Unique among African Countries, an ancient Ethiopian monarchy maintained freedom. The last monarchy of Emperor Hailesillassie 1930 -1974 was succeeded by the military government that established a socialist state 1974-1991. This was followed by a coalition of rebel forces, the Ethiopian Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). A constitution was adopted in 1994 and Ethiopia's first multiparty elections were held in 1995.

Facts …

• Diaspora is a critical resource for a country’s development
• African countries spend more than $4 billion annually to employ about 100,000 non-African expatriates to fill the professional gap created because of migration.
• The migration of skilled and educated personnel from developing to developed countries has long been a critical issue and an unsolved development problem.
• Studies estimate that there are about 200 million émigrés around the world.
• MoH estimates that 80% of medical doctors leave the country for South Africa, Botswana and the Middle East immediately after their graduation
• MoE estimates that during the 2004/05 academic year, more than 530 expatriate instructors were working in different government higher institutions throughout the country