Published November 30, 2011 | By Colston Reid

Ethiopia enjoys the status of one of the most stable countries in Africa. Headed by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, his government has won support from the west for working to curb their reliance on foreign aid. However, opposition protesters content that the regime is intolerant to dissent. Ethiopia has one of the fastest growing non-oil based economies in Africa, nonetheless it is still heavily dependent on agriculture which is often affected by drought. Tensions with Eritrea persist since it broke away from Ethiopia is 1993. Neither side acknowledges the border established during the peace talks. As a key U.S. ally in the region, Ethiopian troops participated in joint operations during 2006 to oust Islamists militants in control of Southern Somalia. Their formal presence in the country ended in 2009.