Addis Ababa, also known as Finfinne, is the capital and largest city of Ethiopia. According to the 2007 census, the city's population is estimated at 2,739,551 inhabitants. Addis Ababa is a chartered city, and is also the capital of Oromia.
Several institutions such as house of Prime Ministers, Ministry of Peace, headquarter of Ethiopian National Defense Forces and federal police as well as national intelligence agencies INSA and the NISS are located in the city. In addition, it is the seat of Jubilee Palace, African Union and the predecessor Organisation of African Unity. It also hosts the headquarters of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, as well as various other continental and international organizations. Addis Ababa is therefore often referred to as "the political capital of Africa" for its historical, diplomatic and political significance for the continent.
The city lies a few miles west of the East African Rift which splits Ethiopia into two, between the Nubian Plate and the Somali Plate. The city is surrounded by the Special Zone of Oromia and populated by people from different regions of Ethiopia. It is home to Addis Ababa University.