(rasgez akababiwach, singular--rasgez
akababi); Addis Abeba (Addis Ababa), Arsi, Aseb*,
Asosa, Bale, Borena, Debub Gonder, Debub Shewa, Debub Welo, Dire
Dawa*, Ertra (Eritrea)*, Gambela, Gamo Gofa, Ilubabor, Kefa,
Metekel, Mirab Gojam, Mirab Harerge, Mirab Shewa, Misrak Gojam,
Misrak Harerge, Nazaret, Ogaden*, Omo, Semen Gonder,
Semen Shewa, Semen Welo, Sidamo, Tigray*, Welega

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

_#_Constitution: 12 September 1987

_#_Legal system: complex structure with civil, Islamic, common, and
customary law influences; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

_#_National holiday: National Revolution Day, 12 September (1974)

_#_Executive branch: president, vice president, Council of State
prime minister, five deputy prime ministers, Council of Ministers

_#_Legislative branch: unicameral National Assembly (Shengo)

_#_Judicial branch: Supreme Court

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State--Interim President Meles ZENAWI (since 1 June
1991);

Head of Government--Acting Prime Minister Tamrat LAYNE (since 6
June 1991)

_#_Political parties and leaders: only party--Workers' Party of
Ethiopia (WPE)

_#_Suffrage: universal at age 18

_#_Elections:

President--last held 10 September 1987 (next to be held September
1992);
results--MENGISTU Haile-Mariam elected by the National Assembly, but
resigned and left Ethiopia on 21 May 1991;

National Assembly--last held 14 June 1987 (next to be
held NA);
results--WPE was the only party;
seats--(835 total) WPE 835

_#_Other political or pressure groups: Oromo Liberation Front;
Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party (EPRP)

_#_Member of: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA, FAO, G-24, G-77,
IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IGADD, ILO, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT,
INTERPOL, IOC, ISO, ITU, LORCS, NAM, OAU, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO,
UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WMO, WTO

_#_Diplomatic representation: Counselor, Charge d'Affaires ad
interim GIRMA Amare; Chancery at 2134 Kalorama Road NW, Washington DC
20008; telephone (202) 234-2281 or 2282;

US--Charge d'Affaires Robert G. HOUDEK; Embassy at Entoto Street,
Addis Ababa (mailing address is P.O. Box 1014, Addis Ababa);
telephone [251] (01) 550666

_#_Flag: three equal horizontal bands of green (top), yellow, and red;
Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa and the colors of
her flag were so often adopted by other Afr