History of Ethiopia

Ethiopia is the oldest independent country in Africa and one of the oldest in the world. Herodotus, the Greek historian of the fifth century B.C. describes ancient Ethiopia in his writings. The Old Testament of the Bible records the Queen of Sheba's visit to Jerusalem.

According to legend, Menelik I, the son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, founded the Ethiopian Empire. Missionaries from Egypt and Syria introduced Christianity in the fourth century A.D. Following the rise of Islam in the seventh century, Ethiopia was gradually cut off from European Christendom.

Principal Government Officials

President--Negasso GidadaPrime Minister--Meles ZenawiDeputy Prime Minister--Kassu IlalaDeputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defense--Tefera WaluwaMinister of Foreign Affairs--Seyoum Mesfin Ethiopia maintains an embassy in the U.S. at 2134 Kalorama Road, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20008 (tel. 202/234-2281) headed by Ambassador Berhane Gebre-Christos. A separate trade and commercial office is located at 1800 K Street, N.W., Suite 824, Washington, D.C. 20006 (tel.

202/452-1272).