The Government of Ethiopia

Ethiopia - Government

Based on the etymolgy of Ethiopia, it was the country name derives from the Greek word "Aethiopia," which in classical times referred to lands south of Egypt in the Upper Nile region. The Government system in this country is the federal parliamentary republic type and the different Administrative divisions includes: 12 ethnically based regional states (kililoch, singular - kilil) and 2 chartered cities* (astedader akabibiwach, singular - astedader akabibi); Adis Abeba* (Addis Ababa), Afar, Amara (Amhara), Binshangul Gumuz, Dire Dawa*, Gambela Hizboch (Gambela), Hareri Hizb (Harari), Oromia, Sidama, Sumale, Tigray, YeDebub Biheroch Bihereseboch na Hizboch (Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples), YeDebub M'irab Ityop'iya Hizboch (Southwest Ethiopia Peoples), Southern Ethiopia Peoples

National symbols

Abyssinian lion (traditional), yellow pentagram with five rays of light on a blue field (promoted by current government); national colors: green, yellow, red.

The flag

The National flag of Ethiopia has three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red, with a yellow pentagram and single yellow rays emanating from the angles between the points on a light blue disk centered on the three bands; green represents hope and the fertility of the land, yellow symbolizes justice and harmony, while red stands for sacrifice and heroism in the defense of the land; the blue of the disk symbolizes peace and the pentagram represents the unity and equality of the nationalities and peoples of Ethiopia.

note: Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, and the three main colors of her flag (adopted ca. 1895) were so often appropriated by other African countries upon independence that they became known as the Pan-African colors; the emblem in the center of the current flag was added in 1996

The National Anthem

Title	"Whedefit Gesgeshi Woud Enat Ethiopia" (March Forward, Dear Mother Ethiopia)
Lyric/music	DEREJE Melaku Mengesha/SOLOMON Lulu

note: adopted 1992

More about the government of Ethiopia

Constitution
Date of Independence	oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years (may be traced to the Aksumite Kingdom, which coalesced in the first century B.C.)
National holiday	Derg Downfall Day (defeat of MENGISTU regime), 28 May (1991)
Legal system	civil law system
International law organization participation	has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; non-party state to the ICCt
History	Several previous; latest drafted June 1994, adopted 8 December 1994, entered into force 21 August 1995
Amendments	Proposals submitted for discussion require two-thirds majority approval in either house of Parliament or majority approval of one-third of the State Councils; passage of amendments other than constitutional articles on fundamental rights and freedoms and the initiation and amendment of the constitution requires two-thirds majority vote in a joint session of Parliament and majority vote by two thirds of the State Councils; passage of amendments affecting rights and freedoms and amendment procedures requires two-thirds majority vote in each house of Parliament and majority vote by all the State Councils
Citizenship
Citizenship by birth	no
Citizenship by descent only	at least one parent must be a citizen of Ethiopia
Dual citizenship recognized	no
Residency requirement for naturalization	4 years
Executive Branch
Chief of state	President TAYE Atske Selassie (since 7 October 2024)
Head of government	Prime Minister ABIY Ahmed Ali (since April 2018)
Cabinet	Council of Ministers selected by the prime minister and approved by the House of People's Representatives
Elections/appointments	president indirectly elected by both chambers of Parliament for a 6-year term (eligible for a second term); election held on 21 June 2021 and 30 September 2021 (the scheduled 29 August 2020 election was postponed by Prime Minister ABIY due to the COVID-19 pandemic); prime minister designated by the majority party following legislative elections
Election results	2021: SAHLE-WORK Zewde reelected president during joint session of Parliament, vote - 659 (unanimous); ABIY confirmed Prime Minister by House of Peoples' Representatives (4 October 2021) 2018: SAHLE-WORK Zewde elected president during joint session of Parliament, vote - 659 (unanimous); note - snap election held on 25 October 2018 due to resignation of President MULATA Teshome
Legislative branch
Description	Bicameral Parliament consists of: House of Federation or Yefedereshein Mikir Bete (153 seats maximum; 144 seats current; members indirectly elected by state assemblies to serve 5-year terms) House of People's Representatives or Yehizb Tewokayoch Mekir Bete (547 seats maximum; 470 seats current; members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote; 22 seats reserved for minorities; all members serve 5-year terms)
Elections	House of Federation - last held 4 October 2021 (next expected in October 2026) House of People's Representatives - last held in two parts on 21 June 2021 and 30 September 2021 (next expected in June 2026)
Election results	House of Federation - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - NA; composition - men 102, women 43, percentage women 29.7% House of Representatives - percent of vote by party/coalition - NA; seats by party/coalition - Prosperity Party 454, NAMA 5, EZEMA 4, Gedeo People's Democratic organization 2, Kucha People Democratic Party 1, independent 4; composition - men 275, women 195, percentage women 41.3%; note - total Parliament percentage women 38.9%
Judicial branch
Highest court(s)	Federal Supreme Court (consists of 11 judges); note - the House of Federation has jurisdiction for all constitutional issues
Judge selection and term of office	President and vice president of Federal Supreme Court recommended by the prime minister and appointed by the House of People's Representatives; other Supreme Court judges nominated by the Federal Judicial Administrative Council (a 10-member body chaired by the president of the Federal Supreme Court) and appointed by the House of People's Representatives; judges serve until retirement at age 60
Subordinate courts	Federal high courts and federal courts of first instance; state court systems (mirror structure of federal system); sharia courts and customary and traditional courts
Diplomatic representation in the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador (vacant); Chargé d'Affaires Aster Mamo ANA (since 31 July 2024)
Chancery	3506 International Drive NW, Washington, DC 20008
Telephone	[1] (202) 364-1200
FAX	[1] (202) 587-0195
Email address and website	[email protected] https://ethiopianembassy.org/
Consulate(s) general	Los Angeles, St. Paul (MN)
Diplomatic representation from the US
Chief of mission	Ambassador Ervin MASSINGA (since 4 October 2023)
Embassy	Entoto Street, P.O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa
Mailing address	2030 Addis Ababa Place, Washington DC 20521-2030
Telephone	[251] 111-30-60-00
FAX	[251] 111-24-24-01
Email address and website	[email protected] https://et.usembassy.gov/
National heritage
Total World Heritage Sites	11 (9 cultural, 2 natural)
Selected World Heritage Site locales	Rock-Hewn Churches, Lalibela (c); Simien National Park (n); Fasil Ghebbi, Gondar Region (c); Axum (c); Lower Valley of the Awash (c); Lower Valley of the Omo (c); Tiya (c); Harar Jugol, the Fortified Historic Town (c); Konso Cultural Landscape (c); Gedeo Cultural Landscape (c)