1974 Ethiopian coup d'état

On 12 September 1974, Emperor Haile Selassie was deposed by the Derg, a Soviet-backed military junta that consequently ruled Ethiopia until 1991.

In February 1974, the Ethiopian Revolution accompanied by mutinies by military units of the government ignited that resented low payment. The Derg established Coordinating Council of the Armed Forces in June 1974, grew rapidly to topple the ministers of Haile Selassie under Prime Minister Endelkachew Makonnen. Upon deposing the emperor, many of his personages and royal crowns fled to London like Crown Prince Asfaw Wossen. On 27 March 1975, the Derg abolished the Ethiopian Empire and implement Marxist-Leninist system and nationalized all properties. Haile Selassie died on 27 August, with different sources attributed his death by strangulation by the order of the military government or natural causes during prostate operation.

Background

The feudal mode of production has been major characteristics of the Ethiopian Empire economy for number of centuries. The land – was the most essential mode of production – has been grabbed by the church over 25%, Emperor Haile Selassie and his family (20%), the feudal lords (30%) and state (18%), leaving a mere 7% to the 23 million and odd Ethiopian peasants.

The landless peasants lost 75% of their produce to their landlords. In the late 18th and 19th century, the supply of slave labor for agriculture was commonplace and the landless tenants suffered from miserable life; any tenants who would not voluntarily provide the nominal service was considered a rebel and subsequently jailed.

During the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie, he promised the country to follow democracy and bring modernization such as introducing 1931 and 1958 Constitution.

Haile Selassie faced severe backlash and negative reputations largely because of overtaxing system in Gojjam starting in 1930, famine of Wollo and Tigray in 1958, and autocratic land seizure. On 13 December 1960, a military coup d'état attempt was occurred in Addis Ababa's Guenete Leul Palace by opposition groups Germame Neway and Mengistu Neway after Haile Selassie returning from state visit in Brazil. This coup considered as the initial point of students movements against Haile Selassie government. In February 1965, students from Addis Ababa University marched in streets under slogan "Land for the Tiller", demanding land reform and distribution. Along with combinations of armed resistance movement in Eritrea in early 1960s and some Ethiopian provinces in Bale, Gojjam and Tigray, Haile Selassie government overwhelmed by early 1970s. In 1973, severe drought killed 100,000 people in the Wollo and Tigray, which notably degraded his public image.

In February 1974, mutinies broke out in the military over low payment and intrigued by conflicts of Eritrea.

Event

In June 1974, the Derg established Coordinating Council of the Armed Forces and the Police and National Army. Within three months, the Derg rapidly grown depose the emperor, followed by topple of Endelkachew Mekonnen cabinet.

On 12 September 1974, Haile Selassie was imprisoned by group of police officers named Coordinating Committee of the Armed Forces, later renamed as the Derg. The 58 years-old former crown prince Asfaw Wossen along many patronages of the emperor exiled to London. On 23 November, the Massacre of the Sixty was took place in which 60 officials of Haile Selassie government, including 2 premiers of military chief, executed by firing squad in Kerchele Prison. The execution heard over Ethiopian Radio in the next day; the council also included General Aman Andom, Aklilu Habte-Wold, Endelkachew Mekonnen, and Haile Selassie's grandson Admiral Iskinder Desta. Many executed people were from 200 former cabinet ministers, government officials, provincial governors, and judges who were held in cellars of National Palace awaiting trial on charges of corruption and maladministration.

Inspired by Marxist-Leninist policy, the Derg abolished feudal system and implemented nationalized system. On 21 March 1975, the Derg formally abolished the Ethiopian Empire, titles of the crown prince and princesses stepped down. On 27 August 1975, Haile Selassie died in small apartment inside his palace at the age of 83. Official sources attributed his death to natural causes caused by prostate operation, but evidence emerged that he was killed by strangulation in his bed by the order of the military government.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:1974 Ethiopian coup detat
1974 in Ethiopia
Haile Selassie
Ethiopian Civil War
Ethiopian Empire
20th century in Ethiopia