2001 in Ethiopia explained

The following lists events that happened during 2001 in Ethiopia.

Incumbents

• President

Negasso Gidada (until October 8), Girma Wolde-Giorgis (from October 8)

• Prime Minister

Meles Zenawi

Events

January

• January 10 - Ethiopia rejects Djibouti's port-handling charges for imports and exports with them, claiming it to be a violation of an agreement in 1999.^[1]
• January 13 - Diplomatic tension rises with Somalia, who accuses Ethiopia of attempting to create a secessionist state in the already unstable country.^[2]
• January 25 - Somalia's Prime Minister accuses Ethiopia of destabilising his country by massing troops in the south west.^[3]

February

• February 20 - Thousands of Ethiopian troops begin withdrawing from Eritrea after a successful peace agreement after the Eritrean-Ethiopian War.^[4]
• February 24 - Ethiopia declares the withdrawal from Eritrea complete.^[5]

April

• April 12 - Police crack down on student protesters, demanding greater freedom of speech. This leaves 50 students hospitalised.^[6]
• April 17 - Hundreds of riot police storm in and beat up civilians during the riots including women and children in the capital of Addis Ababa.^[7]
• April 18 - Thousands of students clash with police during the second day of rioting.^[8]
• April 21 - The Ethiopian Human Rights Council denies that student protesters are being held in detention camps, causing anger among relatives of the missing students.^[9]
• April 24 - The University of Addis Ababa reopens after temporary closure during riots that left 39 killed and 250 injured.^[10]
• April 26 - More than 2000 students are released from prison by riot police.^[11] Several students report instances of torture while incarcerated.^[12]

May

• May 4 - The political temperature is reported to have risen since the April riots.^[13]

November

• November 15 - Animal smuggling is reported to have cost the country 100 million dollars every year.^[14]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Ethiopia rejects Djibouti port charges.
2. Web site: Ethiopia and Somalia in diplomatic row.
3. Web site: Ethiopia destabilising Somalia -- Somali PM.
4. Web site: Ethiopia starts troop withdrawal from Eritrea.
5. Web site: Ethiopia says pull-out complete.
6. Web site: Ethiopian police charge against students.
7. Web site: 'Brutal' attack by Addis police.
8. Web site: More clashes in Addis Ababa.
9. Web site: Anger over Ethiopian detainees.
10. Web site: University reopens after Addis riots.
11. Web site: Ethiopian students released.
12. Web site: Ethiopia's released students tell their stories.
13. Web site: Protests radicalise Ethiopia's youth.
14. Web site: Ethiopia hit by massive animal smuggling.