Ethiopia

Ethiopia, unlike most African countries, remained mostly free from European colonial influence. This landlocked country in East Africa had been the site of a powerful ancient kingdom, which was overthrown by a military coup in 1974. A socialist government was established, under which millions of Ethiopians starved during the famines of the 1970s and 1980s. Rebel groups initiated a civil war and overthrew the government in 1991. Since the end of the civil war Ethiopia has made some progress. The country adopted a new constitution in 1994 and held democratic elections the next year. However, the fighting devastated the economy, and Ethiopia remains one of the poorest countries in Africa. Book jacket.