Modern Ethiopia

In 1953, the present constitution was promulgated by the emperor establishing a form of consititutional monarchy for Ethiopia. Although final authority still rests with the Emperor, Haile Selassie I is dedicated to laying the groundwork for the true constitutional monarchy.

The 1955 constitution provides a Parliament of two houses. Members of the upper chamber, or Senate, numbering up to 125, are appointed by the emperor for six-year terms from among the nobility, the aristocratic families, the hierarchy of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and other prominent personages. Members of the lower house, or Chanber of Deputies, numbering 251, are chosen by direct universal suffrage for four-year terms.

The Emperor also appoints Ministers to head the various government departments, advise him on important matters, and carry out policy decisions. Generally there are 16 ministers, headed by a Prime Minister, Fourteen provinces of Ehtiopia are headed by Governors-General appointed by the Emperor.

Born in 1892 at the city of Harar, Ras Tafari Makonnen, as the Emperor was then known, became Regent in 1916. He ascended to the throne in 1930 as Haile Selassie I. He is a member of the dynastic line which has occupied the throne of Ethiopia much of the time since the legendary union of King Solomon

and the Queen of Sheba. The Emperor has two living children, his eldest son, Asfaw Wossen, being Crown Prince.

During the Italian occupation of Ethiopia, the Emperor was in exile in England. His dramatic appearance before the League of Nations in 1936 was a plea for international support for his contry. Subsequently he has been a staunch advocate of collective security in the international field. Since the liberation of Ehtiopia in 1941, the Emperor has pressed vigorously for the modernization and development of his nation. Particularly stressing the importance of education, he has retained for himself the portfolio of Minister of Education.

Embracing an area of 450,000 square miles, the bulk of the area of Ethiopia is unsed for grazing of livestock which number several times the population. About fifteen percent of the land is under cultivation, but the amount is increasing. Water is plentiful seasonally, and soils and climates are good in most of the country. Ethiopia has great agricultural potential and other natural resources upon which economic development could be based.

Exports are almost entirely agricultural products, principally coffee, oil-seed, goatskins and hides are pulse crops, with coffee accounting for about one-half the $80 million annual value of exports. Mining experts foresee a promising future for the mineral resources.

Gold mining from four areas is being developed; iron ore deposits estimated at 200 million tons exist on the plateau, and American investment in potash will develop an important new export commodity.

Ethiopia is in the process of developing a modern system of roads. Currently within the province of Eritrea, there is about 385 miles of bituminized road and 100 miles of macadamized road. There is also 1,400 miles of secondary roads.

Ethiopia Air Lines operates modern jet service from Germany and Greece to international terminals at Asmara and Addis Ababa. Internally, EAL provides DC3, Convair and DC6B service to various parts of the country.

Ethiopian railroads are operated by the government. There is no rail transport between Eritrea and southern Ethiopia. In the northern province, 306 kilometers of track connect Massawa on the Red Sea, with Asamara on the central highland, and Cheren and Agordat to the northwest. Passenger service is offered, and provides one of the most thrilling rail rides in the world on the Massawa to Asmara trip.

Technical assistance has been provided Ethiopia in its progress by the United States, the United Nations, Sweden, Israel, Yugoslavia, and others. Other countries, such as Japan, France and Great Britain have provided scholarships. Dutch private industry has made the largest single private investment to date in sugar production and refining.

Ethiopian has established diplomatic relations and maintains friendly relations with many importand world powers. There are more than 50 diplomatic missions resident in Addis Ababa. As part of its effort to progress rapidly Ehtiopia welcomes economic and technical assistance from both the West and East, as well as from "uncommitted" nations and from various UN specialized agencies. With regard to Est-West issues, Ethiopia follows a neutralist policy and tends to favor neither the one side nor the other in UN forums and elsewhere.

Ethiopia has warmly welcomed the emergence of new independent nations in Africa, and increasingly identifies itself as an active member of the African Bloc in the UN. It has participated in all important Pan-African conferences. It was host to the Second Conference of Independent Aftrican States

His Highness Asrate Kassa, Governor General of Eritrea, pays a formal visit to Kagnew Station, being introduced to members of the command's staff

As Ethiopian Air Lines jet liner arrives at the Asmara International Airport. Most U.S. Military personnel and their families coming to Kagnew Station arrive on such flights

in June 1960 and to PAFMECSA Conference in 1962. In response to Ethiopian's invitation, the headquarters of the UN Economic Commission for Africa were established in Addis Ababa in 1959. Ethiopia maintains especially close relations with its neighbor to the west -- the Sudan -- and is attempting to improve its relationships with Somalia, its neighbor to the east, although an unsettled border with that country complicates matters.

A charter member of the United Nations, Ethiopia is a staunch supporter of collective action to settle international disputes. Ethiopia troops served under UN auspices in Korea, and in the Congo as part of the UN forces there. The country is a member of all the leading UN specialized agencies and actively participates in their meetings.

Diplomatic relations were first entered into with Ethiopia by the United States when a Treaty of Commerce between the United States and Ethiopia, negotiated in Addis Ababa in 1903 by The Honorable Robert P. Skinner, became effective on August 2, 1904.

From 1906 until 1913 the United States was represented in Ethiopia frost by a consular agent, later by a Minister Resident. On March 1, 1928 the first Americal Legation was established in Addis Ababa; this office was closed in November, 1936 following the Italian occupation. The Legation was re-established in September 1, 1943 after Ethiopia's liberation and was raised to Embassy status on May 3, 1949.

The present Embassy premises in Addis Ababa were given to the United States Government by the Emperor in 1944. The Embassy today consists of the office of the Ambassador and Deputy Chief of Mission, and sections dealing with political, economic, consular and administrative functions for Unites States activities in Ethiopia, plus commercial services for businessmen and consular services for the general public. The Embbassy also includes offices of a Military, Air, and Agricultural Attache. A consulate is located in Asmara.

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Last Updated February 4, 1998 by James Boyce

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