Treaty of Addis Ababa facts for kids
| Context | First Italo-Ethiopian War |
|---|---|
| Signed | October 23, 1896 |
| Location | Addis Ababa |
| Condition | Peace between the Kingdom of Italy and the Ethiopian Empire Abrogation of the Treaty of Wuchale |
| Parties |  Kingdom of Italy
 Ethiopian Empire |
The Treaty of Addis Ababa was an important agreement. It was signed on October 23, 1896, in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. This treaty officially ended the First Italo-Ethiopian War. The terms of the treaty were mostly good for Ethiopia.
This new treaty replaced an earlier secret agreement. That agreement was made just after the big Battle of Adwa in March 1896. In that battle, Ethiopian forces, led by Emperor Menelik II, won a major victory against the Italians.
A key part of the Treaty of Addis Ababa was that Italy agreed to cancel the Treaty of Wuchale. Italy also officially recognized Ethiopia as a completely independent country.
After this treaty, other powerful countries also made agreements with Ethiopia. The United Kingdom and France, who had colonies near Ethiopia, signed treaties in 1897. These treaties treated Ethiopia as an equal nation.
Contents
The Treaty of Addis Ababa: A New Beginning
Why the War Started
The main reason for the war was a disagreement over an earlier treaty. This was the Treaty of Wuchale, signed in 1889. The Italian version of this treaty said that Ethiopia had to handle all its dealings with other countries through Italy. This would have made Ethiopia a "protectorate" of Italy. A protectorate means one country controls another's foreign policy.
However, the Ethiopian version, written in Amharic, said something different. It only gave Ethiopia the option to communicate through Italy. Emperor Menelik II felt tricked when he found out about this difference.
Also, Italy had been slowly taking over parts of Ethiopian land. This happened between 1889 and when the fighting started in 1895. These actions made the situation worse and led to the war.
Ethiopia's Big Victory at Adwa
Emperor Menelik's army won a huge victory at the Battle of Adwa. This win put him in a very strong position. He had captured about 3,000 Italian soldiers. His army was large and confident.
The remaining Italian soldiers in Eritrea were discouraged. They worried they might be pushed out of the region entirely. When news of the defeat reached Italy, their Prime Minister, Francesco Crispi, had to step down. Because of all this, Emperor Menelik was in a powerful position to negotiate peace.
Making Peace: The Treaty Negotiations
Negotiations for the new treaty began after the Battle of Adwa. Italy first offered to cancel the Treaty of Wuchale. They also suggested a new treaty of peace and friendship. However, they wanted Menelik to promise not to accept protection from any other country.
Emperor Menelik was fighting for Ethiopia's independence. He did not want to trade one controlling power for another. Historian Harold G. Marcus noted that Menelik was very upset by this first offer. He even demanded their secret truce be returned. He said he would keep the Italian negotiator, Major Tomasso Salsa, until then.
Finally, on August 23, Italy agreed to fully cancel the Treaty of Wuchale. They also recognized Ethiopia's complete independence without any conditions. Once this main point was settled, the talks moved quickly.
What the Treaty Decided
The final treaty included several important decisions:
- Italy officially recognized Ethiopia as a fully independent and sovereign nation.
- The controversial Treaty of Wuchale was completely cancelled.
- Italian soldiers who were prisoners of war would be sent back home. They had been treated well during their captivity.
- Italy agreed to pay 10,000,000 Italian liras. This money was to help cover the costs of keeping the prisoners.
- Italy was allowed to keep some of the land it had taken. This land was beyond the Mareb-Belessa and May/Muni rivers. Some historians say this meant Menelik gave up a part of the Tigray region. This area had long been considered part of the Ethiopian Empire.
Setting the Borders
The exact border between Ethiopia and Eritrea was not fully decided in this treaty. It was further defined in later agreements. These agreements were signed in 1900, 1902, and 1908. These treaties helped to clearly mark the boundaries between the two regions.
