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Capital | Addis Ababa | ||||
Largest city | Addis Ababa | ||||
Other cities | Adama, Gondar, Dire Dawa | ||||
Language official |
Amharic | ||||
others | Other languages official among Ethiopia's various ethnicities and their respective regions | ||||
Religion main |
Ethiopian Orthodox | ||||
others | Islam, Pentay (Protestant), Roman Catholic, Traditional Faiths | ||||
Ethnic Groups main |
Oromo, Amhara | ||||
others | Somali, Tigrayans, Sidama, Guarge, Welayta, Afar, Hadiya, Gamo | ||||
Demonym | Ethiopian | ||||
Government | Constitutional Monarchy | ||||
Legislature | Parliament (Senate and Chamber of Deputies) | ||||
Emperor of Ethiopia | Zera Yacob Amha Selassie | ||||
Royal house: | Solomon | ||||
Population | approx. 99590000 | ||||
Currency | Birr |
Derg revolt[]
When a Soviet-backed Marxist–Leninist military began revolting against the imperial government, many saw this as the end to the rule of the Solomon dynasty. The Derg offered the crown to Amha Selassie, and upon his return to the country he was crowned. However, a week later, the Derg government arrested and imprisoned the new emperor. This caused massive demonstrations and eventually armed revolt leading to the end of the Derg controlled regime after only seven months in power.
New Imperial Government[]
Not wishing to allow another group like the Derg to gain control of his country, Amha Selassie implemented major reforms paving the way for a democratic constitutional monarchy. Unfortunately, this also lead areas along the Red Sea to further agitate for independence form the rest of the country as even before the Derg rise to power, these people wished for independence. This movement for independence had led to further instigation of armed revolts and reignited of the Eritrean War of Independence.
Eritrean-Ethiopian War[]
With the igniting of armed conflict between the coastal regions and the rest of Ethiopia, the rebel forces started in the north and continued their march down the coast.
Peace talks[]
Throughout the period of conflict, Amha Selassie continually called for both sides to come to the table to talk. He was finally able to bring some of the more reasonable members of the Eritrean forces to the peace talks. Though Amha Selassie was seen as not a completely neutral party, he along with international mediators were able to find a resolution to the conflict in 1989 with a referendum. While the majority of the lands claimed by Eritrea would become independent, a small section would remain with Ethiopia, giving Ethiopia a coast and allowing those who wished to stay with Ethiopia an area in which to live.