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The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (Ityop'iya, Amharic ኢትዮጵያ) is a country of northeastern Africa, the oldest independent nation in the continent and one of the oldest in the world. Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule, one exception being the Italian occupation of 1936–1941.
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| Official language | Amharic | ||||
| Capital | Addis Ababa | ||||
| President | Girma Wolde-Giorgis | ||||
| Prime Minister | Meles Zenawi | ||||
| Area - Total - % water | Ranked 26th 1,127,127 km² 0.7% | ||||
| Population -Total -Density | Ranked 16th 67,673,031 60.0/km² | ||||
| Currency | Birr (ETB) | ||||
| Time zone | UTC +3 | ||||
| National anthem | Whedefit Gesgeshi Woude Henate Ethiopia (March Forward, Dear Mother Ethiopia) | ||||
| Internet TLD | .ET | ||||
| Calling Code | 251 | ||||
Main article: History of Ethiopia
In 1974 a Marxist-leaning military junta, the Derg, deposed Emperor Haile Selassie (who had ruled since 1930) and established a socialist state. Torn by bloody coups, uprisings, wide-scale drought, and massive refugee problems, the regime was finally toppled by a coalition of rebel forces, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), in 1991. A constitution was adopted in 1994 and Ethiopia's first multiparty elections were held in 1995. A border war with Eritrea (a nation which separated from Ethiopia in 1992) erupted in May 1998 and has since strengthened the ruling coalition, but has hurt the nation's economy.
Main article: Politics of Ethiopia
Main article: Regions of Ethiopia
Ethiopia is divided into 9 ethnically-based administrative regions (astedader akababiwach, singular - astedader akabibi) and 2 chartered cities*:
Addis Ababa*; Afar; Amhara, Benishangul/Gumaz; Dire Dawa*; Gambela; Harar; Oromia; Somali; Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region; Tigray; Shewa; Geography of Ethiopia
Main article: Economy of Ethiopia
Main article: Demographics of Ethiopia
| Date | English Name | Local Name | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|
| January 7 | Orthodox Christmas Day | ||
| January 19 | Feast of Epiphany | Timket | |
| February 2 | Feast of the Sacrifice | Eid-ul-Adha | |
| March 2 | Battle of Adowa | ||
| April 12 | Orthodox Easter Monday | ||
| April 25 | Coptic Good Friday | ||
| May 2 | Mulud | Mulud | |
| May 5 | Patriots' Day | ||
| May 28 | End of Military Regime | ||
| September 11 | Ethiopian New Year/Coptic New Year | ||
| September 27 | Finding of the True Cross | ||
| November 14 | End of Ramadan | Eid-al-Fitr |
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