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The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (Ityop'iya, Amharic የኢትዮጵያ) is a nation of northeastern
Africa. Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its
freedom from colonial rule, one exception being the Italian occupation of 1936-1941.
History
Main article: History of Ethiopia
In 1974 a 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 that erupted in May 1998 has strengthened the ruling coalition, but has hurt the nation's economy.
Politics
Main article: Politics of Ethiopia
Regions
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
Geography
Main article: Geography of Ethiopia
Economy
Main article: Economy of Ethiopia
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of
Ethiopia
Culture
Main article: Culture of Ethiopia
Holidays
| Date |
English Name |
Local Name |
Remarks |
| January 7 |
Orthodox Christmas Day |
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| January 19 |
Feast of Epiphany |
Timket |
| February 2 |
Feast of the Sacrifice |
Eid-ul-Adha |
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| March 2 |
Battle of Adowa |
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| April 12 |
Orthodox Easter Monday |
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| April 25 |
Coptic Good Friday |
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| May 2 |
Mulud |
Mulud |
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| May 5 |
Patriots' Day |
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| May 28 |
End of Military Regime |
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| September 11 |
Ethiopian New Year/Coptic New Year |
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| September 27 |
Finding of the True Cross |
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| November 14 |
End of Ramadan |
Eid-al-Fitr |
Miscellaneous topics
External links and references
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