Mengistu Haile Mariam facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mengistu Haile Mariam
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መንግሥቱ ኀይለ ማርያም
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Mengistu in 1978
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| General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Ethiopia | |
| In office 12 September 1984 – 21 May 1991 |
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| Preceded by | Position established |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| President of Ethiopia | |
| In office 10 September 1987 – 21 May 1991 |
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| Prime Minister | Fikre Selassie Wogderess Hailu Yimenu Tesfaye Dinka |
| Vice President | Fisseha Desta (1987–1991) Tesfaye Gebre Kidan (1991) |
| Preceded by | Himself as Chairman of the Derg |
| Succeeded by | Tesfaye Gebre Kidan (Acting) |
| Chairman of the Derg and Head of State of Ethiopia | |
| In office 17 November 1974 – 28 November 1974 Acting |
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| Preceded by | Aman Mikael Andom |
| Succeeded by | Tafari Benti |
| In office 3 February 1977 – 10 September 1987 |
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| Deputy | Atnafu Abate |
| Preceded by | Tafari Benti |
| Succeeded by | Himself as President |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 May 1937 Caffa & Ghimirra, Galla-Sidamo Governorate, Italian East Africa (now Ethiopia) |
| Political party | Workers' Party of Ethiopia (1984–1991) |
| Spouse | Wubanchi Bishaw |
| Children | 3 |
| Residences | Harare, Zimbabwe |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Ethiopian Empire Derg.svg){kind=small} PDR Ethiopia |
| Branch/service | Ethiopian Army |
| Rank | Lieutenant Colonel Commander-in-Chief |
| Battles/wars | 1964 Ethiopian–Somali Border War Ethiopian Civil War Eritrean War of Independence Ogaden War |
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Criminal details
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| Conviction(s) | Genocide (in absentia) |
| Criminal penalty | Life imprisonment (in absentia) Elevated at death penalty (in absentia) |
| Details | |
| Victims | +1,200,000 |
Mengistu Haile Mariam (Amharic: መንግሥቱ ኀይለ ማርያም; born 21 May 1937) is a former leader of Ethiopia. He was a military officer who became the head of state from 1977 to 1991. He also led the Workers' Party of Ethiopia from 1984 to 1991.
Mengistu was the chairman of the Derg, a group of military officers that ruled Ethiopia. They took power after the Ethiopian Revolution in 1974. This revolution ended the rule of Emperor Haile Selassie I and the Solomonic dynasty. Mengistu became the main leader of the Derg. He tried to change Ethiopia's economy by taking over businesses and land. His time in power included a period of severe conflict known as the Ethiopian Red Terror. During this time, many people who opposed the government faced harsh treatment.
His presidency was marked by internal conflicts and economic problems. Ethiopia also faced wars, including the Ogaden War with Somalia. The country also experienced a very serious famine in 1983–1985. This event brought a lot of international attention to his government. Mengistu left Ethiopia in May 1991, which helped end the Ethiopian Civil War. He now lives in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Contents
Early Life and Military Career
Growing Up in Ethiopia
Mengistu Haile Mariam was born on 21 May 1937 in Welayta, Kaffa. This was during the time when Italy occupied Ethiopia. His family moved to Debre Markos after the Italians left in 1941. His father joined the army and later moved to Addis Ababa.
Mengistu grew up partly in army camps and partly with an important family. He went to school in Debre Markos but was known as a difficult teenager. He was later expelled from high school. After this, he joined the army when he was very young.
Joining the Army
As a young soldier, Mengistu caught the eye of General Aman Andom. The General helped him rise in rank and sent him to the Holetta Military Academy. Mengistu graduated in 1957 and became a Second Lieutenant. General Aman continued to be his mentor.
Mengistu was sent to the United States several times for military training. He became fluent in English during his time there. He had some disagreements with his commanders. Years later, after he gained power, he would take action against some of these former commanders.
Rise to Power
The Derg Takes Control
In 1974, Emperor Haile Selassie's government lost public trust. There had been a drought and crop failures. A group of military officers and soldiers, known as the Derg, took power. Mengistu was initially a less important member of this group.
However, between July and September 1974, Mengistu skillfully outmaneuvered other officers. He quickly rose through the ranks of the Derg. He became one of the deputy chairmen from March 1975 to February 1977.
Becoming Ethiopia's Leader
Emperor Haile Selassie passed away in 1975. The Derg, under Mengistu's growing influence, became the new ruling power. The Derg ordered the removal of many former government officials. Mengistu later became the undisputed leader of the Derg.
He took full control after a conflict in February 1977. The previous chairman, Tafari Benti, was removed. Mengistu then became the head of state. He also removed other leaders who disagreed with him, solidifying his power.
Mengistu's Rule in Ethiopia
Dealing with Opposition
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Many groups opposed the Derg's rule. The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party (EPRP) was a main group. Mengistu responded with a harsh campaign called the "Red Terror". This was a period of intense crackdown on those seen as enemies of the government.
Thousands of young people were found dead in the streets. Families sometimes had to pay a fee to get the bodies of their loved ones. A children's charity reported that many children were also killed. This period caused great suffering and loss of life.
Wars and Challenges
Ethiopia faced several military challenges during Mengistu's rule. The Somali Democratic Republic invaded the Ogaden region. However, with help from the Soviet Union and Cuba, Ethiopia pushed back the invasion. The government also fought against groups seeking independence for Eritrea.
Despite military successes, the country faced severe problems. A major famine occurred in 1984. This famine caused many deaths and brought international attention to Ethiopia's struggles.
Changes in Government and Economy
Mengistu adopted the ideas of Marxism–Leninism. His government began to change Ethiopia's economic system. All rural land was taken over by the government. Many foreign and local businesses were also nationalized. This meant the government took control of them.
Farmers were encouraged to join collective farms. The government also controlled how agricultural products were sold. However, these changes, along with civil war and drought, led to problems with food production.
In 1984, the Worker's Party of Ethiopia (WPE) was formed. Mengistu became its general secretary. In 1987, a new constitution was adopted, and the country was renamed the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Mengistu became president, holding a lot of power.
Weakening Power
Towards the end of the 1980s, the government's military strength began to weaken. There were significant defeats in battles against rebel groups. In 1989, while Mengistu was out of the country, some military officials tried to overthrow him. The attempt failed, and many generals were removed.
Leaving Power and Later Life
Fleeing Ethiopia
By 1990, the Soviet Union stopped supporting Mengistu's government. In May 1991, rebel forces advanced on Addis Ababa. Mengistu fled Ethiopia with his family and some officials. He was given a safe place to stay in Zimbabwe by President Robert Mugabe.
His departure led to the end of the Ethiopian Civil War. Most of the other Derg leaders were arrested and put on trial. Mengistu believed that the changes in the Soviet Union led to his government's downfall.
Life in Zimbabwe
Mengistu still lives in Zimbabwe. In 1995, there was an attempt on his life in Harare. He was unharmed, and the attackers were arrested and sentenced to prison. The Ethiopian government has asked for him to be sent back to Ethiopia, but Zimbabwe has refused.
Zimbabwe has stated that Mengistu helped their country during its fight for independence. He provided training and weapons to their fighters. This is why they have allowed him to stay.
Legal Proceedings
The Ethiopian government charged Mengistu with the deaths of many people. The trial began in 1994. In 2006, he was found guilty. He was sentenced to life in prison, but this was done while he was not present in court.
In 2008, an appeal changed his sentence to death, also in his absence. However, he remains in Zimbabwe. Many experts believe that a very large number of people died during his rule.
Personal Life
Mengistu married Wubanchi Bishaw in 1968. They have three children: a son named Andinet, and two daughters, Tigist and Timihirt. He has lived in Zimbabwe since 1991.
Images for kids
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Mengistu in 1986 at a party meeting in East Berlin
