Ethiopia is a country situated in the Horn of Africa. It is the 2nd-most populous nation in Africa,
bordered by Eritrea to the north, Djibouti to the northeast, Somalia to the east, Kenya to the south,
and Sudan to the west. Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, and the second-oldest
official Christian nation in the world after Armenia. It has long been an intersection between the
civilizations of North Africa, the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa. Unique among African countries,
Ethiopia was never colonized and maintained its independence throughout the Scramble for Africa and
continued to do so except for a five-year period (1936-41) when it was under Italian occupation.
There was no Italian colonization of Ethiopia during this period, however, as the Italians occupied
only a few key cities and major routes, while most of Ethiopia was not affected by their presence.
The Italian period is thus considered an "occupation" and not colonial rule. In addition, Ethiopia
has long been a member of international organisations: it became a member of the League of Nations,
signed the Declaration by United Nations in 1942, founded the UN headquarters in Africa, was one of
the 51 original members of the United Nations, and is the headquarters for and one of the founding
members of the former OAU and current AU.
Ethiopia is a country situated in the Horn of Africa. It is the 2nd-most populous nation in Africa,
bordered by Eritrea to the north, Djibouti to the northeast, Somalia to the east, Kenya to the south,
and Sudan to the west. Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa, and the second-oldest
official Christian nation in the world after Armenia. It has long been an intersection between the
civilizations of North Africa, the Middle East and Sub-Saharan Africa. Unique among African countries,
Ethiopia was never colonized and maintained its independence throughout the Scramble for Africa and
continued to do so except for a five-year period (1936-41) when it was under Italian occupation.
There was no Italian colonization of Ethiopia during this period, however, as the Italians occupied
only a few key cities and major routes, while most of Ethiopia was not affected by their presence.
The Italian period is thus considered an "occupation" and not colonial rule. In addition, Ethiopia
has long been a member of international organisations: it became a member of the League of Nations,
signed the Declaration by United Nations in 1942, founded the UN headquarters in Africa, was one of
the 51 original members of the United Nations, and is the headquarters for and one of the founding
members of the former OAU and current AU.