Ethiopia Celebrates Independence 5 May 2023
By Joy Osiagwu
The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is the oldest independent nation on the African continent. The country has no experience of colonialism apart from the five-year reign of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini.
Situated in the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia shares borders with Eritrea, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, South Sudan, and Sudan. It is the 13th most populous country in the world with a population of 113.5 million. While on the African Continent, it has the second largest population after Nigeria in West Africa. Addis Ababa is the largest city and national capital, while Amharic, Oromo, Somali, Tigrigna, and Afar are the official languages.
Italy took interest in the region in the 1880s, however, the first attempt at expansion was unsuccessful as its forces suffered defeat at the first Italo -Ethiopian War in the Battle of Adwa on March 1, 1896, in favor of Ethiopia under the leadership of the Ethiopian Army of Negus Menelik II with the support of European intervention from Russia and France.
Italy lost its attempt at what would have been its “crowned jewel” on the continent, a fertile and diverse country that Italy’s Benito Mussolini was eager to acquire. But by June 1936, Italy got the opportunity and captured Addis Ababa. Emperor Haile Selassie was sent into exile.
The British Commander in Chief, Middle East, General Archibald Wavell, dismantled the Italians in January 1941, forcing them to retreat. Ethiopian men, heavily armed with captured Italian weapons gathered in Addis Abba waiting anxiously for a proclamation, announcing the return of Haile Selassie. The British troops got to Addis Abba and ushered the return of Emperor Selassie on May 5, 1941. Ethiopia also regained its independence on the same day. Emperor Selassie was reinstalled, five years after the fall of Mussolini’s troops.
Ras Tafari Makonnen also known as Emperor Haile Selassie was known as one of the most famous leaders in the History of Ethiopia and Africa because of his influenced on the international scene at the time and his laudable policies, especially, his advocacy for African unity and the abolition of slavery in Ethiopia.
He was the last reigning monarch under King Solomon Dynasty and the Queen of Sheba in the 10th century. He fled to Britain when the Italians took over Addis Ababa in 1936 but returned during the Second World War to his people. He was able to appeal to the League of Nations for Ethiopia’s independence. Selassie was also a high-ranking diplomat who witnessed the funeral of U.S. President, John Kennedy. He was overthrown by military leaders in 1974. Ethiopia is a founding member of the United Nations
Ethiopia operates a bicameral Federal Parliamentary Assembly. The three branches of government (Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary) are governed by the Constitution of the republic adopted in 1995.
Dr. Sahle-Work Zewde, a seasoned diplomat is the current President of Ethiopia. She was elected as the fifth President and first woman President of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia on 25 October 2018.
Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed has established an interim administration for the northern region of Tigray as a major step in the implementation of a peace plan to end the war in the area.
According to Aljazeera, the upper chamber of the parliament constituted the interim team, appointing Tigray People’s Liberation Front to delegate Getachew Reda as head of the administration.
The Prime minister said it became necessary “to establish an inclusive interim administration, to ensure a sustainable peace and stop the conflict.”
The agreement was one of the decisions taken and signed as a requirement for the peace pact signed in South Africa in November 2022 between the TPLF and the government of Ethiopia to end the war in Tigray.
The Ethiopian Community Association in Ottawa (ECAO) is a non-profit organization that is established to assist Ethiopians.
ECAO also supports a diverse ethnic and cultural community of its citizens in the capital region. The new board members took over the mantle of leadership in 2019 and have since focused on restructuring the organization and its network to meaningfully support the community and other ethnic groups in Ottawa.
Mission: To bring quality services to Ethiopian newcomers and the diaspora in familiar native languages (Amharic, Oromo, Somali, Tigrigna, and Afar).
Vision: To create a strong and supportive network of Ethiopians and establish the first Ethiopian community centre in Ottawa.
Values: Honesty, Fairness, equality, critical thinking, and participation and cooperation.
ECAO BOARD OF DIRECTORS
- President: Abebe Haileysus Kebte
- Finance: Azeb Astake
- Secretary: Berhane Daba
- Treasurer: Laike Thomas
- Government Relations: Neguissie Debele
- Public Relations: Dawit Shimeles
- Youth Coordinator: Adeye Adane
Visit the website https://www.ecao.ca/ for details about membership and volunteering opportunities.
Address: 211 Bronson Avenue, Room 239, Ottawa, ON, K1R 6H5 Phone number: 613 400-9207 Email: [email protected]
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Joy Osiagwu is a Project Officer with Black History Ottawa. She has over two decades of experience as a broadcast journalist in Nigeria and North America. She holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Cumbria in the United Kingdom, plus a post-graduate diploma in Broadcast Performing Arts from the Columbia Academy, Vancouver, British Columbia.