Research Library: Ethiopia
|
Map |
Country Information | Statistics | Web Resources |
| |
|
Last Updated Jun 16, 2008
Country Information
Government
- Ethiopia functions on a federal republic with a president as chief of state and a prime minister as head of government. The president is elected by the House of People¿s Representatives for a six-year term (eligible for a second term). The prime minister is designated by the party in power following legislative elections. There is also a bicameral Parliament, which consists of the House of Federation (upper chamber-108 seats) and the House of People¿s Representatives (lower chamber-547 seats).
- President Girma Woldegiorgis came to office in October 2001. Prime Minister Meles Zenawi was chosen as transitional head of state after dictator Mengistu was overthrown in 1991. More recently, he won his third term as prime minister after bitterly contested elections in May 2005, which resulted in 36 people being killed and hundreds arrested.
Political Stability
- The current government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia was installed in 1995 following numerous bloody coups and uprisings, wide-scale drought, and substantial refugee problems. The constitution was adopted in 1994, and the first multi-party elections were held in 1995. However, a border war with Eritrea in the late 1990s threatened the new peace. A peace treaty between the two nations was signed in 2000.
- Currently, the fragile truce between Ethiopia and Eritrea has been upheld, however, the UN says ongoing disputes over the demarcation of the border could once again threaten Ethiopia¿s political stability.
Current Government Policies
- Currently, the government is concerned with improving their poor economy, especially in reorganizing the agricultural sector and foreign exchange earnings. Other priorities include improving human rights, tackling crime and corruption, and maintaining peace with Eritrea.
International Reputation
- Since World War II, Ethiopia has played an active role in world and African affairs. They currently have very good relations with the United States and the West, particularly in responding to regional instability, supporting the war on terrorism, and, increasingly, through economic participation. Ethiopia¿s relations with Eritrea remain unstable and unresolved.
Economics
- Ethiopia¿s involvement in the war with Eritrea from 1998-2000 is a major cause for their extremely weak economy, particularly affecting coffee production. In November 2001, Ethiopia succeeded in obtaining debt relief from the HIPC initiative, and in December 2005, the IMF decided to forgive their debt to the body. A severe drought in 2002 resulted in a 3.3% decline in GDP.
- Ethiopia is currently the poorest country in Africa with agriculture accounting for more than half of GDP, 60% of exports, and 80% of total employment. The agricultural sector, however, suffers from poor cultivation practices and droughts. Because the state owns all land and provides long-term leases to tenants, their system continues to impede the growth of the industrial sector. Ethiopia¿s main export is coffee. Other exports include qat, gold, leather products, live animals, and oilseeds.
Foreign Aid
Statistics
Click on statistic name for source information.
Web Resources
|
|
|
|
|
|
