A brief history of Ethiopia

If you asked most people what they knew about Ethiopia they would say, Sir Bob and the 1984 Famine followed by a rather forgettable song all done with the best of intentions but very badly managed with the money not ending up where it was intended to. 1930-31 Ras Tafari is crowned as Emperor Haile Selassie and dubbed the chosen one of God. A year later Ethiopia gets its first written constitution which grants the Emperor almost total power. 1935-36 Italy invades Ethiopia; illegal use os mustard gas and bombing of civilian targets kills 275,000 Ethiopians. Italy loses 4350 men. In 1936 the Italians capture Addis and Selassie flees the country. The King of Italy is made Emperor of Ethiopia. 1941-42 British commonwealth and Ethiopian forces liberate Ethiopia, Haile Selassie reclaims his throne and Ethiopia its Independence. In the following years the country modernises very quickly. 1960 In response to growing discontent over the Emperor's autocratic rule, the imperial bodyguard stage a coup d'etat, which is defeated by the army and airforce. 1962 Addis Ababais made the headquarters of the Organisation of African Unity. To prove just how united Africa is, Haile Selassie unilaterally annexes Eritrea, separatist Eritreans launch a bitter guerrilla war. 1972-74 A dreadful famine strikes and around 200,00 people die. This further increases resentment towards the Emperor and students start protesting. 1974 After years of discontent and increasing street protests Haile Selassie is deposed as Emperor on 12 September; the Derg declare a socialist state on 20 September. 1977-78 Somalia invades the Ogaden region of Ethiopia. Somalia forces are eventually defeated in 1978, but only with massive help from the Cuban and Soviet forces. 1984 Israel launches Operation Moses, a six week operation to secretly airlift 8000 Ethiopians Jews to Israel. 1984-85 Famine haunts much of the highland of Ethiopia and up to a million people die. The reasons for the famine are climatic and political. A huge relief operation spearheaded by Bob Geldof gets under way. 1991 Following a referendum Eritrea becomes independent. 1995 The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is proclaimed and the first fair elections are held. 1998-2000 Ethiopia and Eritrea go to war over a barren wasteland, 70,000 die. 2000-2001 A formal peace agreement is declared between the two countries and a demilitarised zone is established along the boarder. 2006-09 Ethiopia invades Somalia in order to dislodge the Islamic Courts Union. It becomes embroiled in a guerrilla war and finally pulls out in early 2009. 2007 In September Ethiopia celebrates the new millennium and catches up with the rest of the world (its 2004 here at the moment)