May 5, 2015
Ethiopia: An Overview
Ethiopia is Africa’s second most populous country and its
Figure 1. Ethiopia: Key Facts
oldest independent state. The United States considers the
Ethiopian government to be an important development and
regional security partner, but also a source of concern
regarding human rights and democracy. Good relations with
the United States are rooted in cooperation on efforts to
counter terrorism and respond to instability in the volatile
Horn of Africa region, and on shared efforts to alleviate
Ethiopia’s endemic poverty. The country has been plagued
by frequent drought and chronic food insecurity and is one
of the largest recipients of U.S. foreign aid, primarily in the
form of health, food, and other humanitarian assistance.
Ethiopia plays a key leadership role in the region and on the
continent. It hosts the African Union (AU) and contributes
significant numbers of troops to U.N. peacekeeping
operations. Ethiopian peacekeepers play a critical role along
the volatile Sudan-South Sudan border and in the U.N.

Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). Ethiopian forces also
Ethiopia one of Africa’s fastest growing economies. As
play a critical role in efforts to counter the Al Qaeda-linked
leader of both the EPRDF, an alliance of four ethno-
terrorist group Al Shabaab in Somalia. As a member of the
regional parties, and one of its components, the Tigrayan
East Africa regional body known as the Intergovernmental
Peoples’ Liberation Front (TPLF), however, he also was
Authority on Development (IGAD), Ethiopia hosts various
accused by critics of stifling dissent and ensuring that his
peace negotiations, including the ongoing dialogue between
minority Tigrayan ethnic group dominated the government.
the governments of Sudan and South Sudan and talks
between Sudan and its armed opposition groups. An
Current Political Issues
Ethiopian diplomat is the lead mediator for talks between
the opposing sides of South Sudan’s civil war.
Hailemariam Desalegn (deh-sah-LEEN) became Prime
Background
Minister in 2012, after Meles’ death. As a Protestant, he is
Ethiopia’s first non-Ethiopian-Orthodox head of state, and
is from a small ethnic group, the Wolayta. Hailemariam
Ethiopia is one of only two African countries to have
was also elected chairman of the EPRDF coalition. In 2013,
avoided colonial rule, and the diplomatic relationship
the EPRDF-dominated parliament elected Mulatu Teshome
between the United States and Ethiopia dates back more
Wirtu as President, a largely ceremonial post.
than one hundred years. In the past century, Ethiopia’s
politics have been largely dominated by three leaders.
Despite regular elections, Ethiopia’s tradition of
Emperor Haile Selassie ruled from 1930 to 1974, when he
authoritarian rule continues to impede participatory
was deposed by a socialist military junta known as the
democracy. The EPRDF has dominated successive
Derg. The Derg was accused of massive human rights
elections since 1995. Elections in 2005—in which the
abuses (dubbed the “Red Terror”), and of ignoring a famine
opposition had been expected to make significant gains—
that caused hundreds of thousands of deaths. An army
were marred by violence, as the government responded to
officer, Mengistu Haile Mariam, became head of state at the
post-election protests by detaining thousands of opposition
helm of the Derg in 1977. In 1989, several ethnically based
members, journalists, and civic activists. An estimated 200
opposition groups merged to form the Ethiopian Peoples’
people were reportedly killed by security forces during the
Revolutionary Front (EPRDF), and in 1991 they overthrew
protests, and top opposition leaders were put on trial. The
the Derg and Mengistu, who fled to Zimbabwe, where he
disputed elections led to a broader tightening of democratic
remains in exile. The EPRDF allowed Eritreans to vote on
space as the EPRDF reconsolidated control. Opposition
secession, a key demand of the Eritrean faction of the anti-
parties boycotted local and by-elections held in 2008.
Derg struggle, leading to Eritrean independence in 1993.
Elections in 2010, won by the EPRDF with 99.6% of the
vote, were generally peaceful, but the electoral environment
EPRDF leader Meles Zenawi served as President of
did not meet international standards of fairness, according
Ethiopia and then as Prime Minister from 1991 until his
to U.S. and European election monitors and governments.
death in 2012. He was considered a powerful figure in both
The EPRDF is widely expected to again dominate the next
Ethiopian and regional politics. Meles was widely credited
parliamentary elections, scheduled for May 24.
with spearheading the economic reforms that have made
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Ethiopia: An Overview
Critics contend that the EPRDF has stifled dissent through
has sought to transform the economy through controversial
laws and electoral regulations that give the coalition a
projects to lease large swaths of agricultural land to foreign
significant advantage. Two laws enacted in 2009 have
investors and create new infrastructure for electricity
heightened concern about the government’s intentions with
production. The government argues that the land leases
respect to democratic space. The Charities and Societies
bring in critical foreign investment and large-scale
Proclamation created stringent reporting requirements and
agricultural production that will spur economic growth and
government oversight for civil society organizations; it
improve living standards. However, such leases have also
limits foreign funding and prohibits anonymous donations.
displaced Ethiopian farmers. Officially, the relocations are
The Anti-Terrorism Proclamation is criticized for its
under a separate, nominally voluntary program known as
expansive definition of terrorism, harsh penalties, flexible
“villagization,” through which the state seeks to better serve
rules for evidence, and the broad legal authority it grants to
the health, education, and infrastructure needs of rural
police and security forces. Opposition leaders, activists, and
populations by grouping them close together. Human rights
journalists have been imprisoned on national security
groups contend that the displacements are forced and are
charges, amid concerns of torture and ill-treatment in
driven by the commercial value of the land.
detention facilities. Ethiopia has the largest number of
imprisoned journalists and bloggers in sub-Saharan Africa
Concerns have also been raised about forced relocations
and ranks fourth on the Committee to Protect Journalists’
and potential negative environmental impacts related to
list of most censored countries in the world.
hydroelectric projects, notably the Gibe III and the Grand
Ethiopian Renaissance dams. The latter, expected to be
Ethiopian Muslims, who make up about a third of the
finished in 2017, would be Africa’s largest power project
population, have staged protests in recent years in response
and, the Ethiopian government argues, will enable Ethiopia
to perceived government interference in Muslim religious
to sell excess electricity to its neighbors, strengthening
affairs. The government has responded by detaining
regional development. The dam has been a source of
protestors and charging some under the anti-terrorism law.
contention with Egypt, which is concerned that the dam
Security Concerns
could divert a critical water supply on which Egypt relies.
U.S. Policy and Foreign Assistance
Instability in neighboring Somalia has contributed to
Ethiopia’s security concerns, and Ethiopia has repeatedly
Given regional volatility, Ethiopia’s size, and its
intervened there militarily. Ethiopian troops deployed to
susceptibility to food insecurity, the United States has
Somalia in 2006 to oust a network of Islamist court militias
identified Ethiopia’s stability and prosperity as key
that had seized control of the Somali capital. This led to a
priorities for U.S. engagement. The State Department
prolonged military engagement against one of the militias,
describes economic growth and development; democracy,
Al Shabaab, and other insurgents. Ethiopian forces
governance and human rights; and regional peace and
officially pulled out in early 2009 after the U.N.-mandated
security as the three pillars of the bilateral relationship.
African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) was
However, little U.S. aid is provided for democracy
established, but periodic Ethiopian incursions continued,
promotion, and U.S. concerns about Ethiopian restrictions
and Ethiopia has reportedly provided support to Somali
on political and human rights complicate diplomatic
armed factions. Ethiopia joined AMISOM in January 2014.
engagement and security cooperation. Undersecretary of
State Wendy Sherman drew criticism from advocacy
Aside from Somalia, the Ethiopian government’s main
groups in April 2015 when she declared that “Ethiopia is a
strategic concern has been its antagonistic relationship with
democracy that is moving forward in an election that we
Eritrea, which seceded from Ethiopia in 1993. The two
expect to be free, fair and credible.” Congress, while
countries fought a border war in the late 1990s, and parts of
appropriating funding for Ethiopia’s sizable aid package,
the border remain in dispute. Both governments have
which is one of the largest in Africa, has conditioned some
accused one another of backing rebels in their respective
security assistance based on human rights concerns.
countries. Ethiopia also faces several simmering domestic
insurgencies, including in the Ogaden area near the Somali
Bilateral aid, most of it directed to development, health, and
border, which has a significant population of ethnic
food aid programs, totaled more than $580 million in
Somalis. The security forces have been accused of
FY2014. The United States has provided more than $356
committing serious human rights abuses in the context of
million in humanitarian aid in FY2014 and FY2015. The
their counterinsurgency efforts in the Ogaden.
State Department’s request for $404 million for FY2016
The Economy
does not include food aid, which is allocated during the
year according to need. The Obama Administration’s Feed
The economy has grown on average over 10% per year in
the Future initiative supports Ethiopia’s food security
the past decade, almost double the regional average. Yet per
strategy to reduce hunger, improve nutrition, and promote
capita income remains among the world’s lowest. Structural
broad-based economic growth. Ethiopia is also a participant
challenges include a growing “youth bulge” and high
in U.S. regional programs to counter terrorism and promote
unemployment. Development indicators, including high
African peacekeeping deployments.
rates of birth and infant mortality, low literacy levels, and a
Lauren Ploch Blanchard, lploch@crs.loc.gov, 7-7640
short life expectancy, are poor, but improving.

Agriculture composes almost half of GDP and 85% of
IF10185
employment. Coffee is the largest export. The government
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