ASSESSMENTS

Where Is Ethiopia Headed? Signs Past and Present Point the Way

Sep 7, 2018 | 09:45 GMT

The peaks of the Simien Mountains tower over the landscape of Gondar, Ethiopia. Ethiopia's new prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, is building on his country's historical and geopolitical advantages to bring it back to prominence in, and perhaps beyond, the surrounding region.

(Carl Court/Getty Images)

Highlights

Ethiopia's unique status in sub-Saharan Africa comes from the advantageous geography of its highland core relative to the surrounding lowland areas.
Though Ethiopia's various states have risen and fallen throughout history with shifts in diplomacy and trade, recent strategic overtures suggest the country will be able to project more power in the region in the years ahead.
To do so, however, the country will need to maintain internal cohesion and secure access to nearby ports and, by extension, to outside markets.

Ethiopia is a rarity in Africa. It has existed in a coherent form for more than 2,000 years and largely escaped European colonization. The country's lineage -- which traces back to the kingdom of Aksum in the first century and to its advantageous location between the ancient trade routes of Rome and India -- makes it stand out on the map. And its recent push for reform and strategic partnerships in the Horn of Africa provides a more timely reason to explore Ethiopia's geopolitical environment....

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