: FDRE

Government type: federal republic

Capital: Addis Ababa

Administrative divisions: 9 ethnically-based states (kililoch,
singular - kilil) and 2 self-governing administrations*
(astedaderoch, singular - astedader): Adis Abeba* (Addis Ababa);
Afar; Amara, Binshangul Gumuz; Dire Dawa*; Gambela Hizboch; Hareri
Hizb; Oromiya; Sumale; Tigray; YeDebub Biheroch Bihereseboch na
Hizboch (Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region)

Independence: oldest independent country in Africa and one of the
oldest in the world - at least 2,000 years

National holiday: National Day (defeat of MENGISTU regime), 28 May
(1991)

Constitution: ratified December 1994; effective 22 August 1995

Legal system: currently transitional mix of national and regional
courts

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch: chief of state: President NEGASSO Gidada (since
22 August 1995)

head of government: Prime Minister MELES Zenawi (since NA August
1995)

cabinet: Council of Ministers as provided for in the December 1994
constitution; ministers are selected by the prime minister and
approved by the House of People's Representatives

elections: president elected by the House of People's
Representatives for a six-year term; election last held NA June 1995
(next to be held NA May 2001); prime minister designated by the
party in power following legislative elections

election results: NEGASSO Gidada elected president; percent of vote
by the House of People's Representatives - NA%

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament consists of the House of
Federation or upper chamber (108 seats; members are chosen by state
assemblies to serve five-year terms) and the House of People's
Representatives or lower chamber (548 seats; members are directly
elected by popular vote from single-member districts to serve
five-year terms)

elections: last held 14 May 2000 (next to be held NA May 2005)

election results: percent of vote - NA%; seats - OPDO 177, ANDM
134, TPLF 38, WGGPDO 27, EPRDF 19, SPDO 18, GNDM 15, KSPDO 10, ANDP
8, GPRDF 7, SOPDM 7, BGPDUF 6, BMPDO 5, KAT 4, other regional
political groupings 22, independents 8; note - 43 seats unconfirmed

note: irregularities and violence at a number of polling stations
necessitated the rescheduling of voting in certain constituencies;
voting postponed in Somali regional state because of severe drought

Judicial branch: Federal Supreme Court (the president and vice
pr