Mengistu Haile Mariam

Mengistu Haile Mariam (born May 21, 1937) is an Ethiopian soldier and politician who is the leader of Ethiopia from 1977 to 1991 and General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Ethiopia from 1984 to 1991.

He is the chairman of the Derg, the socialist military junta that governs Ethiopia, from 1977–87, and the President of the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (PDRE) from 1987–91.

Considered to be one of the most notorious African leaders of the twentieth century, Mengistu's reign is infamous for its brutality, autocracy and economic mismanagement.

The Derg takes power in the Ethiopian Revolution following the overthrow of Emperor Haile Selassie I in 1974, marking the end of the Solomonic dynasty which had ruled Ethiopia since the thirteenth century.

Mengistu purges rivals for power from the Derg and makes himself Ethiopia's dictator, attempting to modernize Ethiopia's feudal economy through Marxist-Leninist-inspired policies such as nationalization and land redistribution.

His bloody consolidation of power in 1977–78 is known as the Ethiopian Red Terror, a brutal crackdown on opposition groups and civilians following a failed assassination attempt by the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party (EPRP) in September 1976, after they had ignored the Derg's invitation to join the union of socialist parties.

The death count is unknown, but is often estimated between thirty thousand to seven hundred and fifty thousand.

Internal rebellion and government repression characterized Mengistu's presidency, the Red Terror period being a battle for dominance between the Derg, the EPRP and their rivals the All-Ethiopia Socialist Movement, who had initially aligned themselves with the Derg.

While this internal conflict is being fought Ethiopia is threatened by both Somali invasion and the guerilla campaign of the Eritrean People's Liberation Front who demand independence for Eritrea, at this time a province of Ethiopia.

The Ogaden War of 1977–78 over a disputed border region with Somalia is notable for the prominent role of Mengistu's Soviet and Cuban allies in securing an Ethiopian victory.

The catastrophic famine of 1983–85 brings his government the most international attention.

Mengistu leaves for Zimbabwe in May 1991 after the PDRE National Assembly dissolves itself and calls for a transitional government.

His departure brings an abrupt end to the Ethiopian Civil War.

Mengistu Haile Mariam still lives in Harare, Zimbabwe, and remains there despite an Ethiopian court verdict finding him guilty in absentia of genocide.

Mengistu's government is estimated to be responsible for the deaths of twelve hundred thousandto over two million Ethiopians.

This includes Tafari Benti, who had been a founding member of the Derg.

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