The Tragic Fall of Haile Selassie
The fall of Haile Selassie in 1974 marked the dramatic end of one of Africa’s longest-reigning monarchies and signaled a turning point in Ethiopian history. Revered by many as a modernizer and a symbol of African independence, yet criticized by others for presiding over inequality and autocratic rule, Selassie’s overthrow was the result of mounting political, economic, and social pressures that had been building for years.
Haile Selassie ascended the throne in 1930 and became an international figure after resisting the Italian invasion of Ethiopia in 1935. His appeal to the League of Nations made him a symbol of anti-colonial resistance. After returning to power in 1941 with Allied support, he sought to modernize Ethiopia by expanding education, centralizing government authority, and introducing a constitution. However, despite these reforms, political power remained concentrated in the monarchy, and land ownership stayed largely in the hands of aristocrats and the church. Rural peasants, who formed the majority of the population, lived in poverty and paid heavy rents to landlords.
By the early 1970s, Ethiopia faced severe economic hardship. Inflation rose sharply, unemployment increased, and dissatisfaction grew among students, workers, and the military. A devastating famine in the province of Wollo between 1972 and 1974 exposed deep structural problems in the country. Reports suggested that the imperial government was slow to respond and attempted to conceal the scale of the crisis. Images of starving Ethiopians shocked the world and intensified domestic anger.
In 1974, protests erupted across Ethiopia. Students demanded land reform and political freedom. Workers went on strike. Even the armed forces, long considered loyal to the emperor, began to mutiny over poor pay and conditions. Amid this unrest, a group of junior military officers formed a committee known as the Derg. Initially presenting themselves as reformers seeking stability, the Derg gradually consolidated power.
In September 1974, the Derg formally deposed Haile Selassie. The elderly emperor was placed under house arrest in the imperial palace in Addis Ababa. The monarchy, which had claimed a lineage tracing back to King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, was abolished. Ethiopia was declared a socialist state under military rule.
Haile Selassie died in custody in August 1975 under mysterious circumstances. Years later, a court in Ethiopia concluded that he had been murdered on the orders of Derg leader Mengistu Haile Mariam, though at the time the regime announced that he had died of natural causes. His death symbolized not only the end of imperial rule but also the beginning of a new and turbulent era marked by repression, the “Red Terror,” and prolonged civil conflict.
