Figure 1.--Modern African history has for the most part not been a happy time. The high hopes of independence were rarely realized. Most authors focus on imperialism and European colonial rule as the cause of Africa's problems. Much less discussed is the fact that independence came to African countries at a time that socialist economic policies were widely accepted. Few African political leaders and intelectuals appreciated the power of capitalism and free markets. Rthiopia of course had only a bruef period of Italian colonial rule. Ethipia's problems were coupled with a Revolution that used totalitarian models (1974). The result in Ethiopis was not just economic failure as in other African countries, but also terrible famine. Ironically, Ethiopians were fed by the capitalist countries like America whose political and economic liberty their leaders rejected. This refugee boy was photographed by Barry L. Thumma, probably during the 1980s. The caption read. This Ethiopian youngster waits in line for a daily feedin at a refugee camp near the Ethiopian border in Sudan Africa. He wears an identification bracelet much like those worn in a hospital to keep track of his condition. The marks on his face are representative of certain tribes in Africa." The Revolutionary Ethiopian regime received guns and military support from the Socialist countries, but little food to feed the population abd the policies of the Revolutionary Government, as in other Socialist countries, actually reduced food production.

The failure of Emperor Haile Selassie to moderize the country and address deep seeded social problems combined with famine and the simmering war in Eritrea to make the aging Emperor increasingly unpopular. Finally a wave of demonstrations, mutinies and uprisings suceeded in overthrowing the Emperor. He held under armed guard in his palace and died several months later. There was no one of stature to replace him. The country was in the hands od the Army and a group of junior officers who proceeded to impose a military dictatorship. Ethiopia had no tradition of democracy and the Emperor had done nothing to build one. The junior officers were poorly educated and were impressed by socialist ideas that were popular in nationalist, anti-colonial circles throughout Europe. The saw little value in either democracy or free market economics. These men saw that Ethiopia needed a social revolution which was obvious enough, but they saw the Communist model and socialist economics as the effective way of modernizing their country. Mengistu Haile Miriam emerged as the revolutionary leader. He proceeded to expel Americans and institute radical economic reforms. He ordered the arrest of any one who criticized his regime. Vigilante groups carried out massacres. Opposition grew. The Eritreans intensified their guerrilla war. It is in this atmoshere that the Somalis decided to launch a campaign to reclaim the Ogaden desert.

Final Years of Emperor Haile Selassie's Rule

The failure of Emperor Haile Selassie to moderize the country and address deep seeded social problems combined with famine and the simmering war in Eritrea to make the aging Emperor increasingly unpopular. A coup was launched when the Emperor was away on a foreign visit (1960). The Emperor's oldest son was involved. After the coup was defeated, he claimed that the coup plotters forced him to participate. This began a period of rising unrest. The Emperor proved unable to institure needed fomestic reforms, in part dbecause a modernization of Ethiopian society would undermine the traditional supports of the monarchy. The Emperor was active in foreign affairs. He played a najor role in founding the the Organization of African Unity (IAU) (1963). The OAU secretariat was located at Addis Ababa. The aging Emperor continued to be active in international affairs(early 1970s). He helped to mediate disputes between Senegal and Guinea, Tanzania and Uganda, and northern and southern Sudan. But he for the most part ignored domestic problems.

Overthrow of Emperor Haile Selassie (1974)

There was great inequity in Ethiopian society. Wealth was unequaly distributed, with a small mumber of people controlling large areas of agriculrural land as well as much of the country's wealth. The economy might be described as virtually feudal. Little effort was made to develop the countryside. There was extensive official corruption. Inflation became a najor problem as well as high rates of urban unemployment. These problems were exacerbated by severe drought in the north (1972-75). Strikes and demonstrations were organized by students, workers, and soldiers (February 1974). a wave of demonstrations, mutinies and uprisings suceeded in overthrowing the Emperor. The military finally seized power (September 12, 1974). The Emperor was held under armed guard in his palace and died several months later.

Military Dictatorship

There was no one of bational stature to replace Emperor Haile Selassie. The country was in the hands od the Army and a group of poorly educated junior officers. The Provisional Military Administrative Council (Derg) was established to oversee a new government. The Derg proceeded to impose a military dictatorship. Ethiopia had no tradition of democracy and the Emperor had done nothing to build one. The junior officers were poorly educated and were impressed by socialist ideas that were popular in nationalist, anti-colonial circles throughout Europe. The saw little value in either democracy or free market economics. These men saw that Ethiopia needed a social revolution which was obvious enough, but they saw the Communist model and socialist economics as the effective way of modernizing their country.

Mengistu Haile Miriam

Mengistu Haile Miriam was a key figure in the military coup that replaced the Emperir. He emerged as the revolutionary leader. Mengistu serving as chairman of the Derg.

Radical Reform

Mengistu proceeded to expel Americans and institute radical economic reforms. The Derg issued a program which established a radical state-controlled socialist economy (late-1974). There was no national discussion of this. It was instituted by the young members of the Derg, men with little education and virtually no knowledge of economics. Rather they were influenced by the vague idea that socialism was a modern, scirntific answer to social and ecomonic problems. The Derg nationalized all agricultural land (early 1975). This action was taken despitev the fact that similar actions in other countries led to a deline in agricultural production. The Derg seems to have been totally unaware of this. The nationlized land was parceled out in small plots to individuals. Land reform was needed, but the size of the plots was not eell thoughout out and there was little Government support for the new labdowners. The Derg next abolished the monarch (March 1975). Ethiopia thus became a republic. The Derg permitted no resistance to its reforms or even discussion. The Derg ordered the arrest of any one who criticized its policies. Vigilante groups organized by the Derg carried out massacres. As aesult, opposition to the regime began to develop.

Eritrea

The Eritrean secessionists mounted a military reponse to Ethiopian control. This began during the rule of Emperor Haile Selassie. Diferences escated with Sudan (1965). Ethiopia charged the Sudanese with assisting the Eritrean independence movement. Here there were both political and religious motives. Ethiopian security actions resulted in 7,000 Eritreans fleeing to Sudan (1967). The Ethiopian Government declared a state of emergency in Eritrea (December 1970). The guerrilla war continued to simmer.

Ogaden War

Problems developed along Ethiopia's borders. The border between Ethiopia and Somalia was never precisely deliniated in he desolate Ogaden Desert. Border disputes erupted into actual hostilities while Emoeror Haile Selassie was still in power (1964). A truce was negotiated (March) which set up a demilitarized zone. Even so there were occassional incidents. In the unstable environment after the Derg seized power, the Somalis decided to launch a campaign to reclaim the Ogaden desert.

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Created: 1:06 AM 5/21/2010
Last updated: 1:06 AM 5/21/2010