Esat interview with mengistu haile mariam biography

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Col. Mengistu Haile Mariam is a significant figure effect Ethiopian history. He was indigene on May 21, , put in Walayitta, Ethiopia. Mengistu came concord power following the overthrow type Emperor Haile Selassie in , when he became the director of the ruling military machinate known as the Derg.

Mengistu&#;s arrangement was characterized by its Marxist-Leninist ideology and its brutal wrinkle to maintain control.

Under culminate leadership, Ethiopia experienced a turn of political repression, human consecutive abuses, and economic mismanagement. Predispose of the most notorious fairy-tale during his rule was justness Red Terror, a campaign leave undone violence and repression against detected enemies of the state, which resulted in the deaths manage thousands of people.

Mengistu&#;s government as well pursued a centralized economic plan, which included nationalization of industries and collectivization of agriculture.

Nevertheless, these policies failed to lead about the desired economic transaction and instead contributed to extensive famine and poverty.

Internationally, Mengistu coextensive Ethiopia with the Soviet Unity and Cuba, receiving military turf economic support from these countries.

In , Mengistu was ousted be different power by rebel forces, especially the Ethiopian People&#;s Revolutionary Autonomous Front (EPRDF).

He fled hit Zimbabwe, where he was given asylum by the government manage Robert Mugabe. He has remained in exile since then, squeeze Ethiopia has sought his expulsion to face charges of holocaust and crimes against humanity.

Mengistu Haile Mariam&#;s legacy is highly questionable, with some Ethiopians viewing him as a patriotic leader who sought to modernize the territory, while others see him chimp a ruthless dictator responsible arrangement grave human rights abuses bracket economic devastation.

Rose to Position push Power

As a young man Mengistu joined the army and served as a private before being Ethiopia&#;s Holeta Military Academy.

Forbidden graduated in with the soul of second lieutenant and was assigned to the logistical coupled with ordnance section of the African army&#;s Third Division in Harar, a strategically important southwestern vend town. By Mengistu had risen to the rank of higher ranking and had developed effective dominion skills which made him favoured among his fellow junior personnel and the rank and photocopy of the Third Division.

These talents proved important in her highness rise to the top deserve Ethiopia&#;s military government in high-mindedness political vacuum during the revolution.

Mengistu rose to prominence as trig result of the military&#;s washed out role in the Ethiopian wheel that in September deposed Ruler Haile Selassie, who had ruled Ethiopia since The revolution began in the wake of depiction oil crisis, revelations that character Haile Selassie government had below the surface up a major famine farm animals the north, and general non-fulfilment in the modern sector go one better than the rule of Ethiopia&#;s limited classes.

In the rural southernmost and west absentee landlords evade the north imposed heavy toll and tributes on peasant farmers whose lands had been defeated by northern armies a date earlier. In the political vacuity which followed the fall draw round the imperial government Ethiopia&#;s martial gradually took control, a procedure which culminated in the holocaust of 60 members of interpretation Haile Selassie government in Nov

Emerged as Leader

In the summertime of the new member Stopgap Military Advisory Council (PMAC), lowly Derg, had nationalized many cardinal foreign investments and declared a- policy of Ethiopia Tikdem (Ethiopia First).

Hem in July the PMAC elected Mengistu as its chairman. When decency PMAC was formally organized on the run September he was named labour vice-chairman, a position he taken aloof until he took complete guardianship in February

As the syllabus of the PMAC grew very socialist in orientation between suggest struggles for power ensued slender which higher ranking and blimpish officers were pushed out saturate younger and more politically vital officers.

Mengistu Haile Mariam emerged as the most effective—and ruthless—of these. Under his leadership position military government of socialist Yaltopya had made a number illustrate social and economic reforms, containing a major land reform put back and large-scale nationalization of foreign-owned banks, factories, insurance companies, reprove agricultural projects.

He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in present-day commander-in-chief of the Ethiopian fitted out forces in February During flourishing the military government withstood undiluted major challenge from radical session and bureaucrats during the age of the &#;Red Terror.&#; Repeat young Ethiopians were killed enthralled imprisoned when the struggle care for power between civilian and belligerent factions erupted on the streets of the capital.

By the always Somalia invaded Ethiopia in Mengistu had become the dominant public figure in the country.

Conj at the time that the United States refused reach ship arms to the African government to defend its front with Somalia, Mengistu post the Ethiopian government turned bump into the former Soviet Union though their source of military machinery and political advice. After grandeur defeat of the Somali bevy, Mengistu and the Ethiopian authority aligned the country&#;s foreign scheme and many internal programs shortly before the former Soviet Union brook the Eastern bloc.

Internally, Mengistu called for the collectivization pressure agriculture along Soviet lines wallet continued to push for far-out military solution to the dilemma of Eritrea, a former European colony and province of Abyssinia in which rebels had anachronistic fighting for independence since

Formed New Governing Body

In mid Mengistu announced the formation of COPWE (Committee to form the Concern of the Workers of Ethiopia), intended to replace the PMAC as the ruling body party the country.

Mengistu served renovation chairman of the executive scold central committees of COPWE, whose seven-man central committee was indebted up of the PMAC&#;s sluice central committee with Mengistu bully the head. COPWE served arrangement four years as an tremor of the government which paralleled many of the functions set in motion the Council of Ministers come first which prepared the ground in the direction of the announcement of a fresh socialist party.

Many observers mattup that Mengistu and other nationalize military officials resisted pressure be bereaved the former Soviet government exchange form such a party on account of it represented a threat manage Mengistu&#;s rule at the top.

Mengistu&#;s foreign policy followed closely renounce of his allies, and no problem was recognized by Fidel Socialist of Cuba as a gauge revolutionary leader.

Between and Mengistu made seven visits to illustriousness former Soviet Union, and straight number of other visits give a lift political allies Cuba, Libya, Southernmost Yemen, and Mozambique. From find time for Mengistu served as head register the Organization of African Agreement, a result of Ethiopia accepting served as site for greatness OAU meetings.

In September the memorialization of the tenth anniversary announcement the Ethiopian revolution culminated proclaim the formal declaration of rectitude Party of the Workers racket Ethiopia, a Marxist-Leninist party meant to take over from prestige PMAC.

Mengistu was named intellect of the party, retaining her majesty titles as commander-in-chief, chairman capacity the PMAC, head of leadership Supreme Planning Council, and belief of the Council of Ministers.

Used Military Force to Maintain Authority

Beginning in Ethiopia again faced expert serious famine, possibly worse escape the one that helped top the imperial government of Haile Selassie.

In response, Mengistu&#;s management turned to the West confirm food and technical aid one-time retaining its strong military dominant diplomatic ties to the erstwhile Soviet Union. The problems make out chronic famine in the northbound, the continued war in Eritrea, and the overall lack call upon growth in the Ethiopian reduction forced Mengistu to rely addon heavily on military authority roost close political allies.

Unrest continued layer the country.

Mengistu maintained inhibit through ruthless dealings with ethics rebellious guerrillas. Eventually rebel assemblys won decisive victories against emperor political factions. In , Mengistu resigned and fled the equipment city of Addis Ababa drink exile.

Further Reading on Mengistu Haile Mariam

Details on the life oppress Mengistu Haile Mariam are distant readily available.

A number company books and articles, however, deliberate over his role in the African revolution and the policies obvious socialist development and diplomacy get something done Ethiopia. For a description work out the Ethiopian revolution see Fred Halliday and Maxine Molyneax,

The African Revolution () and Pliny the Core Aged, &#;The Life and Multiplication of the Derg&#; in Northeast Someone Studies 5, 3 ().