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Background: Unique among African countries, the ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained its freedom from colonial rule, with the exception of the 1936-41 Italian occupation during World War II. 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 in 1991 by a coalition of rebel forces, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). A constitution was adopted in 1994 and Ethiopia's first multiparty elections were held in 1995. A two and a half year border war with Eritrea ended with a peace treaty on 12 December 2000. Final demarcation of the boundary is currently on hold due to Ethiopian objections to an international commission's finding requiring it to surrender sensitive territory.

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By Hno jaime
December 5th 2005

The Wall Africa » Ethiopia » Addis Ababa Region » Addis Ababa

Kids are kids

These are the first days of December in Addis Ababa. Within the gated community of the Hilton, one will find people in the basic pursuit of making a living. Work or play, activity is frenzied. One can see men, women, boys and girls, from different backgrounds, selling, buying, products, and services, legal or not, all in the hope of advancing one’s personal reason for being. The hotel lobby is full of stuff to buy. One can see the liquor bar, book store, souvenirs, on the spot roasted, brewed coffee with low sitting stools. No Java Dave’s by any stretch if the [View Full Entry]

By Sarah and Jonathon
November 17th 2005

A Cultural Tour through Ethiopia's Omo Valley Africa » Ethiopia

Don't be fooled

People organize themselves in every imaginable way. In the Konso villages of southern Ethiopia's Omo Valley, everything is close and inside. 7-foot thick neatly stacked stone walls surround entire villages, offering protection from hyenas and other outsiders. Narrow stone pathways wind between houses packed tightly together. Every so often, when the village is bursting at the seams, another wall is built around everything that has nestled up close outside the previous wall. In this way, concentric circles of community built around girls that carry and pound the grain, men that gather to tell t [View Full Entry]

By Sarah and Jonathon
November 10th 2005

Addis in the Aftermath Africa » Ethiopia » Addis Ababa Region » Addis Ababa

Crowds at Addis's humongous Merkato market.

We arrived to a dead calm in Addis - 45 dead to be exact. The previous week's protests against election irregularities and the anti-democratic tendencies of the reelected government had spun out of control with hundreds of civilians shot or injured by military and tens of thousands in jail (including all the opposition party leaders and a host of "treasonous" journalists). Our dear host Russel braved the general strike, meeting us at the airport with the only cab driver in the city who was willing to take to the empty streets. How bizarre to be introduced to a stunned, angry, and [View Full Entry]

After a long hunt, we track down the old Emperor assistant's home

We got a lot of smiles at Merkato but not any squash

By bedreddin
July 14th 2005

The Fastest Way to Receive Money Africa » Ethiopia » Addis Ababa Region » Addis Ababa

Cowherd Girl

Perhaps the most unnerving part of entering a new country is what makes it so exciting: namely, the uncertainty. Things one has gotten used to (if only for a few weeks) can be swept aside in the few innocent steps that take you across the border. There are practical considerations: money looks different; a dollar can vary from 70 cents (Jordan) to 1.5 million (Turkey) in local currency; the food is different; the language is different; transportation, hotel, and restaurant standards change and must be re-learned. Perhaps the most important change is the renewed uncertainty of one’s p [View Full Entry]

By Bashman
June 27th 2005

Addis Ababa Africa » Ethiopia » Addis Ababa Region » Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa, which means "New Flower" in Amharic, is an intriguingly indigenous African city. Unlike many other African capitals, it's founding, growth and development, are not rooted in colonization. Founded in 1896 by Emperor Menelik II, Addis Ababa is the last in a succession of capitals of the great Abyssinian empire dating back to the pre-Christian Axum (Brunn & Williams 273). Italian Occupation of Addis Ababa: 1936-1941 For a brief period between 1936 and 1939, the conquering Italians under Mussolini attempted to Europeanize this lively and vibrant city. Because their rule was so short- [View Full Entry]

By Kimbj
June 15th 2005

A thought provoking day... Africa » Ethiopia » Addis Ababa Region » Addis Ababa

A baby sitting on the street

June 15 Today was another wonderful adventure, however. at times completely hectic. I started early today since, I was finally going to the orphanage. I looked forwarded to the visit, but dreaded it at the same time; I didn’t know what I would see. It was a long distance from my hotel, so I got to experience even more of the city. It was a great drive there but, I have to say, what I saw raised even more questions in my mind, as we drove back. Catholic Sisters run this children’s home with about 375 children. The children range in [View Full Entry]

By Kimbj
June 14th 2005

Housekeeping Infomation Africa » Ethiopia » Addis Ababa Region » Addis Ababa

Piled High

I am so sorry this is my first time I have had to blog in a few days. It is a strange feeling that so many people are following my journey and are waiting for new entries. It takes a long time to write down your thoughts and pick out pictures from the hundreds I have trying, to add to the story, so thanks for your support. I will keep it up if I think people want to hear what I have to say. Oh, please excuse the poor editing. I do the best I can, but quite honestly, at times [View Full Entry]

By Kimbj
June 13th 2005

What a weekend experience Africa » Ethiopia » Amhara Region » Bahir Dar

Lake Tana

June 11 This morning we took a flight from Addis to Bahir Dar in the northern part of Ethiopia. I have to say today was the day that the fact that I lost my bags affected me the most. I wished for my bag of clothes and personal items first and got them. Now coming here I would have traded my clothes for the bag with supplies. How selfish am I that I wanted” my stuff” first, for fresh clothes. The people here have basically nothing. The few things that I brought to Africa would have made so many so happy. [View Full Entry]

By Kimbj
June 10th 2005

Addis Ababa...Beautiful and Sad! Africa » Ethiopia » Addis Ababa Region » Addis Ababa

Addis Ababa Sheraton

Where do I begin? I got to Amsterdam and after I blogged, I was waiting in a room to board a plane to Addis and people kept saying they were going to Khartoum (“cartoon”) which was in the Sudan. So I was confused and found out that the plane stopped in Khartoum to drop off and pick up people and fuel. I almost missed my flight by not wanting to get on. But all went well… I sat next to a Canadian citizen who ran away from here (Ethiopia) 17 years ago to avoid army service. He was coming home to [View Full Entry]

By Kimbj
June 10th 2005

A full day today Africa » Ethiopia » Addis Ababa Region » Addis Ababa

City Clinic

This morning I spent most of the day in the hotel, but this afternoon I got to see the Ethiopian Health System close up. We toured a typical clinic and a private hospital. I have to say driving through the city of Addis, there are 10’s of thousands of people just walking around. The city has around 3 million people. There is nothing new here except this hotel and a new park that the same billionaire owner of the hotel built. This city is old and over crowded really falling down in most parts. The Ethiopian people, especially now with the [View Full Entry]

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Ethiopia Travel Blogs, page 57

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