The Ethiopian Army: From Victory to Collapse, 1977-1991

328 Pages·2014·3.359 MB·English

by  Fantahun Ayele

The Ethiopian Army

The Ethiopian Army
From Victory to Collapse,
1977– 1991

Fantahun Ayele
Northwestern University Press
Evanston, Illinois
Northwestern University Press
www.nupress.northwestern.edu
This book has been published with the support of the Andrew W. Mellon
Foundation.
Copyright © 2014 by Northwestern University Press. Published 2014. All rights
reserved.
Printed in the United States of America
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Library of Congress Cataloging- in- Publication Data
Ayele, Fantahun, author.
The Ethiopian Army : from victory to collapse, 1977–1991 / Fantahun
Ayele.
pages cm
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-0-8101-3011-1 (cloth : alk. paper)
1. Ethiopia—Armed Forces—History—20th century. 2. Ethiopia—
History, Military—20th century. 3. Ethiopia—History—1974— I. Title.
UA869.E8A96 2014
963.071—dc23
2014018972
The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the
American National Standard for Information Sciences— Permanence of Paper
for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48- 1992.
To my parents, who always encouraged me to excel
in my studies despite their illiteracy

contents
List of Abbreviations ix
Alternate Spellings of Names xi
Acknowledgments xv
Preface xvii
Introduction 3
Chapter One
The Army of the Ethiopian Empire (1941– 1974) 5
Chapter Two
The Army Expands (1977– 1991) 27
Chapter Three
Logistical and Command Problems (1977– 1991) 55
Chapter Four
Military Intelligence (1977– 1991) 85
Chapter Five
Fighting on Two Fronts (1977– 1978) 101
Chapter Six
Fighting the Northern Rebels (1976–1 991) 127
Chapter Seven
How the Revolution Changed the Army 205
Conclusion 213
Appendix I
Letter from the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces to the
Minister of Defense Regarding the Critical Shortage
of Rations for Soldiers 229
Appendix II
Letter from the Head of State Mängestu H. Maryam to
the Minister of Defense Regarding the Importance of
Education and Manpower Organization in the Military 230
Appendix III
Letter from Brigadier General Rägassa Jimma to the
Vice Minister of Defense Regarding the Shortage of
Military Vehicles 232
Appendix IV
Letter from the Deputy Commander of the SRA to the
Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Regarding the
Urgent Need to Replace Private Vehicles with
Government Trucks 235
Appendix V
Letter from the Head of Logistics of the SRA to the
Head of Logistics of the Ministry of Defense Requesting
the Transportation of Provisions by Air to the
Army in Eritrea 238
Appendix VI
Letter from the Minister of Internal Affairs to the
Minister of Defense Regarding the Infiltration of
the Army by Eritrean Insurgents 239
Appendix VII
Circular from the Minister of Defense to All Army
Units Announcing the Execution of Brigadier
General Tariku Ayne 241
Notes 245
Bibliography 283
Index 303
abbreviations
ALF Afar Liberation Front
AMC Agricultural Marketing Corporation
AOM Administration, Organization, and Mobilization
APC armored personnel carrier
BF Budget and Finance
BMME British Military Mission to Ethiopia
e.c. Ethiopian calendar
EDU Ethiopian Democratic Union
ELF Eritrean Liberation Front
EPDM Ethiopian People’s Democratic Movement
EPLF Eritrean People’s Liberation Front
EPRDF Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front
EPRP Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party
FORA Fourth Revolutionary Army
FRA First Revolutionary Army
GDR German Democratic Republic
HMGs heavy machine guns
LMGs light machine guns
MAAG Military Assistance Advisory Group
MC Military Commissariat
MIDs Mountain Infantry divisions
MOND Ministry of National Defense
MOPC Military Operations and Planning Command
NRTC National Road Transport Corporation
NCO Noncommissioned officer
ix