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Ethiopia Page |
Welcome to ElectionInfo.com's pages on Ethiopia
Official Name: People’s Democratic Republic of Ethiopia
Capital: Addis Ababa
Area: 1,100,760 square kilometres (425,006 square miles)
Major cities (Population)
Addis Ababa 2,209,000 (1995 estimate)
Dire Dawa 127,400 (1990 estimate)
Population: 55,053,000 (1995 estimate)
Population growth rate: 3 per cent (1990-1995 average)
Government
Village Courtroom
The new constitution provides for a democratic government with an elected national assembly, regional governments based principally on ethnic groups, and an elected president.
Recent History
Mussolini’s Italian army invaded Ethiopia in 1936 and occupied the country until 1941, when the British helped the exiled emperor Haile Selassie to regain control. Selassie, formerly Ras Tafari Makonnen, had been regent to the Empress Zauditu, the daughter of Menelik II, during the 1920s and had declared himself emperor upon her death. After his return in 1941, Selassie introduced reforms and was successful as an international mediator. However, discontent grew with his autocratic, centralized rule, during which the economy deteriorated and feudal lords enriched themselves at the expense of the poor. In 1974 Selassie was deposed.
A provisional government took control and began economic reform. After an internal power struggle, Mengistu Haile Mariam emerged as head of government in 1977. A purge of government opponents followed, during which thousands were killed or imprisoned. Eventually, in 1987, a new constitution established an elected assembly called the National Shengo, which, in turn, elected Mengistu president of the newly named People’s Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The government also had to deal with an ongoing civil war with the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front (EPLF), who sought Eritrean independence, as well as campaigns of insurgency in other areas, such as Tigray Kifle Hªger and Ogaden. Drought and famine hit Ethiopia in the 1980s, and these conditions were more difficult to overcome because of the civil war and disintegrating economy.
An attempted coup in 1989 led Mengistu to announce economic reforms the following year, but the rebel groups were not placated. Fighting intensified in 1991, and, in May, with his army facing defeat, Mengistu fled the country. An assault on the capital by the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) led to the end of Mengistu’s regime. At the same time, the EPLF took separate control of Eritrea and announced plans for independence.
The new Ethiopian leader, Meles Zenawi, lead a provisional government that promised to sponsor the first fair elections in Ethiopia’s political history. Armed clashes continued, but political and economic reforms were introduced nevertheless. As a result of negotiations, Ethiopia agreed that Eritrea could become independent if Ethiopia was able to retain access to the coast. In 1993, after a referendum, Eritrea declared full independence, having already made strides in creating a separate economy and political structure.
In 1994 a constituent assembly was given the task of reviewing and revising a draft constitution for Ethiopia, as put forth by Meles Zenawi. The government also began rebuilding the country’s infrastructure, encouraging private-sector economic activity, and promoting the decentralization of power. A general election held in May 1995 was boycotted by four of the seven opposition parties, with the results indicating that EPRDF and its allies had won.
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