Timeline of the Ethiopian Revolution

Last updated May 25, 2024

This is chronology of the Ethiopian Revolution that took place from 12 January to 12 September 1974 in the Ethiopian Empire.

January

12 January - Rank-and-file soldiers of the Negele Boran garrison mutiny over bad food and lack of drinking water. They seize the Emperor's personal envoy, Lt. Gen. Deresse Dubale, and force him to eat and drink as they did.^[1]

February

10 February - Technicians and NCOs at the Debre Zeyit Air Force base mutiny, holding their officers hostage for three days in a mess tent.^[1]
14 February - Students at Haile Selassie University in the capital go on strike against a proposed reform in the educational system. High school teachers and college professors support the student strike.^[1]
18 February - School teachers strike for better pay. On the same day, taxi drivers in Addis Ababa strike over a proposed 50% increase in gas prices.^[1]
23 February - Emperor Haile Selassie concedes to some of the strikers' demands.^[1]
25 February - Enlisted men and NCOs of the Second Division in Asmara mutiny.^[1]
28 February - Prime minister Aklilu Habte-Wold resigns. His resignation was not demanded by any of the rebellious groups, and is seen as a sign of panic and weakness by the palace which is later exploited by civilians and soldiers. He is replaced by Endelkachew Makonnen.^[1]

March

5 March - Emperor Haile Selassie announces that the 1955 Constitution would be revised to make the Prime Minister responsible to parliament.^[1]
7–9 March - The Confederation of Ethiopian Labor Unions calls a general labor strike.^[1]^[2]
31 March - General Abiye Abebe, the new chief of staff and Minister of Defense, announces a plot against the government by Air Force officers had been uncovered and foiled.^[1]

April

20 April - Muslims stage a demonstration in Addis Ababa demanding religious equality and separation of church and state.^[3]
26 April - After weeks of agitation and intermittent strikes, the government shuts down Haile Selassie University.^[4]
27 April - The Coordinating Committee of the Armed Forces (under the command of Colonel Alem Zewde Tessema of the Airborne Corps) issues their first statement, announcing that 19 ministers and former officials of the imperial regime have been arrested.^[5]
30 April - Prime Minister Endelkachew Makonnen announces the creation of a joint military-civilian National Security Commission under General Abiye Abebe to deal with growing lawlessness and the numerous wildcat strikes crippling the country. (This National Security Commission replaces the first Coordinating Committee of the Armed Forces.^[6]

June

25 June - The wives and relations of the arrested officials of the imperial regime (now 25 in number) petition that the prisoners be released pending an investigation. It is rejected by parliament, who see this as an attempt to restore the status quo.^[7]
28 June - In response to the unsuccessful petition, a new Coordinating Committee of the Armed Forces (which becomes the Derg) seizes the radio station in Addis Ababa, and begin to arrest other aristocrats, high officials, and generals suspected of being behind the reactionary movement.^[7]

July

9 July - The Derg issues its first political statement, in an announcement in 13 points.^[7]
22 July - Prime Minister Endelkachew Makonnen resigns. He is replaced by Mikael Imru, a progressive aristocrat.^[7]

August

1 August - Endelkachew Makonnen is arrested by the Derg.^[7]

September

12 September - Emperor Haile Selassie is deposed, starting the Ethiopian Civil War.^[7]
15 September - The Coordinating Committee of the Armed Forces renames itself as the Provisional Military Administrative Council, and announces General Aman Mikael Andom as the new chairman.

November

20 November (approximate date) - General Aman resigns in protest.^[7]
23 November - General Aman dies in a shootout with troops sent to arrest him. That same night 57 important political prisoners held by the Derg are executed.^[7]

December

20 December - The Derg proclaims the establishment of "Ethiopian Socialism", based on the declaration of Etiopia Tikdem.^[8]

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References

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "EVIL DAYS - Human Rights Watch" (PDF). 19 September 2022.
↑ "1974: Ethiopian General Strike | libcom.org". libcom.org. Retrieved 2022-09-19.
↑ Ahmed, Hussein (2006). "Coexistence and/or Confrontation?: Towards a Reappraisal of Christian-Muslim Encounter in Contemporary Ethiopia". Journal of Religion in Africa. 36 (1): 4–22. doi:10.1163/157006606775569622. ISSN 0022-4200. JSTOR 27594361.
↑ "ETHIOPIA Violent Suppression of Student Protest" (PDF). 19 September 2022.
↑ "International Journal of African Development, Vol. 1, Issue 1". 19 September 2022.
↑ "The Lost Opportunity for Ethiopia: The Failure to Move". 19 September 2022.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "THE ETHIOPIAN REVOLUTION" (PDF). 19 September 2022.
↑ Gupta, Vijay (1978). "The Ethiopian Revolution: Causes and Results". India Quarterly. 34 (2): 158–174. doi:10.1177/097492847803400203. ISSN 0974-9284. JSTOR 45071379.

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[:0-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "EVIL DAYS - Human Rights Watch" (PDF). 19 September 2022.

[2] "1974: Ethiopian General Strike | libcom.org". libcom.org. Retrieved 2022-09-19.

[3] Ahmed, Hussein (2006). "Coexistence and/or Confrontation?: Towards a Reappraisal of Christian-Muslim Encounter in Contemporary Ethiopia". Journal of Religion in Africa. 36 (1): 4–22. doi:10.1163/157006606775569622. ISSN 0022-4200. JSTOR 27594361.

[4] "ETHIOPIA Violent Suppression of Student Protest" (PDF). 19 September 2022.

[5] "International Journal of African Development, Vol. 1, Issue 1". 19 September 2022.

[6] "The Lost Opportunity for Ethiopia: The Failure to Move". 19 September 2022.

[:1-7] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "THE ETHIOPIAN REVOLUTION" (PDF). 19 September 2022.

[8] Gupta, Vijay (1978). "The Ethiopian Revolution: Causes and Results". India Quarterly. 34 (2): 158–174. doi:10.1177/097492847803400203. ISSN 0974-9284. JSTOR 45071379.

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