Ethiopian History in September

7 SEPTEMBER, 1632

Emperor Susenyos died on 7 September 1632. During his reign from 1607 to 1632, he unsuccessfuly attempted to change Ethiopia into a Roman Catholic nation. He was succeeded by his son Fasilidas. (Henze 99)

SEPTEMBER 1984

In September 1984 the Ethiopian Communist party was established as the country's sole political party after the monarchy which had existed in Ethiopia for about 2,000 years was overthrown in a military coup in 1974. A provisional military council became the ruling political body. The country's 15 administrative divisions were controlled by appointed military directors. In 1987, in the first national plebiscite in Ethiopian history, voters certified a new constitution establishing the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Later that year, elections were held for a national assembly that replaced the ruling military council.

SEPTEMBER 2000

The Olympic Games held in Sydney were the best ever for Ethiopia. It won more medals and more gold than any other African nation. Only America and Russia were better than Ethiopia on the track and field. Ethiopia concluded the events with 4 gold, 1 silver, and 3 bronze medals and finished 26th overall.

GOLD

• Ethiopia's first gold was won by none other than Haile Gebrselassie who finished with a time of 27:18.20 to win the men's Athletics 10,000m final race on Sept. 25. In that same race, Ethiopia's Assefa Mezgebu took the broze medal and Girma Tolla finished 11th with a time of 27:49.75.
• In the women's athletics 10000m final race, Derartu Tulu won gold along with a new Olympic record. She finished with a time of 30:17.49 on Sept.30 ahead of fellow teammate Gete Wami who took the Silver medal. Berhane Adere finished 12th with a time of 31:40.52
• Just about two hours later Millon Wolde captured Ethiopia's third gold medal in the men's athletics 5000m final race with a time of 13:35.49. Fita Bayissa came in 4th with a time of 13:37.03 and Dagne Alemu finished 6th with a time of 13:37.17.
• Gezahgne Abera made us all proud when he reclaimed the men's Marathon championship for Ethiopia. It had been 36 years since an Ethiopian won the gold medal and Abera finished the race with a time of 2:10:11on Oct.1st, the last day of the events. Tesfaye Tola took the bronze and Simretu Alemayehu came in 22nd place with a time of 2:17:21.

SILVER

• Ethiopia's sole silver was won by Gete Wami in women's athletics 10000m final race with a time of 30:22.48. That event was won by Ethiopian Deratu Tulu.

BRONZE

• Gete Wami took the first of her two medals as she finished third in woman's athletics 5000m final race on Sept. 25. She finished with a time of 14:42.23, 1.44 seconds off first place. Ayelech Worku finished right behind her with a time of 14:42.67 and Worknesh Kidane concluded the race in the 7th position with a time of
  14:47.40.
• Assefa Mezgebu finished behind Haile Gebrselassie and Kenya's Paul Tergat to take the bronze medal in the men's athletics 10000m final race on Sept. 25th. He finished with a time of 27:19.75 .
• Tesfaye Tola claimed Ethiopia and the world's last medal finishing third in the men's Marathon with a time of 2:11:10 on Oct. 1. That event was won by Gezahgne Abera.