A group of soldiers ruled Ethiopia.
They took over long ago. They changed how the land was run. Many people were treated unfairly. This was a hard time for the country.
Can you imagine living then?
A group of soldiers ruled a land called Ethiopia.
They were called the Derg. They took over from the king long ago.
The group had many leaders. One leader was named Mengistu. He became the head of the group.
Things were very hard for many people. There was not enough food or water. This caused many people to get sick.
The soldiers also fought wars. They fought against different groups in the land.
Later, the soldiers lost their power. A new group took over the land. This brought an end to the hard times.
The Derg was a group of soldiers that ruled Ethiopia.
This group began in 1974. It was made of many junior officers and police. At first, they worked together to make choices. They chose a man named Mengistu Haile Mariam to lead them.
In 1974, the Derg took power from Emperor Haile Selassie. The group changed Ethiopia into a communist state. This means they wanted to change how land and wealth were shared. They also worked to help more people learn to read.
Things became very hard for the people. Mengistu became the main leader in 1977. He started a campaign called the Red Terror. During this time, the government fought many people who disagreed with them. Many people were put in jail or killed.
Ethiopia also faced many other problems. There were big droughts and a very bad famine. The Derg said over a million people died during this time.
Wars also broke out in the country. Finally, the Derg lost power in 1991.
The Derg was a military group that ruled Ethiopia for many years.
It was officially called the Provisional Military Administrative Council. The group took control of the country starting in 1974. They ruled until 1991, though they changed their government style in 1987. This period was a major turning point for the nation. It changed how the land was used and how people lived.
This group began with a small number of people. It was made of junior and mid-level officers from the army and the police.
Most sources say there were about 120 members at the start. Some historians believe the number was actually closer to 109 or 110. These members came from 40 different units, including the Navy and the Air Force. They did not want senior officers in charge. They felt senior leaders were too close to the old government.
In 1974, the country was facing big changes. Soldiers in southern Ethiopia began to protest about food and water.
These protests grew into a large uprising by students and workers. On September 12, 1974, the Derg overthrew Emperor Haile Selassie. They abolished the monarchy and made Ethiopia a communist state. This meant they wanted to change how land and wealth were shared. They also focused on helping more people learn to read.
Leadership within the group changed over time. At first, the officers made decisions together. They chose Mengistu Haile Mariam to be a leader early on.
In 1977, Mengistu became the main chairman. He started a violent campaign called the Red Terror. This was a way to stop people who disagreed with the government. During this time, many people were put in prison or killed. Some estimates say up to 980,000 people died during this campaign.
Life in Ethiopia was very difficult during these years. The country faced big droughts and a huge famine between 1983 and 1985.
The Derg estimated that more than a million people died from the famine. There were also wars happening in Eritrea and within Ethiopia. Finally, in May 1991, the Derg lost its power. This ended the long civil war that had been going on since 1974.
The Derg was a military junta that ruled Ethiopia from 1974 to 1991.
It was officially named the Provisional Military Administrative Council, or PMAC. This group transformed Ethiopia from an ancient monarchy into a communist state. The Derg's rule changed the country's social and political structure completely. This period involved intense political shifts and significant social reforms. It also included periods of extreme violence and hardship for the people. Understanding the Derg is essential to understanding modern Ethiopian history.
The Derg began as a small group of military and police members.
It was originally called the Coordinating Committee of the Armed Forces, Police and Territorial Army. The group was formed by junior and mid-level officers. They specifically avoided senior officers because they felt those leaders were too close to the old regime. While some sources say there were 120 members, others suggest the number was closer to 109 or 110. These members represented 40 different units, including the Navy and the Air Force. They initially met at the Fourth Division headquarters to organize their movement.
The rise of the Derg was triggered by widespread unrest in 1974. Soldiers in southern Ethiopia first protested due to shortages of food and water.
These military mutinies grew into a massive uprising involving students and trade unions. On September 12, 1974, the Derg overthrew the government of Emperor Haile Selassie. Three days later, they renamed themselves the PMAC and took full control. In March 1975, they officially abolished the monarchy. This turned Ethiopia into a socialist state led by a provisional military government.
Leadership within the Derg changed through internal conflict and executions.
Initially, the officers made decisions collectively. They elected Major Mengistu Haile Mariam as chairman and Major Atnafu Abate as vice-chairman. However, internal power struggles led to several deaths. In 1974, the Derg executed General Aman Andom and 60 imperial officials. In 1977, after a shootout killed Chairman Tafari Benti, Mengistu Haile Mariam assumed full control. He eliminated his rival, Atnafu Abate, to secure his position as the sole leader.
Once in power, Mengistu launched a campaign known as the Red Terror, or Qey Shibir.
This was a political repression campaign designed to eliminate opponents. The Derg targeted rival Marxist groups and separatist movements. The violence was extremely severe between 1976 and 1978. Some estimates suggest that up to 980,000 people were killed during this period. Many people were imprisoned or executed without a trial. This campaign was a central part of how the regime maintained its authority.
The mid-1980s were a period of immense crisis for the Ethiopian nation. The country suffered from economic decline and severe droughts.
A massive famine occurred between 1983 and 1985. The Derg itself estimated that more than one million people died during this famine. At the same time, the government faced increasing conflict. The Ethiopian Civil War and the Eritrean War of Independence intensified. These challenges weakened the stability of the military administration.
In 1987, the Derg attempted to change its political structure. They formally abolished the Derg and created a one-party state.
This new state was called the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. It was led by the Workers' Party of Ethiopia. Although it included civilians, the government was still dominated by Derg members. This shift did not stop the ongoing conflicts. The regime finally fell in May 1991. The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front ended the long civil war by toppling the government.
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