Kunama Girls in Shimelba Refugee Camp. Photo by Kevin McNulty
The three main colors of the flag (adopted ca. 1895) were often adopted by other African countries upon independence that they became known as the Pan-African colours; the emblem in the center of the current flag was added in 1996
Welcome to glorious Ethiopia! I am Dylan Jones, this page's editor. I know very little of Ethiopia or producing a wiki, so this is a learning experiance. I hope you enjoy!
Introduction[]
Ethiopia is one of the oldest independent countries in Africa and one of the oldest in the world. (at least 2,000 years)
Ethiopia maintained its monarchy rule and freedom from colonial rule up until a brief Italian occupation from 1936-1941. A constitution was adopted in 1994, and Ethiopia's first mulitparty elections were held in 1995, leading to 18 years of universal suffrage.
Environment[]
Ethiopia is involved in many pro environmental agreements.Party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Hazardous Wastes, Ozone Layer Protection
They are also in the process of joining more:
Signed, but not ratified: Environmental Modification, Law of the Sea
Economy[]
Ethiopia's economy is based on agriculture, which accounts for 46% of GDP and 85% of total employment. Coffee has been a major export crop. Coffee is a crop that is believed to have originated in the country.
Recent efforts by the Government of Ethiopia and donors have strengthened Ethiopia's agricultural resilience, contributing to a reduction in the number of Ethiopians threatened with starvation.
Under Ethiopia's constitution, the state owns all land and provides long-term leases to the tenants; land use certificates are now being issued in some areas so that tenants have more recognizable rights to continued occupancy and hence make more concerted efforts to improve their leaseholds.
Ethiopia's economy continues on its state-led Growth and Transformation Plan. The five-year economic plan has achieved high single-digit growth rates through government-led infrastructure expansion and commercial agriculture development.
Ethiopia in 2013 plans to continue construction of its Grand Renassiance Dam on the Nile-the controversial multi-billion dollar effort to develop electricity for domestic consumption and export.
Ethnic Groups[]
Ethiopia is made up of many ethnic groups. Eleven of these groups are made up of more than 1 percent of the population.
Oromo 34.5%, Amara 26.9%, Somalie 6.2%, Tigraway 6.1%, Sidama 4%, Gurage 2.5%, Welaita 2.3%, Hadiya 1.7%, Affar 1.7%, Gamo 1.5%, Gedeo 1.3%, other 11.3% (2007 Census)
Languages[]
There are many languages in the Country, some official and others spoken by a small populous.
Oromigna (official regional) 33.8%, Amarigna (Amharic) (official) 29.3%, Somaligna 6.2%, Tigrigna (official regional) 5.9%, Sidamigna 4%, Wolayitigna 2.2%, Guaragigna 2%, Affarigna 1.7%, Hadiyigna 1.7%, Gamogna 1.5%, other 11.7%, English (official) (major foreign language taught in schools), Arabic (official) (1994 census)