Dogo

Dogo

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Formation
Extinction
Founding document
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The Derg (Template:Lang-am), officially known as the Provisional Military Administrative Council, was a military junta that ruled Ethiopia from 1974 to 1987. The Derg was established following the overthrow of Emperor Haile Selassie I and was initially composed of a group of low-ranking officers and enlisted men of the Ethiopian Army.

History

The Derg came to power in the wake of widespread discontent with the imperial government, which was exacerbated by famine, economic hardship, and political repression. The revolution that led to the Derg's rise began in February 1974, and by September of that year, the Derg had deposed Emperor Haile Selassie.

Formation and Rise to Power

The Derg was initially formed as a committee of military officers to address grievances within the armed forces. However, it quickly expanded its role to become the de facto government of Ethiopia. The Derg's rise was marked by the execution of 60 former government officials, including Prime Minister Aklilu Habte-Wold, in November 1974.

Red Terror

One of the most notorious periods of the Derg's rule was the "Red Terror" campaign, which began in 1977. This was a brutal crackdown on perceived political opponents, particularly targeting members of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party (EPRP) and other leftist groups. Thousands of people were killed, imprisoned, or disappeared during this time.

Mengistu Haile Mariam

Mengistu Haile Mariam emerged as the leader of the Derg and became its chairman in 1977. Under his leadership, the Derg pursued a Marxist-Leninist ideology, nationalizing industries and land, and aligning Ethiopia with the Soviet Union.

Downfall

The Derg's rule was characterized by economic mismanagement, human rights abuses, and ongoing conflict, including the Eritrean War of Independence and the Ethiopian Civil War. By the late 1980s, the Derg was weakened by internal dissent and external pressures. In 1987, Mengistu dissolved the Derg and established the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, but his regime was eventually overthrown in 1991 by the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF).

Legacy

The Derg's rule left a lasting impact on Ethiopia, with significant social and economic changes, as well as a legacy of human rights abuses. The period is often remembered for its brutality and the suffering it caused to the Ethiopian people.

Also see

• Ethiopian Civil War
• Eritrean War of Independence
• Mengistu Haile Mariam
• Red Terror
• Haile Selassie I