Ethiopian Civil War

Long ago, a war began in Ethiopia.

A group of soldiers took control of the land. This group was called the Derg. They led the country for many years.

Many groups fought against the new leaders. Some people wanted their own land. Other people wanted things to be fairer. This war was very hard for many people.

Later, the rebel groups won. They helped bring a new government to the land.

A long war happened in Ethiopia and Eritrea. It started in 1974.

At first, Emperor Haile Selassie ruled the land. In 1974, a group of soldiers called the Derg took control. They removed the Emperor from power.

The Derg wanted to make Ethiopia a socialist state. This meant the government controlled most things.

Many groups fought against the Derg. Some groups wanted their own land. Others wanted different rules for the country. The Derg used a campaign called the Red Terror to fight rebels. This was a very violent time.

Many people were hurt or killed during this period.

In 1977, Somalia invaded a part of Ethiopia called the Ogaden.

This made the war even bigger. Later, a bad famine hit the land. This made life very hard for many people. By 1991, rebel groups won the war. The Derg leaders fled the country.

At least 1.4 million people died during the war.

The Ethiopian Civil War was a long and difficult conflict. It lasted from September 12, 1974, until May 28, 1991.

The war took place in Ethiopia and the area now known as Eritrea. It began when a military group called the Derg took power. This group overthrew the Ethiopian Empire and Emperor Haile Selassie.

The Derg wanted to turn Ethiopia into a Marxist-Leninist state. This meant the government would follow a specific type of socialism. They became a military junta, which is a group of military leaders in charge. Many people in the country were unhappy with these new rules.

Different groups fought against the Derg for many reasons. Some groups were nationalist and wanted their own land. For example, the Eritrean Peoples Liberation Front (EPLF) fought for Eritrea.

Other groups like the Tigrayan Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) also grew strong. The Western Somali Liberation Front (WSLF) worked in the Ogaden region. The Derg tried to stop these rebels with military campaigns. They also used a period of violence called the Qey Shibir, or the Red Terror.

This campaign targeted many people to keep the government in control.

In 1977, the war grew much larger when Somalia invaded the Ogaden region.

Somalia wanted to help the WSLF rebels. This invasion was a big blow to the Derg. To fight back, the Soviet Union and Cuba sent military help to Ethiopia. This help pushed the Somali forces back. However, the fighting remained very intense for many years. The Derg also tried to change into a civilian government later on. In 1987, they formed the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (PDRE). They hoped this would help them stay in power.

Many hard things happened to the people of Ethiopia during this time. A very large famine occurred between 1983 and 1985. This famine, along with a weak economy, made people support the rebels more.

In the late 1980s, the Soviet Union stopped helping the Derg. This left the government very weak against the winning rebel groups. On May 28, 1991, the war finally ended. A group called the EPRDF entered the capital city, Addis Ababa. The leader, President Mengistu Haile Mariam, fled the country. The Derg was replaced by a new transitional government.

The war had a very heavy cost for the country. At least 1.4 million people died during the years of fighting.

About 1 million of those deaths were caused by the famine. The rest of the deaths came from combat and other violence. This history shows how much change can happen during a war. It also shows how different groups can shape a nation's future. Understanding this helps us learn about the history of East Africa today.

The Ethiopian Civil War was a major conflict in East Africa. It lasted from September 12, 1974, to May 28, 1991.

The war took place in Ethiopia and present-day Eritrea. It was fought between the Derg and various anti-government rebel groups. The Derg was a military junta, which is a group of military leaders. This group took control after a coup d'état, or a sudden seizure of power. The war changed the political landscape of the entire region. It also caused immense suffering for the people living there.

The conflict began with the fall of the Ethiopian Empire. For many years, Emperor Haile Selassie ruled the nation. However, the empire faced stagnation and slow economic growth. By the 1960s, the government was becoming unpopular. Many people wanted land reform and more democratic rights. In 1974, the military began to protest for better wages and conditions. On September 12, 1974, the Derg overthrew the Emperor.

They established a Marxist-Leninist state, which is a type of socialist government. This new regime seized private property and nationalized many industries.

To maintain control, the Derg used several different methods. One method was a campaign of political repression called the Qey Shibir. This is also known as the Red Terror.

This campaign began after Mengistu Haile Mariam became the Chairman of the Derg. He took a very hardline stance against anyone who opposed the government. The violence included summary executions and imprisonment without trial. The Red Terror targeted groups like the EPRP and MEISON. Many people believe that hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians were victims of this violence.

Various rebel groups fought the Derg for different reasons. Some groups were fighting for independence or ethnic rights. The Eritrean Peoples Liberation Front (EPLF) fought to separate Eritrea from Ethiopia.

Other groups, like the Tigrayan Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF), grew stronger during the 1970s. The Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) also became a significant force. These groups were often organized around specific ethnic backgrounds. They used armed resistance to challenge the central authority of the military junta.

The war involved neighboring countries and international powers. In 1977, the Ogaden War began when Somalia invaded the Ogaden region.

Somalia wanted to support the Western Somali Liberation Front (WSLF). This invasion was a massive blow to the Derg. In response, the Soviet Union and Cuba intervened with military support. This intervention helped the Derg push the Somali forces back. However, the conflict remained intense and widespread for many more years.

Several factors led to the eventual collapse of the Derg. By the mid-1980s, Ethiopia suffered from a devastating famine from 1983 to 1985. Economic decline and poor government policies also hurt the country. These issues increased popular support for the rebel groups. In 1987, the Derg tried to become a civilian government. They formed the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (PDRE) under the Workers' Party of Ethiopia (WPE). This change did not stop the rebels from gaining power. By the late 1980s, the Soviet Union stopped supporting the Derg.

The war ended on May 28, 1991. A coalition of rebel groups called the EPRDF entered the capital, Addis Ababa.

President Mengistu Haile Mariam fled the country. The Derg regime was dissolved and replaced by a transitional government. The war had a massive human cost. At least 1.4 million people died during the conflict. About 1 million of these deaths were caused by the famine. The rest of the deaths resulted from combat and other violence. This history shows how complex political and ethnic tensions can shape a nation.