Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The Derg are defeated by the rebel EPRDF; Ethiopia's experiment with communism
ends, and Mengistu scuttles off to Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe where he remains to
this day.
1992
Haile Selassie's remains are found buried under a toilet in the royal palace. He is fi-
nally reburied eight years later in the Holy Trinity Cathedral. Turn out is much lower
than funeral organisers predicted.
1993
Following a referendum Eritrea finally gets its long-sought independence. Relations
between the two new neighbours are excellent.
1995
The Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia is proclaimed and elections are held.
Former guerrilla leader Meles Zenawi is proclaimed prime minister.
1996
The Italian Ministry of Defence finally admits to the use of mustard gas in the
Abyssinian campaign.
1997
Eritrea drops the birr as its national currency and introduces the nakfa. This leads to a
souring of the relationship between the two neighbours.
1998-2000
Ethiopia and Eritrea's leaders go to war over a sliver of barren wasteland. By the close
of hostilities 70,000 have died and tens of thousands are internally displaced.
2000-01
A formal peace agreement is signed by Ethiopia and Eritrea and a demilitarised zone is
established along the border under the supervision of the UN Mission in Ethiopia &
Eritrea (UNMEE).
2001
