Massacre of the Sixty facts for kids
| Part of the Ethiopian Civil War | |
Victims of the massacre in photo
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| Native name | ጥቁር ቅዳሜ |
|---|---|
| Date | 23 November 1974 |
| Location | Kerchele Prison, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia |
| Also known as | the Sixty Black Saturday |
| Type | Execution by firing squad |
| Target | 60 officials of the imperial government of Haile Selassie |
| Outcome | Executed |
The Massacre of the Sixty, also known as Black Saturday, was a very sad event in Ethiopia. On November 23, 1974, 60 former government officials were killed. This happened in Addis Ababa at a prison called Kerchele Prison. People also called this prison Alem Bekagn, which means "I've had enough of this world." This event was ordered by the Derg government.
This massacre took place during the Ethiopian Revolution. The Derg government had promised a peaceful change. Their slogan was "Ethiopia first, without any bloodshed." Sadly, the massacre showed that this promise was broken. This event was a sign of more violence to come. It led to a period called the Red Terror. It also marked the start of the Ethiopian Civil War.
What Happened on Black Saturday?
On the morning of November 23, 1974, 60 people were killed. These people were former officials of the government. They had been put in prison by the new Derg government. The Derg was a military group that took control of Ethiopia.
Most of the people killed were important figures. They included former prime ministers and generals. Their names were later announced on Ethiopian Radio. This event shocked many people in Ethiopia and around the world.
Who Was Affected?
Fifty-four people were executed at Kerchele Prison. These executions were ordered by Mengistu Haile Mariam. He was a powerful leader in the Derg government.
Six other people were killed in a different event. They died in a shootout at the home of General Aman Andom. General Andom was also killed during this shootout.
This tragic day marked a major shift in the revolution. It showed that the new government was willing to use force. It also led to a long period of conflict in Ethiopia.
Images for kids
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Victims of the massacre in photo
