupied by the Italians between 1936 and 1941. The former Italian colony of Eritrea was annexed by Ethiopia in 1962, providing a coastline. However, secessionist movements both in Eritrea and Tigray later removed these areas from the effective control of the Government. In 1977, a further coup brought Lieutenant Colonel Mengistu to power. Agricultural backwardness was the country’s most urgent problem; all attempts at land reform were resisted. The government itself was perhaps too preoccupied with fighting secessionist movements in Tigray and Eritrea, and with occasional border clashes with Somalia (one of which escalated into full-scale war during 1977). This was one of the factors, along with severe drought, economic mismanagement and the mutual mistrust between the government and Western aid agencies which contributed to the widespread and heavily-publicised 1983 famine in Ethiopia. The civil war continued until May 1991, when President Mengistu fled the country for Zimbabwe. At this point, resistance from the remaining government forces crumbled and the Tigrayan-led Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) took control of the capital. In July 1991, the EPRDF leader, Meles Zenawi, was elected head of a transitional administration – effectively making him both President and Head of State for the interim – with the promise of future governmental elections. The EPRDF continued to experience resistance in some parts of the country, mainly from elements of Ethiopia’s ethnic patchwork (Afar, Issa and Gurgureh, as well as ethnic Somalis) and from the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), which seeks independence for their province in the west of the country. Of greater long-term significance was the decision of the northern province of Eritrea – previously independent until 1952, when the United Nations merged it into Ethiopia – to secede from Ethiopia. The Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF), the dominant force in the province and previously allied to the EPRDF, declared independence in May 1993. The Ethiopians acquiesced in the decision, despite the loss of their entire coastline. Relations between the two were initially good and a number of economic and security agreements were signed. It was not to last. By May 1995, the transitional administration and a short-lived constituent assembly, both of which were dominated by the EPRDF, had agreed a new constitution and were ready to hold national elections. The EPRDF won a massive victory – including all 92 seats in Addis Ababa – in elections for the new Council of People’s Representatives; Meles Zenawi took over as Prime Minister. The result was repeated in August 2000: Meles Zenawi was endorsed to serve a second term as premier, while the presidency was assumed by Girma Wolde Giorgis. In September 2005, following a highly disputed election involving violent protests, Meles Zenawi's party again won a clear victory. The government has faced a number of minor internal rebellions, mainly from Somali and Afar groups. But the most serious problems have been caused by the catastrophic and unexpected breakdown of relations with Eritrea. Fighting broke out in May 1998, ostensibly over land disputes and border incursions each claimed against the other (see Eritrea section). Ethiopia was known to be unhappy with Eritrea’s introduction of its own currency in 1997; Eritrea may have harboured fears that its independence was under threat from Ethiopia. However, the intransigence of the two sides continues to mystify many outside observers. In June 2001, after 10 separate attempts, the UN finally managed to broker a settlement. A 4,000-strong peacekeeping force, UNMEE, holds the line between the two sides, but a final resolution of the conflict seems as distant as ever. Although Ethiopia came off rather the better of the two combatants, this was a war that neither side could afford. Ethiopia has been in need of food aid for some years and distribution to the most needy and remote areas was disrupted by the fighting. Large imports of emergency aid were needed during the summer of 2003 to prevent a famine which might otherwise have affected up to 15 million people. Government Under the provisions of a new Constitution, adopted in December 1994, Ethiopia became a federation – the newly designated Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia – consisting of nine states and one metropolitan area (the capital, Addis Ababa); each with its own parliamentary assemblies. The legislature is the bicameral Federal Parliamentary Assembly. The lower chamber, Yehizbtewekayoch Mekir Bet (Council of People’s Representatives), comprises 527 directly elected deputies. The upper chamber, Yefederashn Mekir Bet (Council of the Federation), has 117 delegates from the state assemblies and from Ethiopia’s 22 recognised national minorities. The Federal Parliamentary Assembly elects a President as Head of State, although executive power remains largely the preserve of the Prime Minister, who is elected by the Council of People’s Representatives. |