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brief information
About 80 different nationalities live in Ethiopia, as well as many religious and linguistic groups of people, which speaks of the very colorful nature of this country. Ethiopia is a combination of poverty and wealth, urbanization and nature. In this country, you can see rock temples, the largest African market, unique nature and no less unique wildlife.
Geography
Ethiopia is located in East Africa. It borders Eritrea to the north, Djibouti and Somalia to the east, Sudan and South Sudan to the west, and Kenya to the south. There is no access to the sea. The total area of this state is 1,104,300 sq. km., and the total length of the state border is 5,328 km.
Most of Ethiopia is located in the Horn of Africa, which is the easternmost part of the African continent. The territory of this African country is very diverse - there are not only lowlands, steppes, deserts and semi-deserts, but also mountains, as well as tropical forests. In general, about 70% of the country's territory is occupied by the Ethiopian highlands. The highest local peak is Mount Ras Dashen, whose height reaches 4,620 meters.
Ethiopian capital
Addis Ababa is the capital of Ethiopia. The population of this city is now more than 3 million people. Addis Ababa was founded in 1886 by the Ethiopian Emperor Menelik II.
Official language of Ethiopia
The official language is Amharic, belonging to the Ethiopian group of the South Semitic branch of the Semitic language family.
Religion
About 62 residents are Christians (Ethiopian Eastern Christian Church and Protestants), about 32% are Muslims, and about 2.6% consider themselves supporters of traditional African religious cults.
State structure
According to the Constitution of 1995, Ethiopia is a federal democratic republic headed by a President elected for 6 years.
The bicameral Ethiopian parliament is called the Federal Parliamentary Assembly, it consists of the Federation Council (110 people) and the Council of People's Representatives (547 deputies).
The main political parties are the Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front, the Somali Democratic Party and the Benishangul-Gumuz Peoples' Democratic Party.
Administratively, the country is divided into 9 states and two self-governing cities (Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa).
Climate and weather
Ethiopia has three climatic zones, depending on the altitude. It is cooler in the highlands and hot in the lowlands. Kolla (tropical zone) - the average annual air temperature is +27C, and the average annual rainfall is 510 mm. Woina dega (subtropical zone) - the average annual air temperature is + 22C, and the average annual rainfall is from 510 to 1,530 mm. Dega (cold zone) - the average annual air temperature is +16C, and the average annual rainfall is 1,270 mm.
The rainy season starts in June and ends in September. The dry season is from October to May (this is the best time to visit Ethiopia).
Rivers and lakes
The most full-flowing Ethiopian rivers flow in the west of the country. This is, first of all, the Blue Nile River, whose length reaches 1,600 kilometers. To the north is Lake Tana, which is the source of the Blue Nile.
culture
Ethiopia is home to over 80 ethnic groups of people, each with their own language, culture and traditions. In this country, men and women have clearly defined roles in society. Traditionally, men are responsible for representing the family outside the home, while women are responsible for all housework and for the children.
Ethiopian parents are often more strict with their daughters than with their sons. In general, men have more freedom than women. However, over time, the roles of men and women, even in such a traditional society as the Ethiopian, are gradually changing.
In Ethiopia, you can still find tribes that do not wear any clothes at all. People in these tribes simply decorate their bodies with tattoos.
Kitchen
Ethiopian cuisine is unique even for Africa, it has developed in isolation from the culinary traditions of other African countries. It should be noted that Ethiopians do not eat pork for religious reasons.
A traditional Ethiopian dish is "wat", which is a hot spicy stew with a large thin pancake (flat cake) "injera". There are many varieties of "wat" (chicken, lamb, beef, vegetables, lentils, peas). Often this dish is served with hot spices called "berbere".
Berbere is made from dried hot red peppers, herbs, spices, dried onions, garlic and salt. Usually "wat" is placed on "berbere". This dish, however, like many others, is eaten by Ethiopians with their hands.
We also recommend trying Asa wat (fish stew), Doro wat (chicken stew), Enkulal (omelette with peppers and tomatoes), Kai wat (very spicy beef, or goat or sheep meat), Messer "(lentil curry), "Shiro" (mashed chickpeas), "Tere sega" (raw meat, considered a delicacy), "Tibs" (fried lamb with garlic and vegetables).
Traditional soft drink - "bunna" (coffee) The preparation of "bunna" in Ethiopia is very unique, and therefore this process is called "coffee ceremony".
Traditional alcoholic beverages are tella (Ethiopian barley beer), tej (honey fermented alcoholic beverage) and kaitaka (strong alcoholic grain beverage).
Ethiopia Attractions
Ethiopia has many interesting sights. It can even be said that a trip to any attraction is even more interesting than it in itself.
In Addis Ababa, we recommend that you definitely visit the National Museum, which has a huge collection of objects that tell about the centuries-old history of Ethiopia. Also, do not forget to see the largest African market "Merkato" in the Ethiopian capital, the palace of Emperor Menelik II, the Archaeological Museum and the Coptic Church of St. George, built in 1896 in honor of the victory over the Italian colonialists.
Of great interest to tourists is the medieval city of Lalibela, in which 11 rock temples have survived to this day.
In the north of the country there is a huge granite obelisk of Aksum, built in the 3rd century AD. Its mass is 160 tons. In the late 1930s, the Italians removed this historical monument from Ethiopia, and returned it only at the beginning of the 20th century.
Cities and resorts
The largest cities are Addis Ababa (more than 3 million people), Dire Dawa (more than 355 thousand people), Nazreet (more than 300 thousand people), Gondar (250 thousand people) and Mekele (220 thousand people) .
Most tourists come to Ethiopia to see the sights of this country, look at its cities, get acquainted with the customs of the locals and the unique local nature.
Souvenirs/Shopping
As souvenirs, handicrafts, embroidered soft toys (most often rhinos and camels), traditional Ethiopian knives with leather sheaths, jewelry, Ethiopian coffee beans are brought from Ethiopia as souvenirs.
Office Hours
Banks:
Mon-Thu: 08:00-15:00
Fri: 08:00-11:00 and 13:30-15:00
Sat: 08:30-11:00
The shops:
Mon-Fri: 08:00-13:00 and 14:00-20:00
Sat: 09:00-13:00, 15:00-19:00
Visa
Basic moments
The territory of modern Ethiopia is included in the most ancient area of the formation of human ancestors: the age of stone tools discovered here is estimated at about 3 million years. In almost all epochs of antiquity, the country was relatively densely populated, mastered by the economy, from the first centuries of our era, powerful states existed on its territory. In the 4th-6th centuries, Ethiopia conducted a brisk trade with the Roman-Byzantine Empire, India, and the countries of the Middle East. At the same time, Christianity penetrated here. Only for short periods did Ethiopia find itself under the rule of one or another European state. (for example, at the end of the 19th century, Italy formed the colony of Eritrea, which lasted only a few years).
The western and central part of the country is occupied by the Ethiopian Highlands with an average height of 1800 m above sea level, although individual mountain ranges and peaks reach 3000 and even 4000 m. The highest peak in Ethiopia is Mount Ras Dashan (4623 m) in the Simon mountains. In general, the plateau is characterized by flat-topped mountains, similar to giant tables. The cones of volcanoes, mostly extinct, rise above the plateau. In their dilapidated craters, lakes often form, surrounded by a border of tropical greenery. A fault zone crosses Ethiopia from the Red Sea to the south (northern part of the African Great Rifts system). In the deep Afar basin, separated from the Red Sea by the low Danakil ridge, at around 116 m below sea level lies the salt lake Assale. Valley of the Awash River and a chain of rift lakes (the largest is Lake Abay), stretched to Lake Rudolf in neighboring Kenya, separate the Ethiopian highlands from the Ethiopian-Somali plateau, which occupies the southeast of the country, with prevailing heights up to 1500 m and individual peaks up to 4310 m (Mount Batu). Due to active faults, Ethiopia is characterized by increased seismicity: earthquakes with a magnitude of up to 5 points occur annually, and once every five years - even stronger ones. There are also many hot springs in the rift zone.
The largest river in the country - Abbay (Blue Nile). Flowing out of Lake Tana, Abbay forms a large and picturesque Tis-Ysat waterfall, and then flows for 500 km in a canyon with a depth of 1200–1500 m. Nile - Atbara.
The climate of Ethiopia is subequatorial hot, seasonally humid, in the northeast - tropical desert and semi-desert. The Afar Depression is one of the hottest places on Earth (average minimum temperature 25 °C, maximum 35 °C), but in most of the highlands, due to the height softening the heat, the average monthly temperatures are in the range from 15 to 26 ° C. Night frosts occur in the mountains. At the same time, on the coasts, the hottest month is May, the coldest is January, and in the mountains it is the opposite: the coolest month is July, the hottest are December and January. Rain falls mainly from July to September, although there is also a "little wet season" in March-April. The dry season lasts from September to February. Average annual rainfall - from 200–500 mm on the plains to 1000–1500 mm (even up to 2000 mm) in the mountains of the central and southwestern regions. The plains often suffer from severe droughts, when there is no rain almost all year round.
A third of the country's territory is occupied by deserts and semi-deserts, the stony deserts of the Afar depression and the Danakil desert are especially lifeless. In the east of Ethiopia, grassy savannahs and forest savannahs with umbrella-shaped acacias spread, and in the southwestern part of the country, in the river valleys and in the mountains at altitudes of 1700–1800 m, tropical rainforests grow with palm trees, wild coffee trees, tree-like euphorbia, sycamores (giant ficuses). At altitudes above 3000 m, tropical analogues of alpine forests are developed. The animal world is still rich, despite the extermination of animals over the centuries: elephants, zebras, antelopes, lions, servals, leopards, hyenas are found in the savannas, ostriches are found in the Danakil semi-desert. The world of birds is especially diverse, and in the coastal waters of the Red Sea, the fauna of coral reefs is of great interest. To protect the fauna, reserves and national parks have been created: on the Awash River, Abiyata Lake, the Mannagesh Forest Park, etc.
Most of the Ethiopian population (total - about 103 million people) refers to the Ethiopian race - as if intermediate between Caucasoid and Negroid. Fine features, wavy hair, tall stature and chocolate-colored skin make most Ethiopians extraordinarily beautiful. The peoples of the country speak Semitic (these include the state - Amharic) and Cushitic languages. Part of the population belongs to the Negroid race. The Amhara and Oromo peoples make up 3/4 of the population. The two main religions are Islam and Christianity, but approximately 10% of the inhabitants adhere to local traditional beliefs. The main occupations are agriculture, cattle breeding, crafts. Most of the inhabitants build round huts with a cone-shaped straw roof. Traditional clothes are preserved - long dresses and capes, often decorated with ornaments, rich embroidery.
The capital of the country - Addis Ababa, located at an altitude of 2400 m, is called the "city of eternal spring" because of the temperate climate all year round. The city was founded in 1885, but now it is dominated by modern buildings. Addis Ababa is famous for its huge bazaar. The second largest city - Asmara - is located in the north of the country. It is also considered the most comfortable and beautiful city in Ethiopia. Gondar (north of Lake Tana) until the middle of the 19th century, it was the capital of the empire, as the castles of the 16th-18th centuries remind of, it houses a historical museum.
Ethiopian cities
All cities in Ethiopia
Ethiopia Attractions
All sights of Ethiopia
Story
The modern territory of Ethiopia belongs to the most ancient, East African, area of the formation of man as a biological species. The age of archaeological finds of the remains of Australopithecus and Homo habilis in Ethiopia is estimated at 2.5-2.1 million years. During the formation of the first state formations in Egypt and Mesopotamia, the settlement of Ethiopia by representatives of the Semitic-Hamitic, Nilotic-Cushitic and other language groups began. The formation of the most ancient associations in the south of the Arabian Peninsula - the Hadhramaut, Kataban and Sabaean kingdoms - ca. 1000 BC e. accelerated the process of resettlement of part of the population from South Arabia (modern Yemen) to present-day Eritrea and Northeast Ethiopia. As a result, by the 7th century BC. e. these territories were included in the Kingdom of Savva. It was this circumstance that allowed early medieval Ethiopian propaganda to proclaim the Ethiopian royal family of the Solomonids the descendants of the Israeli-Jewish king Solomon and the biblical queen of Sheba, known in the Ethiopian tradition as Makeda or Bilqis.
The ancient Greeks called Ethiopians all the blacks of Africa, primarily the Nubians, but now this name is assigned to the territory, also known as Abyssinia. It was here that at the beginning of our era, as a result of the unification of a number of small tribal formations, known from the middle of the 1st millennium BC. e. a large Aksumite kingdom was formed, which reached its greatest prosperity in the III-VI centuries. n. e. Aksum was actively trading with Egypt, Arabia, Syria, Parthia (later - Persia), India, exporting ivory, incense and gold in large quantities. During its political dominance in the region, Aksum extended its influence to Nubia, South Arabia, the Ethiopian highlands and northern Somalia. Since the reign of the Roman emperor Constantine the Great (4th century) the intensified penetration of Christianity from Egypt, Rome and Asia Minor into Aksum begins, associated with the preaching of the teachings of Christ by Edessius and the first bishop of Abyssinia, Frumentius. 329 is considered the founding date of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church of the Monophysite persuasion, which remained dependent on the Egyptian Coptic Church until 1948. By the 6th century, Christianity was established as the dominant religion in Ethiopia, which became the first Christian country in Tropical Africa. In 451, during the schism of the Christian Church, at the Council of Chalcedon, the Copts spoke out in support of the Monophysite trend, and representatives of the Ethiopian Church took the same position.
At the beginning of the 6th century, in order to avenge the oppression of the local Christian population by their rulers, the army of King Kaleb of Aksum invaded southern Arabia. Around the same time, Judaism began to penetrate into Ethiopia, which had a noticeable influence on the rites of the Ethiopian church; in addition, part of the Aksumites became followers of Judaism. (The descendants of these northern Falasha converts have now emigrated almost entirely to Israel. Their emigration began in the mid-1980s and ended in 1991.) Although the Aksumite ruler Arma gave refuge to the first followers of the Prophet Muhammad during their persecution in Arabia in the 7th century, the spread of Islam led to the isolation of the Aksumite kingdom. The Ethiopians disappeared behind their rugged mountains and, as Gibbon wrote, "slept for almost a thousand years, forgetting about the world around them, which also forgot about them." However, many of the country's rulers tried to maintain ties with Western European Christian countries.
According to Ethiopian tradition, the genealogy of the imperial family goes back to the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon. It is believed that the hereditary right to the imperial throne of the Solomonic dynasty was interrupted for about two centuries by representatives of the Zagüe dynasty. At the end of the 13th century the ruler of Shoa ascended the throne, proving his belonging to the Solomonids. This was followed by a period of religious and cultural revival, when royal chronicles and numerous works of a spiritual nature were created, the most significant of which was Cabre Nagest. (Glory to the kings), containing the story of the journey of the Queen of Sheba to Jerusalem.
At the end of the 15th century a small group of Portuguese and other Europeans, who went in search of the kingdom of the high priest John, covered with legends in medieval Europe, arrived in Ethiopia. The Portuguese hoped to make this Christian country an ally in the fight against the Muslims and the growing strength of the Ottoman Empire. After, after 1531, Ethiopia began to suffer one defeat after another from the army of Imam Adal Ahmed ibn Ibrahim, known as the Edge (Lefty), and lost most of its territory, the emperor turned to Portugal for help. In 1541, a detachment of 400 Portuguese landed in Massawa, led by Christopher da Gama, the son of the famous navigator Vasco da Gama. Most of the detachment, including its leader, died in battle with the Muslims. With the assistance of the surviving Portuguese, a new Ethiopian army was created, armed with muskets. (before that time, only the warriors of the Edge had firearms). In 1543, this army defeated the enemy, and Ahmed Gran himself died in the battle.
Attempts by the Portuguese, and later by the Jesuits, to impose Catholicism on the population of the country led to numerous conflicts. In the end, in 1633 the Jesuits were expelled from Ethiopia. For the next 150 years, the country was almost completely isolated from Europe. The founding of the capital in Gondar, where several stone castles were built, dates back to this period. In the middle of the 18th century the power of the emperor fell into decay, and the country was engulfed in feudal civil strife. In 1769, the English traveler James Bruce visited Ethiopia, trying to find the source of the Nile. In 1805, the British mission acquired a trading port on the Red Sea coast. At the beginning of the 19th century other Europeans also visited the country. In 1855, Tewodros, one of the most able military leaders of the time, seized the imperial throne, restored the power and authority of the supreme power, and tried to unite and reform the country.
After two years of Queen Victoria's failure to respond to a letter sent to her by Tewodros, several officials of Great Britain were thrown into prison at Makdal by order of the emperor. All attempts to secure their release through diplomatic means have come to nothing. In 1867, a military expeditionary force was sent to Ethiopia to free the prisoners under the command of General Robert Napier. Having landed from the ships on January 7, 1868 in the town of Mulkutto on the shores of Zula Bay, the Napier detachment, numbering more than 10 thousand people, moved through the difficult mountainous terrain on a 650-kilometer path to Mekdela. The British received help and food from local residents who were dissatisfied with the emperor Tewodros, primarily the Tigrians. On the other hand, Tewodros was also advancing towards Mekdela, whose power had shaken by this time, and the ranks of the imperial army had thinned out. April 13, 1868 this mountain fortress fell under the onslaught of the British troops. During the assault, not wanting to fall into the hands of enemies, Tewodros shot himself. Soon the British troops left Ethiopia.
After the death of Tewodros, Johannes IV, the ruler of Tigray, an ally of the British in their war with Tewodros, became emperor. His twenty-year reign, full of turbulent events, began with the suppression of attempts by other pretenders to seize the throne. Subsequently, Yohannis had many battles with external enemies: Italians, Mahdists and Egyptians. The Italians, who in 1869 acquired the port of Assab, in 1885, with the consent of the British, captured Massawa, which had previously belonged to Egypt. In 1884, Great Britain and Egypt promised the emperor that Ethiopia would receive the right to use Massawa, but the Italians soon closed access there and began to systematically move deep into Ethiopia. In January 1887, the emperor's soldiers inflicted a defeat on the Italians at the town of Dogali and forced them to retreat. Then Yohannis entered into hostilities with the Mahdists, who now and then invaded Ethiopia from the territory of the Sudan. In March 1889 he was mortally wounded in one of the battles. Negus Shoa Menelik became the emperor of Ethiopia, who for several years enjoyed the support of Italy. Shoa Menelik made successful military campaigns against the rebellious provinces and achieved a significant consolidation of the Ethiopian state. During his reign, reforms began to modernize the country.
On May 2, 1889, shortly before the official coronation act, Menelik concluded the Uchchal Treaty with Italy, according to which the Italians received the right to occupy Asmara. Outwardly, very friendly relations were established between the two countries. However, this treaty has become a source of many problems. The Amharic copy of the treaty provided that Ethiopia, if it deemed it necessary, could resort to the "good offices" of Italy in relations with other powers. In the Italian text of the treaty, it was stated that Ethiopia was only obliged to do so. In practice, this meant complete Italian control over Ethiopian foreign policy. Using its text of the treaty, Italy declared that, based on the provisions of the General Act of the Berlin Conference of 1885, it has the right to establish its own protectorate over Ethiopia. The persistence of Italian diplomacy in upholding an interpretation of the Uchchal treaty that was beneficial to it led to its denunciation by the Ethiopian side on May 11, 1893.
In 1895-1896, Italian expansion in the region continued with an attempt to increase the colonial possessions at the expense of Ethiopia, but the military campaign of the Italian expeditionary force, supported by the Eritrean auxiliary forces, ended in a disastrous defeat at the Battle of Adua. The Negus of Ethiopia was in a position where he could have tried to reconquer part of Eritrea as well, but preferred a peace deal.
At the beginning of the 20th century, a dynastic conflict took place in the country, which resulted in the installation of Emperor Haile Selassie on the throne, who carried out limited reforms in the country aimed at modernizing Ethiopian society.
In 1935-1936, fascist Italy again invaded Ethiopia. The invaders had complete military advantage, but still used chemical weapons on several occasions. The League of Nations condemned the aggression sluggishly and was inconsistent in imposing sanctions, in which Soviet historiography saw an important stage in the dismantling of the collective security system in Europe. The Italian occupation of the country continued until 1941, when the British army, supported by auxiliary forces recruited from the African colonies, retook Ethiopia and Eritrea.
After the war, Selassie continued to rule as an absolute monarch. By the beginning of the 70s, his position was criticized from all sides of the political space, and a large-scale famine of the early 70s, which led to great loss of life, made a great contribution to further events.
In 1974, measures to improve the economy resulted in a sharp increase in prices and led to mass demonstrations of protest; the situation was exploited by a group of military men with Marxist political views, which organizationally took shape in the summer of that year into a committee called the Derg. He led the process of dismantling the monarchy, also known as the "creeping coup." By mid-autumn, the Derg had almost completely subjugated all administrative structures and proclaimed a course towards building a socialist society. From 1975 to 1991, the USSR and the countries of Eastern Europe provided comprehensive assistance to Ethiopia.
On August 25, 1975, the deposed Emperor Haile Selassie I died under suspicious circumstances. In 1976-1977, the Derg strengthened its positions by reprisals against opponents, both royalists and separatists, and the "leftists"; this campaign is also known as the "Red Terror". The leader of the Derg at this stage was Mengistu Haile Mariam.
Taking advantage of the country's difficult situation during this period, the Somali army intensively supported the separatist movement of ethnic Somalis in the southeastern region of the country, the Ogaden, and in 1977-1978 tried to annex the Ogaden by force. These events are known as the War for the Ogaden. Cuba, the USSR and South Yemen provided great assistance in the fight against the enemy of Ethiopia.
The task set to bring Ethiopia from a feudal society to a communist regime could not be fulfilled. Attempts to collectivize agriculture only led to its further degradation. In 1984, a famine broke out in the country, far exceeding in scope and number of victims the pandemic of the early 70s. The Mengistu government also failed to resolve the Eritrean issue; despite large-scale military operations against the separatists, a decisive victory was never achieved.
In the late 80s, in the context of the growing crisis in the USSR, the Mengistu government found itself in a critical situation, and as a result, in May 1991, it was overthrown as a result of the activities of an alliance of rebel movements, in which the main role was played by Eritrean groups.
A group of rebel leaders came to power in the country, according to Marxists of the extreme left, who started as supporters of Enver Hoxha, then changed their ideological orientation to a more liberal one. Since then, the country has been permanently headed by the representative of this group, Meles Zenawi, first as president, then, after the introduction of a parliamentary republic, as prime minister.
In the field of foreign policy, the Zenawi government allowed Eritrea to secede in 1993, but then there was a period of cooling with the former allies who came to power in the new state. Nadir in relations between neighbors was reached in 1998-2000, when the Ethiopian-Eritrean conflict broke out in the border zone, ending with a slight advantage of Ethiopia. The question of the border between the countries still remains unresolved. In 1997, 2000 and 2006, Ethiopia also took an active part in the fate of Somalia. In the latter case, the Ethiopian army defeated the formations of local Islamists and installed in Mogadishu a transitional government loyal to Ethiopia, headed by Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed.
culture
Ethiopia is the only traditionally Christian African country. One of its main religions is Eastern Christianity. (Ethiopian Church), the positions of Islam are also strong in all peripheral regions. The Ethiopian Church adheres to Monophysitism.
According to the 1994 census: Christians - 60.8% (Orthodox - 50.6%, Protestants - 10.2%), Muslims - 32.8%, African cults - 4.6%, others - 1.8%.
For a long time, literature was created mainly in the gyyz language and had mainly religious content. True, already at the end of the 13th century. the first royal chronicles appeared on parchment. In the 19th century the first works in the Amharic language were created, and shortly before the outbreak of the First World War, the first printing press appeared in the country. Not least in order to support the development of modern literature in the Amharic language, during his regency, Emperor Haile Selassie I founded the publishing house "Byrhan enna Selyam" ("Light and Peace"). Most of the literary works were characterized by a moralizing orientation. Many dramatic works were created after the liberation of the country from the Italian occupation, and they were staged either on the stage of the National Theater or by university students. In the early 1990s, Addis Ababa published three daily newspapers in Amharic and one in English.
In the traditional visual arts of Ethiopia, the predominantly Byzantine style dominated. After 1930, commercial art focused on the needs of tourists developed significantly. In works of this kind, there was often a plot of the visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon, and they were a series of popular prints, each of which complemented the other. Around the same time, artists began to paint the walls of taverns and bars with images of national heroes and saints.
The cuisine of Ethiopia is in many ways similar to the cuisine of its neighboring countries - Somalia and Eritrea. The main feature of Ethiopian cuisine is the absence of cutlery and plates: they are replaced by figs - the traditional teff flatbread. Another striking feature is the presence of a large number of spices.
Coffee is the pride of Ethiopia. Entire rituals have been developed here, like Chinese tea ceremonies, from roasting coffee beans to drinking coffee.
There are many vegetarian dishes in Ethiopian cuisine - there are many Muslims and Orthodox Christians who observe strict religious fasts. In general, Ethiopian cuisine is distinguished by a wide variety of flavors and aromas, created through a unique combination of spices and vegetables.
Economy
The basis of the Ethiopian economy is low-profit consumer agriculture. In the 1970s, economic growth was no more than 5%. And revolutionary changes led to an even greater decline in GDP growth. The economic situation was complicated by the loss of Ethiopian ports on the Red Sea. Severe droughts and crop failures led to a humanitarian catastrophe at the end of the 20th century. By the end of the 20th century, the economic situation of Ethiopia began to improve. GDP growth was about 8% per year. Thanks to the easing of customs regimes, the level of investment in the country's economy has increased. The main investors are China, India and Saudi Arabia. The basis of economic development in recent years are foreign loans and humanitarian aid.
Agriculture is the main branch of the Ethiopian economy, providing 85% of jobs. It provides about 45% of GDP and 62% of the country's exports. Coffee accounted for 39.4% of exports in 2001-2002. Coffee is Ethiopia's gift to the world. This country is the main producer of Arabica coffee in Africa. Tea is another important crop. Endowed with vast agro-climatic zones and diverse resources, Ethiopia processes all types of cereals, fibers, peanuts, coffee, tea, flowers, as well as fruits and vegetables. More than 140 types of varieties are currently processed in Ethiopia. Potentially non-irrigated lands are estimated at 10 million hectares. Animal husbandry in Ethiopia is one of the most developed and numerous in Africa. Fishing and forestry are also significant industries. There is great potential for investment in these industries.
Ethiopia's varied agro-climatic conditions favor the cultivation of a wide range of fruits, vegetables and flowers. Vegetable growing and flowers are the most dynamically developing sectors of the economy. In 2002, more than 29,000 tons of fruit products and 10 tons of flowers were exported. Without exaggeration, we can say that the floriculture sector is the most attractive for investment in the entire Ethiopian economy.
Ethiopia is the largest country in Africa in terms of livestock and is also among the ten largest in the world in this indicator. Ethiopia has 35 million cattle, 16 million sheep and 10 million goats.
Ethiopia has 3.3 million hives and is the main producer and exporter of honey and beeswax in Africa. This industry provides excellent investment prospects.
Industry accounts for about 15% of GDP. The food, textile, leather, woodworking, chemical and metallurgical industries are mainly developed. During the first quarter of 2001, Ethiopia exported food products worth approximately 54.8 million birr.
The financial sector is very underdeveloped, which slows down the development of the country. There is no stock exchange in Ethiopia. Banking is underdeveloped.
Politics
Ethiopia is a federal parliamentary republic with a prime minister as head of government. Executive power is exercised by the government. Federal legislative power is concentrated in the hands of the two houses of parliament. The head of state is the president.
According to article 78 of the Constitution of Ethiopia, the judiciary is completely independent of the executive and legislative branches. However, according to foreign research reports, Ethiopia ranks 106 out of 167 countries in the ranking of democratic government. She is ahead of Cambodia, which is located in 105th place; Ethiopia is followed by Burundi - 107th place.
In June 1994, elections were held for the constituent assembly, whose members were 547 deputies. In December of the same year, the modern Constitution of Ethiopia was adopted by the assembly. In May and June 1995, Ethiopia held its first popular elections for a national parliament and elections for regional governments. However, most of the opposition parties decided to boycott these elections. As a result, the Ethiopian People's Democratic Revolutionary Front won. International and non-governmental observers concluded that the elections were held without violations, and opposition parties had the opportunity to participate in the elections if they so wished.
general information
The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is a state in the east of the African continent. Ethnographic diversity, rich history and - that's why the popularity is constantly growing. The Ethiopian government is investing enough in the development of tourism, and the industry is developing quite quickly.
general information
Understanding where Ethiopia is located on the world map is quite simple: it is located in the east of the mainland, next to the Somali peninsula. It borders countries such as:
- Djibouti;
- Somalia;
- Eritrea;
- Sudan;
- South Sudan;
The area of Ethiopia is 1,104,300 sq. km, it ranks 10th among African countries, but in terms of the number of inhabitants it is 2nd, second only to Nigeria (the population of Ethiopia is more than 90 million people).
How to get to Ethiopia?
You will have to fly to Ethiopia with a transfer. This can be done by Turkish Airlines or Emirates (with a connection, respectively, in Istanbul or). A less convenient and more expensive option is to use the Lufthansa (docking is done in Frankfurt).
It is also possible to fly to Paris, London, Rome and from there go to the country with Ethiopian Airlines. This option is especially good for those who have chosen not Addis Ababa for their vacation: the national carrier operates flights to many cities in Ethiopia.
Located in Bol, a metropolitan suburb. It serves more than 3 million passengers a year and receives flights from Africa, Europe, Asia and North America.
For Russians, Ukrainians and Belarusians, it is needed. It can be obtained at the consular office or directly upon arrival, but only at Bole airport.
A fascinating excursion into the rich history of the peoples of Ethiopia (the modern name of Abyssinia), living on the largest plateau in Africa - the Horn of Africa. The book covers all aspects of the history of the development of this corner of the earth from the Stone Age to the Middle Ages. The vivid and imaginative narration conveys the atmosphere of the timeless charm of Ethiopia.
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The following excerpt from the book Abyssinians. Descendants of King Solomon (David Buxton) provided by our book partner - the company LitRes.
ETHIOPIA: COUNTRY AND PEOPLES
Roof of Africa
The vast plateau of the Horn of Africa - undoubtedly the most extensive mountainous region on the entire continent - now fits perfectly into the borders of the Ethiopian empire. This highland gave Ethiopia its special character and predetermined a natural geographical unity. The borders of the country coincide, as a rule, with the foothills of the highlands. True, as far as the east is concerned, this generalization is not so accurate. Here, the arid plains of the Danakil Basin, lying in the middle of the highlands and the Red Sea, also form a harmonious part of the territory of Ethiopia, despite their geographical contrast. Only in the southeast, where Menelik's conquests have penetrated deep into the lowlands, the border cannot be considered consistent with the geographical (or ethnic) lines of demarcation.
Basically, the Ethiopian empire is a compact expanse of highlands, in stark contrast to the lowlands of Sudan in the west, Kenya in the south, and Somalia in the east. Stretching from the 3rd to 18 ° N. sh., Ethiopia skips the equator, but falls completely within the tropics (despite this, the climate in the highlands is temperate). The greatest length of the country from north to south is more than 1,500 km (about 1,000 miles). And from west to east, the length is approximately the same. The area of the state is approximately 1220 thousand square meters. km (470 thousand sq. miles). Thus, it significantly exceeds the total area of France, Switzerland, Spain and Portugal, or the total area of Norway, Denmark, Sweden and Finland. The total population, largely underestimated in the past, is almost certainly over 22 million, resulting in an average population density comparable to that of Kenya and considerably higher than that of Sudan or Somalia.
The attached map (Fig. 1) gives a simplified picture of the topography of the Ethiopian state within its modern borders. The highest parts of the country, above 2,000 m (6,600 ft), are shaded on the map, occupying a large area, divided, however, into two separate systems by the Rift Valley with a chain of lakes. The Northern and Western Highlands form the main part of the ten Ethiopian provinces, ranging from Eritrea, which occupies the northernmost position, to Gamu Gof in the south. The highest point, located in the Semiene Mountains, northeast of Lake Tana, rises to a height of more than 4600 m, heavy snowfalls sometimes occur here; the area also contains many other mountain peaks in excess of 4,000 m (13,000 ft). Almost the entire territory of this highland, slightly inclined to the west, carries its waters into the Nile, mainly into the upper Blue Nile, which flows from Lake Tana and flows further, forming a large loop around the old Amharic province of Gojjam. Only less significant rivers make their way through the steep western slope to join the Awash, which eventually itself is lost in the Danakil Desert on the border with French Somalia. The southernmost point of the western highlands also belongs to the Rift Valley basin. Many streams carry their waters to the seven lakes located in the Ethiopian part of the valley, while only one large river - Omo - flows south to Rudolf Lake, which is completely, with the exception of the northernmost edge, in Kenya.
The south of the Danakil Plain and the eastern part of the Rift Highlands, yielding in area only to the northern and western regions, include large mountain ranges, also sometimes reaching a height of more than 4000 m. This group includes a northwestern chain of hills, leading, like a stone road, to Harar region. Almost all of this highland is a basin of rivers flowing into the Indian Ocean, although one of the largest rivers, the Wabi-Shebelle, has not reached the ocean for some time now, since its waters are used for irrigation needs.
The most striking geographic features of Ethiopia owe their existence to the grandiose shifts of the earth's layers associated with volcanic activity that occurred during the Tertiary period, when many other major mountain systems of the world were taking shape. It is clear that the Ethiopian region was gradually rising and as a result acquired the shape of a dome, the center of which approximately coincided with the central province of Shoa. At the same time, very fluid lava (mainly basalt) was ejected extensively, and these flows, whose total thickness in places reached thousands of meters, were the material from which the typical landscape of the highlands was eventually formed. Separate lava flows could also significantly change the terrain: one such flow, for example, formed a dam, which, in turn, led to the appearance of Lake Tana, while another cut off part of the ocean and thus created the now dried-up salt lakes of Northern Danakil.
While much of the region was uplifting, another process of long-term pressure from the earth's crust formed an irregular depression known as the Rift Valley. It directly cuts through the Ethiopian highlands and expands to the north, including the Danakil valley and the Red Sea. The Ethiopian Rift near Addis Ababa is not so obvious, and it is not so steep - a fact that medieval conquerors did not fail to take advantage of, as well as those who later built the railway that goes to the coast. South of the capital, the Rift becomes a prominent geographic feature about 80 km wide and, together with its attractive lakes, largely determines the diversity of the landscape.
The central and northern highlands of Ethiopia, home of the true Abyssinians, offer the traveler a succession of breathtaking landscapes unmatched in all of Africa. The plateau, usually cold and open to the winds, was originally, no doubt, a monotonous plain, gradually descending to the west and northwest. But the process of erosion, which has taken place over the millions of years that have passed since the Tertiary period, has carved colorful gorges that go hundreds of meters deep, suddenly opening up in the undulating surface of a high mountain plateau. Its walls may be sharply precipitous or may descend in steps, so that peculiar natural "slopes" alternate with basalt rocks, and the deep gorge thus represents a whole series of diverse climatic zones. Likewise, the plateau itself drops sharply eastward into the hot Danakil plains, dropping 2,000 m. (This gigantic cliff forms part of the Rift Valley system in such a way that, due to erosion, the actual faults are mostly indistinct.) In some areas, denudation progressed further so that there could only be very small villages exclusively on isolated inaccessible hilltops - the classic type amba, which, in the role of a fortress or a prison, played a prominent role in Ethiopian history. Among the foothills of the Simien Mountains there are a large number of columns and rock tops of unusual shapes, some of which still retain flat tops, which are a remnant of the original plateau.
Climate, seasons and vegetation
Although Ethiopia lies in the tropics, only its outlying territories have a truly tropical climate. The climate of the highlands, so characteristic of this country, varies according to the height from subtropical to temperate. However, seasons typical of high latitudes, based on significant temperature variations throughout the year, are not observed here. Temperatures, although they vary enormously from place to place depending on the height above sea level, change little during the year. The factor that really influences and thus sets the seasons in Ethiopia is the rains.
The Abyssinians have their own names for three major climate zones, which can be roughly defined as:
The topography of the Ethiopian highlands is so steep and intricate that one can descend to degas war(highlands with a climate warm enough for winemaking) and climb back to degas, just crossing the valley; thus, products from two or even all three climatic zones can be found in local markets. The seasonal distribution of rains in the central and northern highlands resembles the monsoonal regime of the Indian subcontinent, with rainy months corresponding to the northern summer from late June to early September, as the moisture-filled winds of the Ethiopian monsoon blow from the southwest; in the southeastern highlands, where these winds first touch the hills, heavy rains fall, and therefore the longest season here is the rainy season. Conversely, when they reach the far north, these winds already use up most of the moisture, and the high mountainous parts of the country, such as Eritrea, receive too little rain, and therefore there is a shorter wet season than in the south of the country. On average, the rains stop around the time of the Ethiopian New Year in early September, followed by a long dry period lasting until February. Light rains may occur in March, April or May, but they vary greatly from place to place and from season to season. Annual rainfall in the central highlands is approximately 1,000 mm (37.4 in).
The Danakil plains, lying on the lee side or "in the rain shadow" of the highlands, receive little to no moisture during the wet season in the highlands, although the Awash streams form extensive seasonal green meadows. However, light rain may fall in January or February when the highlands are dry, at this time of the year winds blow inland from the Red Sea, and cloud masses can sometimes be seen accumulating at the eastern bluff.
Ethiopia, with its great variation in altitude and consequent variety of climate, has a rich variety of vegetation types, from a few desert scrubs to the most lush forests. In areas in the south and southwest, heavy rainfall (up to 2000 mm) and a long rainy season, together with subtropical temperatures, favor the growth of real humid jungles, containing a huge variety of trees, vines and epiphytes. The forest is a natural repository for wild rubber, as well as native coffee bushes, a product so valuable to the Ethiopian export trade.
In the central and western highlands, where the wet season is too short for the jungle and low temperatures are also often the limiting factor, drier "temperate" forests grow. For example, the footcarp (Podocarpus) grows below 2,200 m (7,000 ft) and the juniper (Juniperus, "pencil cedar") respectively above this level, although the ranges of the two dominant species may overlap. Both, sadly, were endangered by man. The total cutting down of juniper (locally called tid) near Addis Ababa almost led to the desolation of this city by 1890 - only a fast-growing eucalyptus brought from Australia saved the situation. This tree abounds in every inhabited place, it has become an important element of the landscape of the highlands.
Real Abyssinians feel at home on the most elevated and not protected from the wind plateau - dega - some of them reach 3,000 m (10,000 ft) or more. The plateau is now mostly devoid of forest, whose former riot can only be judged by the beautiful groves surrounding the churches, where cutting down trees is prohibited. But still individual random junipers teed, like random cosso(Hagenia Abyssinica) were spared. These trees serve not only as a decoration of the landscape, but also as a source of anthelmintic, necessary for people who suffer chronically from tapeworms. Low grass is the predominant feature of the landscape and is an excellent walking surface and a place for grazing. Offering some shelter, these lands are also suitable for cold-tolerant crops like beans and barley. At even higher altitudes, up to 4000 m, a wonderful "Afro-Alpine" mixture appears, consisting of giant heather, giant lobelia and immortelle and corresponding to the bizarre vegetation of the high East African mountains, although the ragwort (Senecio) has not yet been found there.
Migration of the peoples of the Horn of Africa
In many places in Ethiopia there are traces of Stone Age inhabitants from the Late Paleolithic and earlier, and an important Early Paleolithic site (which can be attributed to the "pebble culture") is now being explored at Malka Kontur, Shoa. Existing knowledge of these cultures is fragmentary and based mainly on sporadic finds of stone tools. This data has been supplemented in recent years by the discovery of prehistoric rock paintings and engravings, mainly concentrated today in two widely separated regions - Eritrea and Tigray in the north and in the Harare region in the east. They were described by P. Graziosi, who discovered stylistic parallels to these paintings in the Neolithic rock art of the Iberian Peninsula, as well as South Africa. Discussing the early Eritrean finds, he concluded that they were the work of a pastoral population that lived in the area before the arrival of the humpbacked cattle and before the first appearance of the seven-speaking immigrants from South Arabia, both of which were dated to the first millennium BC. e.
Until now it has seemed impossible to trace the connection between these prehistoric cultures and the peoples who came and occupied the Horn of Africa later. It is essential for our study that this entire part of Africa at the dawn of historical time was inhabited by the people of the Hamitic language family. Whatever their original origin, the Hamites became the undivided owners of most of the north and east of Africa even before the appearance of the Negro tribes, with whom they subsequently mingled.
The vast majority of the population of Ethiopia must still be considered Hamitic, and many regions still speak the Cushitic languages, as befits this family of peoples. The only significant ethnic and cultural admixture that needs to be mentioned are the Semitic immigrants from South Arabia, who either peacefully or militarily imposed their language and cultural institutions on the Hamites of the northern highlands. The traditions they established, the culture they brought with them, and how it developed and penetrated deep into Ethiopia, are the main subject of this book.
Rice. one. Topographic map
Rice. 2. language map
The map (see fig. 1 and fig. 2) showing the languages and peoples of Ethiopia should be considered along with the map of the physical and territorial division of the country on the next page. It represents the distribution of the main peoples of Ethiopia up to the present moment, a similar map would be impossible for any other earlier period of Ethiopian history. It must be remembered, however, that the distribution of these peoples during the many centuries described in this book has undergone constant changes, and the great Tallas immigration, which transformed the entire ethnic scene of this region, was observed no later than the 15th or 16th century AD. e.
If you look first at the tops of both maps, you can see that the northern highlands are the home of those same Hamites who absorbed Semitic culture and still speak Semitic or "Semitic" languages. The original Ethiopian civilization appeared in this area long before the beginning of the Christian era, with a core in the royal and sacred city of Aksum, which later became the sacred site of Ethiopian Christianity.
Among the modern languages of this group, the northernmost is Tigre (the name should not be confused with the name of the province of Tigre, or Tigray, located much further south). The speakers of this language are for the most part nomadic tribes inhabiting the low hilly lands and true lowlands of Eritrea, as well as some adjacent Sudanese territories and the desert islands of Dahlak. Most of them belong to the Beni-Amer group of Hamites of fairly pure blood, considered living copies of the pre-dynastic Egyptians (other tribes of the Beni-Amer group speak Beja Cushitic, although some small groups are bilingual). Nearly all Tiger-speakers are now Muslims, although some practiced Monophysite Christianity well into the 19th century. It is interesting to note that this particular language of the Semitic family should not now be associated either with other aspects of Semitic culture or with Christianity.
The Tigreans and Amharic, speakers of Ethiopia's two main Semitic languages, are sedentary plateau farmers living in the Eritrean highlands regions of Tigray, Beghemdira, Wallo, Gojama and Shoa. It is they who share the traditions of the Aksumite kingdom, and we will return to them in this and subsequent chapters. It must now be noted that, however, a small number of non-simitized Hamites, the remnants of the main population before the Semitic invasion, still live on the plateau and to some extent retain their languages. These are the Agau groups shown on the map, and the northernmost of them are Bogos or Bilen in Eritrea, dispersed between Tigrinya and tiger-speaking peoples. Further south, they are found around the northern shore of Lake Tana and in the Lasta region, where the Agau-Zagwe dynasty ruled in the 12th and 13th centuries. Another large group inhabits part of the Amharic citadel, the province of Gojjam (hence the name of the area - Agaumidir) and extends south to the Blue Nile.
One of these groups of settlements deserves special attention for their extremely strong Hebrew and non-Christian traditions. These are the Falasha, who live near Lake Tana (where some of them speak the Agau dialect) and extend further north to the Semien Mountains. According to Ullendorff, who wrote in Ethiopian, The Falasha are the descendants of those elements in Aksumite who resisted conversion to Christianity. In this context, their so-called Judaism is only a reflection of those ancient Hebrew and Judaic practices and beliefs that were introduced into part of the territory of Southeast Arabia in the first post-Christian centuries and subsequently brought to Abyssinia. They do not know Hebrew and their prayers and scriptures are written in Geez. Nevertheless, the Falasha were previously recognized as Jews - "black Jews" - from Abyssinia, and they call themselves beta Israel, or "house of Israel". For the Ethiopian emperors, who often poisoned them, they were like a thorn in the body, and did not obey them.
AT Ethiopia and bible the same researcher, again opposing the tendency to exaggerate the Jewish features of this people, sums up the essence of the matter as follows: the Falasha and the Ethiopians as a whole are the heirs of a civilization where the veneration and imitation of the Old Testament occupied a central position for a long time.
The well-fortified and practically impassable valley of the Abbai, or Toluboi Nile, where it crosses the southern border of Tojam, is one of the well-defined ethnic boundaries in Ethiopia. The south of the river is inhabited mainly by the Gauls, with the exception of the west, where the Negro tribes have advanced from the White Nile and occupy a large area of the lower part of the country. We have already mentioned that the Gauls - another Hamitic people - did not live in Ethiopian territory during the Middle Ages, although their ancestors must have been in what is now Somalia, in the south of the Gulf of Aden. This interesting people, with its highly developed tribal organization and characteristic institutions, outgrew their living space and began to migrate in a southwesterly direction towards the end of the 15th century. In the 16th century, taking advantage of the situation of general chaos that followed the Muslim wars, the Gauls rushed beyond the southern borders of Ethiopia.
As a result of this total migration and despite the fierce resistance of various Ethiopian monarchs, the Gauls occupied most of the plateau, reaching in the north Vallega, Shoa and the Harar region. They have also occupied (with less difficulty) large sections of the mid-altitudes, such as the Vallo Cliff region, where they form a buffer settlement between the desert-dwelling Amharic and Danakil. Some believe that the Gauls have become, judging by their numbers, the largest single element of the population of Ethiopia. As one of the main non-simitized peoples, they show the greatest potential for integration with the Amharis. The vast majority of them abandoned the nomadic way of life. Many converted to Christianity and from the time of Menelik reached a high position in all spheres of life, often being military commanders.
Further study of the map of languages will show that several other peoples also share the northwest of Ethiopia along with the Gauls. Among them, for example, are the Gurage, who speak a language related to the Semitic, whose origin is a mystery. The remainder are non-simitized Hamites who speak the languages of the Cushitic family, but are not so close to other Cushitic languages: they are represented as the Sidama group and the Burji-Geleba group. The dispersed distribution of these two language groups suggests that the tribes who spoke them scattered over much larger areas before the invasion of the Gauls, who are known to have driven the latter out of these vast areas. And further to the southwestern borders, the state is inhabited by little-known Negro tribes, whose territory extends to the White Nile and its tributaries. It remains to say a few words about the nomadic tribes of the eastern plains of the Somali people, now stretching across the Horn of Africa. In this case, they must have arrived in these territories in relatively recent times: part of their country was settled by the Gauls only a few hundred years ago. The territory of Somalia includes not only the great new state of Somalia, but also a large part of the northeast of Kenya and the Ethiopian Ogaden, while in French Somalia they meet the Danakil peoples at the northernmost edge of their settlement. This is a vast expanse of fairly dry land, sparsely populated by groups of nomads whose way of life is completely dependent on camels.
Further north, the Danakil (or Afar), together with their Saho relatives, occupy a large desert triangle adjacent to the Red Sea and bounded on the west by a large cliff wall, and on the south by highlands extending to Harar. The climatic conditions here, especially in the northern part of Danakil, although moderated seasonally by the waters
Avasha, the most hot and inhospitable of all that can be found in Ethiopia. Known for their fury during horse raids, the Danakil nomads are amazing to humans, as they eat little but milk, live in small, domed huts made of straw that easily fit on a camel's back when the nomads move to new pastures.
These wandering peoples have the slender, tall physique of a nomad, and have little in common with the population of the uplands. Nevertheless, it would be a mistake to assume that they did not play any role in Ethiopian history. Quite the opposite, warlike by nature and Muslim by religion, they are precisely the people who, under strict command, have always sought to attack the Christians on the plateau. They did this intermittently for hundreds of years until the highland kingdom was brought to the brink of extinction in the 16th century.
Semitic heritage
The South Arab immigrants who, as already mentioned, brought the Semitic culture to Africa, include at least one South Arabic dialect. Nevertheless, the separation of this new Semitic territory from its Arabic roots, as well as the significant influence of local Cushite dialects, soon showed up in the evolution of a new local language. He, the official language of the Aksumite kingdom, is known locally as Geez (Appendix 1), and in the West as Ethiopian. Despite its short history as a spoken language, it was extremely important to the development of the Abyssinian civilization, became, like Latin in the West, the classical language of literature and church, and has continued to be used in that capacity ever since. Moreover, Geez is the ancestor of modern languages, the origin of which was described by Ullendorff in the following words: “In order to trace the idea of the relationship of Amharic, Tigrinya and Tigre, as well as in relation to the Geez of these languages, we can use a convenient parallel with the Romance languages. If Geez is compared with Latin, Tigrinya takes the place of Italian (because they are most similar to the parent language and are spoken in its original territory). Tigre can then be likened to Spanish, and Amharic to French (also because it has undergone the most changes).”
The main factor influencing the division of these languages, as well as the division of Ge'ez, was the original Cushitic languages, especially Agave. They were spoken, no doubt, by a significant part of the population, although they are now preserved only in small enclaves. The Tigray, as well as their language, which is closest to their ancient predecessor, must be considered the direct heirs of the Aksumite kingdom in the territories where they now live. The Amharic people are pushing these traditions further southwest and south. It was they who became the dominant as well as the most numerous group among these two related populations, and their language now becomes the lingua franca of the whole country. Amharians and Tigrays together are real Abyssinians. (The term serves to distinguish them from the many other peoples inhabiting modern Ethiopia, all of whom, despite their history and tradition, are Ethiopians. This book is dedicated to these Abyssinians, so defined, and in particular to the unique Christian culture that developed in their kingdom from the 4th century onwards.)
Those who have studied or lived among the Abyssinians know that their society is completely different from the old pagan tribal Africa. Indeed, it is quite rightly noted that Abyssinia is in Africa, but is not part of it. It can also be said that it exists in the present, but rather belongs to the past. Ever since Europeans began to travel there, they began to feel transported on their journeys to other times and places—usually to biblical lands during Old Testament times.
This impression is not entirely subjective. The Abyssinians actually consider themselves the real successors of Israel, believe in the origin of their royal house from King Solomon and use tabot in their Christian worship, which symbolizes the Ark of the Covenant. They revere the Old Testament as much as the New, and have incorporated many of the Mosaic commandments from Leviticus and Deuteronomy into their social system. (Examples are dietary taboos, especially on pork; the practice of circumcision on the eighth day of birth; the concept of ritual impurity forbidding one to appear in church after sexual intercourse, etc.; the practice of marrying a brother's widow; the practice of corporal punishment.)
The church also shows Jewish influence, especially in the observance of the rule of the double Sabbath (Saturday and Sunday). There is also a church dance of the Abyssinians, performed dabtars before Saturday(just as this ritual might have been performed by the Levites before the Ark of the Covenant) with sistra drumming and prayer staffs. This scene reminds generations of the living about the episode from the Second Book of Kings, when David and the house of Israel played before the Lord on all known instruments, danced before the Almighty in complete self-denial and brought in the Ark of the Lord with shouts.
Thus, there is no doubt about the profound influence of the Old Testament on various aspects of the life of the Abyssinians, there is a biblical atmosphere here. In spite of all this, I myself have always felt more of the medieval character of the village life of the Abyssinians, since the old provinces of Ethiopia were until very recently a true feudal country, and the quasi-feudal hierarchy, like the hierarchy of the church, still retains its old prestige.
Traveling through Abyssinia in close contact with the locals, you involuntarily imagine a picture of early medieval Europe. The stone huts of the northern provinces, with high slit-like windows, have open hearths so that the smoke, as it rises, smokes the wood of the roof, and finally breaks free, seeping through the thatched decking. In the courtyard with a high wall surrounding it and (sometimes) even with a sentry house, cattle are kept at night; the place is reliably protected from unwanted entry of unauthorized people and animals. Trade is carried out mainly by barter in large bazaars, where all goods are delivered by beasts of burden. The local aristocracy moves, according to custom, on mules surrounded by foot escorts. Wandering minstrels perform at the festivities.
Again, as in the Middle Ages, the mother church permeates every sphere of life; clerics are indispensable members of the community and enjoy great respect. The same applies to the monks, the Abyssinian monasteries have always been zealous guardians not only of Christian doctrine, but also of local literature and art. Famous holy places throughout the country are a haven for wanderers who flock there from everywhere, and sacred manuscripts hung over the shoulder are still written on parchment by monastic scribes.
Whatever the mind of the traveler in this ancient country tunes in to, his expectations of vivid impressions will be rewarded. Those who are mainly interested in modernity will not be disappointed, because this unusual and pretty people with a rich history is still capable of a lot. Now Ethiopia has become part of the modern world, called upon to play a big role in the life of Africa and the whole world in the future.
A landlocked state in East Africa. It borders Eritrea to the north, Djibouti to the northeast, Somalia and unrecognized Somaliland to the east, Kenya to the south, and Sudan to the west.
Ethiopia is the highest mountainous country on the African continent. A significant part of its territory is occupied by the Ethiopian Highlands, which stretches from north to south of Ethiopia. The highest part of the highlands is the northern one. Here are the highest points of the country - Ras Dashen (4620 m) and Talo (4413 m). In the east, the highlands abruptly break into the Afar depression - one of the lowest points in Africa.
The western part of the Ethiopian highlands has a more gentle relief and descends to the Sudanese border in small steps. Plains also occupy a significant part of the territory of Ethiopia. The largest is located in the east of the country. In some places it turns into a plateau with a height of more than 1000 m. This is one of the driest parts of Ethiopia. Also, small plains, sandwiched between mountain ranges, are located in the north and west of the country.
Most of the rivers in western Ethiopia belong to the Nile basin. The largest among them is Abbai, or the Blue Nile. The largest lake in Ethiopia, Tana, is also located here.
In the east, the rivers are less full-flowing, which is associated with a more arid climate. The largest river is the Jubba. Ethiopia is characterized by the presence of small lakes in the Great Rift Zone.
Climate in Ethiopia
The entire territory of Ethiopia is located in the subequatorial and equatorial climatic zones. But the fact that most of the country is located on the Ethiopian highlands explains Ethiopia's milder and wetter climate. The temperature here is + 25 ... + 30 all year round and there is a sufficient amount of precipitation.
The complete opposite is the eastern regions of Ethiopia - there is a hot and dry desert climate. In general, Ethiopia is not characterized by temperature fluctuations throughout the year. The only difference is night and daytime temperatures: here the difference is about 15 degrees.
The climate of Ethiopia allows you to travel around the country all year round. The travel time depends on which area you want to visit and what is the purpose of your trip.
Last changes: 04/26/2013Population
The population is about 88 million people. (2010). The average life expectancy is 53 years for men, 58 years for women. Urban population - 17%.
Ethnic composition: Oromo - 32.1%, Amhara - 30.1%, Tigray - 6.2%, Somali - 5.9%, Gurage - 4.3%, Sidamo - 3.5%, Ualaita - 2.4 %, other nationalities - 15.4%.
Ethiopia is the only traditionally Christian African country. One of its main religions is Eastern Christianity (the Ethiopian Church), and the positions of Islam are also strong in all peripheral regions. The Ethiopian Church adheres to Monophysitism. Lutheranism has been actively spreading among the Oromo people in recent decades, as a result, the Ethiopian Mekane Yesus Church is the fastest growing Lutheran denomination in the world.
According to the 1994 census: Christians - 60.8% (Monophysite - 50.6%, Protestants - 10.2%), Muslims - 32.8%, African cults - 4.6%, others - 1.8%.
Amharic is the official language of Ethiopia. It is one of the Ethio-Semitic languages that are part of the Semitic family, although it has a number of differences and has undergone more Cushitization.
Last changes: 04/26/2013Currency
Ethiopian Birr (ETB) is the currency in Ethiopia. 1 birr = 100 centimes.
Currency (dollars, euros and British pounds) can be exchanged at the airport or at banks. Currency is also exchanged openly on the streets and in small shops (which is not legal), but at a rate of about 10% higher than the official one, and they don’t give certificates, which means that there will be problems at customs if you want to exchange the remaining Ethiopian Birrs for cash foreign currency.
Credit cards (Visa) and traveler's checks are accepted mainly only in banks in Addis Ababa, in small towns their use can be difficult.
In order to easily change the remaining Ethiopian birrs upon departure, you need to keep currency exchange certificates, as well as have documents confirming the person’s intention to leave the country. This document can be an air ticket or a passport with a valid exit visa.
Last changes: 04/26/2013Communication and communications
Phone code: 251
Internet domain: .et
How to call
To call from Russia to Ethiopia, you need to dial: 8 - beep - 10 - 251 - area code - subscriber number.
To call from Ethiopia to Russia, you need to dial: 00 - 7 area code - subscriber number.
Fixed line
You can call abroad in Ethiopia from hotels or telephone company offices.
mobile connection
GSM 900 communication standard. Local operators are not yet able to provide reliable reception throughout the country: at present, reliable reception is provided mainly in large cities and their environs
Internet
In recent years, the Internet has been developed in the largest cities of the country. In Addis Ababa, there are several dozen Internet cafes using modem connections. Most often these are small rooms with old computers and crowded with young people communicating with the outside world both through e-mail and icq, and just playing computer games. Communication is slow but sufficient for checking email.
In other cities, the situation is worse, the connection often drops, connections are slow, and computers often “freeze”.
Last changes: 04/26/2013shopping
Popular souvenirs from Ethiopia: Ethiopian coffee, wicker boxes, woolen carpets, leather and fur products, precious ivory and silver jewelry.
The most famous souvenirs of Addis Ababa are colored paintings on the skin, the plots of which are repeated from ancient times and are historical sources akin to archaeological ones.
Last changes: 04/26/2013Sea and beaches
Ethiopia is landlocked.
Last changes: 04/26/2013Ethiopian history
The Ethiopian highlands have been inhabited by people since ancient times, as evidenced by the remains of Australopithecus in the Omo Valley and the sites of the Olduvai culture in southern Ethiopia.
The Ethiopian highlands are the alleged center of the formation of the Ethiopian anthropological type, the Cushitic languages and one of the most ancient centers of agriculture.
Ancient history
In the VI - V centuries BC. e. immigrants from various regions of South Arabia settled on the Tigris plateau, including from the Sabaean kingdom. They brought with them writing, the Semitic language, the technique of dry-masonry stone construction, and other achievements of civilization. Mixing with the local population, they formed the ancient Ethiopian ethnic group.
In the 5th century BC e. an independent kingdom was formed on the Tigris plateau, which collapsed in the 4th century BC. e.
In the first centuries A.D. e. in the north of modern Ethiopia, the early feudal kingdom of Aksum arose. Its main port, Adulis, became the most important trading center on the route from Egypt to India, as well as to the shores of East Africa.
During the heyday of the Aksumite kingdom, in the 4th - 6th centuries, its hegemony extended to Nubia, South Arabia, as well as vast areas of eastern Sudan, the Ethiopian highlands and the northern part of the Horn of Africa.
From the 4th century, Monophysite Christianity began to spread in the Aksumite kingdom.
The rise in the 7th century of the Arab Caliphate led to the decline in the 8th - 9th centuries of the Aksumite kingdom.
Middle Ages
Since the 9th century, Islam began to spread on the northern outskirts of the Ethiopian highlands. The Muslim principalities that arose there monopolized foreign trade.
In the first half of the 11th century, the Aksumite kingdom collapsed. On the territory of present-day Ethiopia, many principalities arose - Muslim, Christian, Judaic, pagan.
In the XII century, the Christian principalities united under the rule of Lasta. This kingdom established ties with Egypt and Yemen, the rise of the economy and culture began. In 1268 (or 1270), the Solomon dynasty came to power, claiming descent from the biblical king of Ancient Israel, Solomon. Its founder was Yikuno-Amlak (1268-1285). Emperor Amde-Tsyyon (1314-1344) subjugated the Christian, Judaic, pagan and Muslim principalities of the Ethiopian highlands and created a vast state.
Emperor Yishak (1414-1429) imposed tribute not only on the Muslim states, but also on the pagan kingdoms in the south of the Ethiopian highlands. Emperor Zera Yaykob (1434-1468) spent his entire reign fighting to strengthen the central government; he removed all the vassal princes and installed his daughters and sons as imperial governors in their place, and then replaced them with his officials. In 1445, Zera Yaykob defeated the Yifat sultanate, several other Muslim principalities, and established hegemony in this part of Northeast Africa. Relations with Egypt and Yemen were strengthened, contacts were established with Western Europe.
At the beginning of the XVI century. the eastern neighbor and old adversary, the Adal Sultanate, launched a fierce war against the Ethiopian Empire. Imam Ahmed ibn Ibrahim (Ahmed Lefty) declared jihad and between 1529-1540. conquered almost the entire territory of the Ethiopian empire. Emperor Galaudeuos (1540-1559) succeeded in expelling the Muslims with the help of the Portuguese. In 1557, the Turks captured Massawa and other ports on the Red Sea coast. In the same period, the attack on the weakened Ethiopia by the Negro Oromo tribes began.
In the same period, the Jesuits appeared in Ethiopia; their penetration, together with the desire of the emperors to create an absolute monarchy along the European lines, led to several religious wars, especially when Emperor Susnyos (1607-1632) converted to Catholicism. These wars ended with the accession of Emperor Fasilides (1632-1667), who expelled the Jesuits from Ethiopia and ended relations with the Portuguese.
Emperor Iyasu I the Great (1682-1706) again subjugated the rebellious vassal princes, tried to reform the administration, streamlined the system of customs and duties for the development of trade.
However, from the end of the 18th century, feudal fragmentation intensified again in Ethiopia. Each large (and even medium) feudal lord had his own army. The feudal lords took taxes from the peasants who lived in a communal way of life. Craftsmen were considered a lower caste, and merchants (mostly Arabs, Turks, Armenians) were connected with the upper feudal strata by clientel relations. The middle strata included military settlers, parish clergy, wealthy citizens. The nobility had servant slaves, and slavery was also common in nomadic communities.
In the middle of the 19th century, the petty feudal lord Kasa from Kuara began the struggle for the unification of Ethiopia into a centralized state. Relying on small-scale feudal lords, in 1853 he inflicted a defeat on the ruler of the central regions - the Ali race, then, after stubborn battles, defeated the ruler of the Tigre region, the Uybe race. In 1855, Casa proclaimed himself emperor under the name Tewodros II.
Tewodros waged a decisive struggle against feudal separatism. A regular army was created, the tax system was reorganized, the slave trade was banned, part of the land was taken away from the church, and the remaining possessions were taxed. The number of internal customs houses was reduced, the construction of military-strategic roads began, and European specialists were invited to Ethiopia.
However, the introduction of taxes on the clergy led to a conflict with the church, which raised the feudal lords to fight against the emperor. By 1867, Tewodros' power extended only to a small part of the country. In the same year, there was a conflict with Great Britain, caused by the arrest in Ethiopia of several subjects of the British crown. In October 1867, a corps of British troops landed in Ethiopia (numbering more than 30 thousand people, including auxiliary personnel from the Indians). The army of Emperor Tewodros by this time numbered no more than 15 thousand people.
The only battle between the Ethiopians and the British in the open field took place on April 10, 1868: 2,000 British defeated 5,000 Ethiopians due to superior discipline and weapons. After that, Tewodros tried to make peace by freeing those arrested and sending a lot of cattle as a gift to the British. However, the British rejected the peace and launched an assault on the fortress of Mekdala, where the emperor was. Not wanting to surrender, Tewodros committed suicide. The British took Mekdela, destroyed all the Ethiopian artillery, took the imperial crown as a trophy, and in June 1868 left the territory of Ethiopia.
After the death of Tewodros II, a war for the throne began. Tekle-Giyorgis II (1868-1871) was defeated by Emperor Yohannis IV (1872-1889). He had to repulse the Egyptian troops that invaded Ethiopia in 1875. In November 1875, the Ethiopians managed to defeat the main group of Egyptian troops at the Battle of Gundet. However, in December 1875, Egypt landed a new expeditionary force in Massawa. In March 1876, the Ethiopians managed to defeat him at the Battle of Gura. Peace between Ethiopia and Egypt was concluded in June 1884, and Ethiopia received the right to use the port of Massawa.
In 1885, Emperor Yohannis IV himself launched a war against the Mahdist Sudan. In 1885-1886. Ethiopian troops defeated the Sudanese, but at the same time, the occupation of the northern regions of Ethiopia by Italy began. The fighting between the Ethiopians and the Italians went on with varying degrees of success.
In 1888 Emperor Yohannis offered peace to Sudan. However, the caliph of Sudan, Abdallah, put forward an unacceptable condition - the adoption of Islam by Johannes. In early 1889, Yohannis personally led a 150,000-strong army into the Sudan, and in March 1889 was mortally wounded in a battle on the border.
The new emperor Menelik II (1889-1913) suppressed separatism in Gojjam and the Tigris, recreated a single Ethiopian state. In 1889, the Uchchial Treaty was concluded between Italy and Ethiopia, according to which Menelik recognized the transition to the Italians of the coastal regions.
In 1890, Italy united all its possessions on the Red Sea into the colony of Eritrea and announced that, under the treaty of 1889, Ethiopia recognized the protectorate of Italy over itself. This led to the resumption of hostilities between Ethiopia and Italy since 1894.
At the end of 1894, Italian troops occupied the cities of Addi-Ugri, Addi-Grat and Adua. By October 1895, the Italians occupied the entire Tigre region. Emperor Menelik sent 112,000 men against the Italians. an army formed from detachments of the rulers of the regions of Ethiopia. On December 7, 1895, in the battle of Amba-Alag, the Ethiopian troops under the command of Ras Makonnin (father of the future Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie) inflicted a major defeat on the Italian troops. Emperor Menelik offered peace to Italy, but after the refusal, hostilities resumed, and on March 1, 1896, the Battle of Adua took place, in which the Italians were completely defeated.
In 1893-98. Menelik II conquered a number of areas south and southwest of Addis Ababa - Walamo, Sidamo, Kafa, Ghimira, etc. He issued a decree allowing only prisoners of war to be turned into slaves and for a period of not more than 7 years. Menelik stepped up the construction of roads, telegraph and telephone lines, and developed domestic and foreign trade. During the reign of Menelik, the first hospital was opened in Ethiopia and the first newspaper began to be published. In 1897 Emperor Menelik ordered the establishment of diplomatic relations between Ethiopia and Russia.
First half of the 20th century
After the death of Menelik II in 1913, his 17-year-old grandson Lij Iyasu V became emperor. Ethiopia did not formally participate in the First World War, but Emperor Iyasu actively pursued a course of rapprochement with Germany, counting on her as an ally in the fight against the British, French and Italians.
In September 1916 Emperor Iyasu was overthrown. The 40-year-old daughter of Menelik Zauditu (aunt of the deposed emperor) was declared the empress, and the 24-year-old Teferi Makonnyn was declared the regent, that is, the actual ruler. Prior to that, he (one of the younger sons of Ras Makonnyn) from the age of 16 was the governor of the Sidamo region, then the Harer region. After the 1916 coup, Teferi Makonnyn received the title of Ras (roughly equivalent to a prince), and is now revered by fans as the "god of Rastafari."
After the death in November 1930 of Empress Zauditu Ras Teferi, he was crowned Emperor Haile Selassie (1930 - 1974).
In 1931, the first constitution in the history of Ethiopia was proclaimed. The absolute power of the emperor was asserted, a bicameral parliament was created (with a chamber of deputies and a senate). The final abolition of slavery was announced within the next 15-20 years.
In 1934-35. there were armed clashes on the border of Ethiopia with Italian possessions. In October 1935, Italian troops invaded Ethiopia. For several months, the Ethiopian troops put up fierce resistance, sometimes achieving individual successes. However, on March 31, 1936, the main forces of the Ethiopian army were defeated in the battle of Mai-Chou. On May 5, 1936, Italian troops under the command of Marshal Badoglio occupied the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, and on June 1, 1936, Italy announced the inclusion of Ethiopia in the colony of Italian East Africa (together with Eritrea and Somalia).
The Italian occupation of the country continued until the spring of 1941, when the British army, supported by auxiliary forces recruited from the African colonies, liberated Ethiopia and occupied other Italian possessions in the Horn of Africa.
Second half of the 20th century
After the war, Emperor Haile Selassie continued to rule as an absolute monarch. In 1951, slavery was abolished in Ethiopia, mainly under pressure from the international community. Many privileges of the traditional nobility were preserved, the press was under the strict control of the monarch, and political parties were banned.
In 1953, Ethiopia signed a treaty of friendship and economic cooperation with the United States. Over the next 20 years, the United States provided Ethiopia with nearly half a billion dollars in financial subsidies, loans, and $140 million worth of free arms.
By the beginning of the 1970s. the regime became completely odious: the emperor was criticized from all sides of the political space, and the famine of 1972-1974, which led to great loss of life, became the catalyst for further events.
In 1974, measures to improve the economy resulted in a sharp increase in prices and led to mass demonstrations of protest; the situation was exploited by a group of military men with Marxist political views, which organizationally took shape in the summer of that year into a committee called the Derg. He led the process of dismantling the monarchy, also known as the "creeping coup." By mid-autumn, the Derg had almost completely subjugated all administrative structures and proclaimed a course towards building a socialist society.
The deposed emperor Haile Selassie I died on August 27, 1975 under suspicious circumstances - officially due to ill health. In 1976-1977, the Derg strengthened its positions by reprisals against opponents, both royalists and separatists, and the "left"; this campaign is also known as the "Red Terror". The leader of the Derg at this stage was Mengistu Haile Mariam. As a result of a change in foreign policy orientations, from 1975 to 1991, the USSR and the countries of Eastern Europe provided comprehensive assistance to Ethiopia.
Taking advantage of the country's difficult situation during this period, the Somali army intensively supported the separatist movement of ethnic Somalis in the southeastern region of the country, the Ogaden, and in 1977-1978 tried to annex the Ogaden by force. These events are known as the War for the Ogaden. Cuba, the USSR and South Yemen provided great assistance in the fight against the enemy of Ethiopia.
The task set to bring Ethiopia from a feudal society to a communist regime could not be fulfilled. Attempts to collectivize agriculture only led to its further degradation. In 1984, a famine broke out in the country, far exceeding in scope and number of victims the pandemic of the early 70s. The Mengistu government also failed to resolve the Eritrean issue; Eritrean rebels continued the armed struggle for independence, begun back in 1961, and government troops were unable to suppress their resistance.
In the late 80s, in the context of the growing crisis in the USSR, the Mengistu government found itself in a critical situation, and as a result, in May 1991, it was overthrown as a result of the activities of an alliance of rebel movements, in which the main role was played by Eritrean groups.
A group of rebel leaders came to power in the country, according to Marxists of the extreme left, who started as supporters of Enver Hoxha, then changed their ideological orientation to a more liberal one. Since then, the country has been permanently headed by the representative of this group, Meles Zenawi, first as president, then, after the introduction of a parliamentary republic, as prime minister.
Of the domestic political events of recent history, those surrounding the 2005 parliamentary elections stand out, when the opposition accused the authorities of rigging the results and brought tens of thousands of their supporters to the streets, several dozen people died as a result of clashes, thousands were arrested.
In the field of foreign policy, the Zenawi government allowed Eritrea to secede in 1993, but then there was a period of cooling with the former allies who came to power in the new state. Nadir in relations between neighbors was reached in 1998-2000, when the Ethiopian-Eritrean conflict broke out in the border zone, ending with a slight margin in favor of Ethiopia. The question of the border between the countries still remains unresolved.
In 1997, 2000 and 2006, Ethiopia also took an active part in the fate of Somalia. In the latter case, the Ethiopian army defeated the formations of local Islamists and installed in Mogadishu a transitional government loyal to Ethiopia, headed by Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed.
Last changes: 04/26/2013Despite the fact that Ethiopia is officially recognized as a secular state, the population is extremely religious. The dominant religions (Ethiopian Orthodox Church and Sunni Islam) have a strong influence on everyday life. Many laws and regulations are based on religious norms, and this may also apply to tourists. For example, manifestations of homosexuality are unacceptable in Ethiopia; you should not publicly show tenderness of feelings even in heterosexual couples.
It is recommended to exercise maximum caution in nutrition. The concepts of food storage can differ significantly from those adopted in Europe, which leads to poisoning and diseases. It is not recommended to drink tap water, but it is better to use bottled mineral water even for brushing your teeth.
The country is very poor. Most of the 80 million people live in rural areas and are illiterate. They love to beg.
Officially, upon departure, you can convert the amount for which you have certificates of the initial exchange, minus $ 30 for each day spent in this country. But in practice, Addis Ababa airport officials refuse to convert more than a hundred birrs.
Last changes: 04/26/2013How to get to Ethiopia
By plane
There are no direct flights between Russia and Ethiopia. The best fares are offered by Turkish Airlines (via Istanbul), EgyptAir (via Cairo) and Emirates Airline (via Dubai). Ticket price 600-1000 USD (round trip).
The national carrier Ethiopian Airlines flies to Ethiopia from some European cities (London, Paris).
By train
The only railway line with a length of 782 kilometers, connecting Ethiopia with the outside world, leads from Addis Ababa to the neighboring state of Djibouti. For a long time, passenger traffic was not carried out due to inconsistencies in the implementation of border formalities between Ethiopia and Djibouti. The message has now been restored.
Trains depart several times a week and arrive at their destination after 24 hours of travel. Trains are usually crowded, so it is recommended to book tickets in advance.
In fact, the trip between Addis Ababa and Djibouti consists of two parts - from Addis Ababa to Dire Dawa (450 kilometers) and Dire Dawa - Djibouti on another train. Tickets for both trains can be purchased at the train station in Addis Ababa. The fare depends on the class and ranges from $10 to $40.
For those traveling by train, it is important to remember that visas are not issued at land border crossings, in which case Ethiopian and Djiboutian visas should be issued in advance.
Ferry
After Eritrea gained independence, Ethiopia lost access to the sea, and all communication with the outside world is carried out through the seaport of the neighboring state of Djibouti.
By bus
There is no regular bus service between Ethiopia and neighboring states. Tourists traveling in the countries of the region usually get to the desired border crossing, cross it on foot and continue their journey by local transport. By bus you can get to the border crossings with Djibouti, Kenya and Sudan. The border with Somalia and Eritrea is currently closed.
By car
The following border crossings between Ethiopia and neighboring states are open to vehicles:
Djibouti: Ferate / Dewele checkpoint, main road from Addis Ababa to Djibouti and Lofefle / Balho checkpoint on a secondary road in northern Djibouti;
