Red Terror and Suppression
In September 1974, military officers calling themselves the Derg (committee) overthrew Haile Selassie. The Derg ruled Ethiopia 1974-1991 under a Marxist-Leninist framework led by Mengistu Haile Mariam.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Regime | The Derg / Provisional Military Administrative Council |
| Period | 1974-1991 |
| Leader | Mengistu Haile Mariam |
| Ideology | Marxism-Leninism |
Early Reforms
The Derg:
- Abolished the monarchy
- Nationalized land (1975)
- Ended gabbar system
- Began literacy campaigns
- Nationalized businesses
Red Terror (1977-1978)
The Red Terror was a wave of mass violence against political opposition. Tens of thousands died across Ethiopia. Oromo intellectuals, students, and activists were among the victims. The campaign aimed to eliminate the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party (EPRP) and other perceived threats.
Oromo Under Derg
- OLF operated under severe pressure but continued
- Many Oromo joined Derg cadres; others resisted
- Afaan Oromoo saw limited use in literacy campaigns but remained marginalized in state
- Cultural expression — Oromo music, Irreecha — was restricted
- Drought and war brought the 1984-85 famine
War and Collapse
Multiple insurgencies — Eritrean, Tigrayan, Oromo — pressed the Derg throughout the 1980s. Soviet collapse removed key support. In May 1991, the Derg fell to advancing forces led primarily by the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) coalition, including the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and OLF.
Mengistu's Fate
Mengistu fled to Zimbabwe, where he has remained in exile. Multiple tribunals have found him guilty of genocide in absentia.
Assessment
The Derg era was complex: land reform brought real change for peasants; political violence and economic mismanagement caused vast suffering.
Key takeaway: The Derg regime (1974-1991) brought revolutionary reforms and severe repression; it ended with a coalition that included the OLF entering Addis Ababa.