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Need to know ~ Places
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Why current?
2020-21-11
A conflict in Ethiopia has put this east African country in the headlines. Here is what’s happening:
For almost 30 years, a political party called the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) had effectively been in charge of the country. It headed a group of other political parties, all working together to run the country. Many Ethiopians opposed the TPLF-led government, saying it was authoritarian and disregarded people’s basic human rights. Journalists and opponents of the government were thrown in jail. Meanwhile, the TPLF government was engaged in an ongoing fight with Ethiopia’s neighbor to the north, Eritrea.
In 2018, a young leader rose to power. His name was Abiy Ahmed. He was hailed as a visionary who stood for a new era of peace and modernization in Ethiopia. When he became the country’s leader, he freed people who had been imprisoned for their beliefs under the TPLF government and ended the war with Eritrea, an achievement that earned him the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019.
The TPLF party opposed Prime Minister Abiy, though. It tried to undermine the government by not recognizing him as the real leader of the country. The party made its own laws and even built up its own army. Tensions came to a head in early November when the TPLF attacked a government army camp. In response, Abiy sent troops to the northern region of the TPLF called Tigray, and violence erupted.
The fighting in this northern region has been escalating. Thousands of civilians have already fled across the border to the neighboring country of Sudan to escape the violence. It is not known exactly how many have been killed already in the fighting, but at this point the number is probably in the hundreds. Each side accuses the other of aggression and brutal killings. And it is feared that the conflict will grow into an all-out civil war, possibly also involving the TPLF’s former enemy, Eritrea.
More about Ethiopia
- Population: 115 million. Ethiopia has the second-largest population in Africa (Nigeria has the largest). It is the most populous land-locked (meaning, it is surrounded on all sides by land) country in the world and the 12th most populous nation in the world.
- Located in the Horn of Africa in East Africa. Going clockwise from its northern neighbor, Ethiopia shares a border with Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan, and Sudan.
- Has a rugged landscape with mountains, highlands, valleys, rivers, and lakes. The Western Highlands are separated from the Eastern Highlands by the Great Rift Valley, which runs down the middle of the country, from north to south. The highest point in Ethiopia, Mt. Ras Dejen (14,872 ft. / 4,533 m), is in the Simien Mountains, a stunning area of sharp peaks and green valleys located in the western part of the country.
- The seasons can be divided into dry and rainy phases. June through August are rainy months, followed by a dry stretch from September to February. March and April are rainy, and May is again dry.
- Capital city: Addis Ababa, located in the middle of Ethiopia. It is also the country’s largest city.
- There are over 80 different ethnic groups in Ethiopia, each with its own culture.
- About 100 different languages are spoken in Ethiopia, and they are all recognized as official languages.
- The country is divided into 9 states.
- Only about 1/5 of Ethiopia’s population lives in cities. Most Ethiopians live in small rural villages.
- There is a lot of poverty in Ethiopia. For decades, Ethiopians had to suffer through drought, famine, and civil war. Then, for a few years, the country seemed to be doing better, particularly the cities. But now the coronavirus and the widespread health and economic consequences it has brought with it, are causing a rise in poverty once again.
- Ethiopia is one of the oldest countries in the world, its first kingdom dating back over 2,000 years. Much earlier than that, it was from this region that modern humans first ventured out of Africa, to the Middle East.
- Ethiopia is one of two African countries that was never colonized (the other is Liberia). The only time a foreign power occupied Ethiopia was between 1936 and 1941, when Italy invaded.
- The various regions of Ethiopia are home to a wide diversity of wildlife. Thirty-one mammal species are native to Ethiopia, including the walia ibex and the Simien jackal, both of which are endangered.
- The country is a haven for birds. Over 850 different species have been observed, and 20 of those are native to Ethiopia.
- Much of Ethiopia’s spectacular wildlife is endangered or critically endangered. Elephants, lions, and giraffes are among those that are vanishing quickly. Several factors have been contributing to the disappearance of wildlife. Over 1,400 square km of forest are lost each year. Also, war, drought, poaching, pollution, and climate change have all contributed to the plight of many species that used to flourish on the Horn of Africa.
- Ethiopia’s government set aside more than 55,000 square km for 20 national parks and sanctuaries to protect the dwindling wildlife. The protected area covers roughly 5% of the country.
Source: Marks, Simon, Politico, “Ethiopia’s internal conflict explained,” https://www.politico.eu/article/ethiopia-internal-conflict-explained/, November 18, 2020; Aljazeera, “Ethiopia region accuses Tigray forces of its city,” https://www.aljazeera.com/news/tigray-forces-accused-of-attacking-bahir-dar-with-rockets, November 20, 2020; Marcus, Harold G., Britannica, “Ethiopia,” https://www.britannica.com/place/Ethiopia; Wikipedia, “Ethiopia,” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethiopia; African World Heritage Sites, “Simien Mountains – Ethiopia,” https://www.africanworldheritagesites.org/natural-places/mountains/simien-mountains-ethiopia.html; Meseret, Elias and Anna, Cara, AP News, “Extreme poverty rises and a generation sees future slip away,” https://apnews.com/article/lifestyle-health-ap-top-news-addis-ababa-general-news-7, August 10, 2020.