This landlocked country, divided by the Great Rift Valley, is home to cultural heritage that dates back three million years. There are some impressive sites to visit, including rock-cut Christian churches of the 12th and 13th centuries and a city with ruins of an ancient city. Also, you can see obelisks, tombs, and castles.
Eritrea’s War of Independence
Ethiopia’s War of Independence began in the 1960s, with the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF) leading the struggle for independence. The ELF subsequently factionalized along ethnic and geographic lines. At first, the ELF was composed of primarily Muslim members. Few Christians joined the group, fearing Muslim dominance. However, the movement gained momentum when a large number of Christians joined. A fifth command was eventually formed.
The Ethiopian conflict can be understood as four separate civil wars, with different political objectives and belligerent parties. The conflict also involves intersecting tactical and strategic alliances. As such, Ethiopia’s War of Independence is a complex story of ethnic, regional, and national identity. Ethiopia is one of the most diverse countries in the world, with over 70 languages.
The Ethiopian government did not seem to be prepared for anything short of total victory, and neither did its political constituencies. Eritrea, the principal antagonist in the conflict, remains a thorn in the side of both sides. However, in the AU talks, the role of Eritrea remains unclear. Nonetheless, the war has shaped the course of Ethiopia’s history. The AU talks are uncertain about the role of Eritrea, the country’s major enemy in the conflict.
The TPLF and Eritrean government are at loggerheads, and the conflict has been ongoing for many years. The federal government pushed its troops into Tigray, but the Amhara and Tigray regional forces regrouped and fought back. In the first months of the war, Tigray was controlled by Amhara and Eritrean forces. Eventually, they took control of Mekelle and launched an offensive in Amhara, pushing south toward Addis Ababa.
Mengistu’s rule
During Mengistu’s 14-year rule, Ethiopia suffered through famine and a protracted civil war. His ouster came two days after rebel forces captured two key towns and cut off the main overland supply route to Addis Ababa. The famine killed as many as one million Ethiopians. The famine has been one of Ethiopia’s most notorious episodes.
The military’s response to this unrest was swift and deadly. As the Red Terror spread, scores of Ethiopians fled the country to seek asylum in neighboring nations and start new Ethiopian communities. The government also faced threats from Somalia and the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPRK), a separatist group in neighboring Eritrea. In addition, Mengistu’s government saw the outbreak of the Ogaden War, which pitted Ethiopia against its former Cuban and Soviet allies. The Ethiopians were able to triumph in the conflict, but it was not without its own set of problems.
Mengistu’s government also killed more than 2,000 people during his reign. More than 60 ministers and top officials were executed by firing squad, while over two thousand others were tortured. Many witnesses said that they were forced to pay for the bullets fired by the government forces. One witness claimed that his father’s head was cut off and sold at a market.
At the end of the 1970s, Mengistu’s army was the second largest in sub-Saharan Africa. It also had a highly effective air force and navy.
Drought
The current drought in Ethiopia has put a strain on the country’s resources and livelihoods. The country’s poor and older population suffer from chronic poverty and have less access to reliable sources of income. Increasingly, they must travel longer distances to buy food and water. This has reduced their traditional support networks, leaving them in an isolated situation. This isolation causes great emotional distress.
Drought is likely to become more common in the Horn of Africa in the coming years. Warming climate and drier summers are causing less rainfall in the region. The good news is that there are ways to mitigate the negative impacts of drought. One way to do so is by improving access to high-quality agricultural inputs, improving peace, and improving environmental conditions.
Drought in Ethiopia has already led to large numbers of displaced people. Meanwhile, the security situation in Ethiopia has made it difficult for humanitarian assistance to reach the affected areas. In particular, in the Guji and West Guji zones of Oromia, movement of essential supplies has been difficult. Meanwhile, in the Konso Zone of SNNP, conflict has forced about 23,000 people to flee their homes, affecting drought relief efforts.
Aside from causing severe physical damage to the country’s infrastructure, drought is also impacting the health of people in Ethiopia. Food has become scarce and many families struggle to feed their children. This is especially devastating for young children, who are at a critical developmental stage and are more susceptible to stunting. Malnutrition is on the rise as a result of the drought, with UNICEF estimating that up to 600,000 children will require medical treatment for severe acute malnutrition by year’s end.
Political parties
Political parties in Ethiopia are a relatively new phenomenon, although they are closely linked to socieconomic change, the emergence of various classes and interest groups, and a broad political awakening. The overthrow of the Ancien regime in 1974 brought about the culmination of these challenges. This paper outlines the evolution of the political parties in Ethiopia, their activities, and their significance in the recent Ethiopian revolution.
In 1976, the Dergue crushed two left-wing parties in Ethiopia, but it later created the Commission for Organizing the Party of the Working People of Ethiopia (COPWE) to lay the groundwork for a Marxist-Leninist party along the Soviet model. It was not until 1984, however, that the COPWE was dissolved, and Mengistu’s Worker’s Party of Ethiopia was established as the sole legal political party.
Elections are held in five levels in Ethiopia: HoPR (House of People’s Representatives), regional state councils (HoPRs), and local elections (state councils). The sixth general election was postponed in 2008 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Elections in the HoPR are supposed to be held in parallel throughout the country. However, the Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa Councils are considered regional state councils, and more than one HoPR member may be elected from one constituency.
Freedom of speech and media have been severely restricted in Ethiopia. However, since Abiy’s inauguration in 2018, the government has increased freedoms for independent media organizations. Until now, the media landscape has largely consisted of state-owned broadcasters and government-oriented newspapers. However, in recent months, the government has relaxed restrictions on independent media outlets, lifting the ban on 264 websites and television networks.
Religions
Ethiopia is home to a wide range of religions. The majority of its population follow Abrahamic faiths, including Christianity and Islam. The country also has a small Jewish community and adherents of the Baha’i Faith, especially in urban areas. However, this is largely a country of believers and is not the main focus of this article.
Ethiopian Christians are the most religious in the country. Approximately seventy-eight percent of the country claims to attend church every week, compared to a mere 10% in Central and Eastern Europe. The majority of Ethiopians also fast during holy days. This religious commitment extends across generations, and is especially strong among Ethiopia’s youth.
Ethiopia’s religious diversity has led to significant inter-religious tensions. In particular, disagreements between Orthodox Christians and Muslims are widespread, but not always violent. In some areas, Muslim communities have burned Christian churches. Orthodox and Protestant Christians also face opposition from each other. There have been numerous cases of religious-based killings in rural areas. While some recent statistics indicate a reduction in the incidence of these events, other reports suggest a rise in the number of radical Islamist attacks.
Ethiopian Christians believe in the Holy Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. They worship the Holy Spirit and observe traditional Christian rituals, such as the Eucharist and Feast of Epiphany. Worship services in Ethiopia often include dancing and singing to traditional gospel music.
Economy
Although the economy of Ethiopia consists of many sectors, there is no single sector that accounts for the majority of its output. A large percentage of the economy is devoted to agriculture, which is the country’s primary source of foreign currency. However, the country has made great strides in the production and export of cash crops and import substituting manufactures. Post-World War II, tourism, banking, insurance, and transportation also became important sectors. The industrial sector contributed about 10 percent of the country’s GDP growth since 2004. While there are some challenges to Ethiopia’s economy, the overall trend is a positive one.
Ethiopia’s exports are largely agricultural, with coffee being the country’s primary foreign-exchange earner. The country also exports khat and other plants, leather products, and other commodities. Imports are mostly made up of machinery, transport equipment, and chemical products. Its major trading partners include China, Saudi Arabia, and the United States. However, Ethiopia’s balance of payments has been negative for years.
The country has a high external debt burden. The country owes $3.3 billion to private creditors, while $23.35 billion is owed to foreign commercial banks and suppliers.
