‘In due course, Ethiopia will be a powerful and prosperous country and remain a leader of Africa’

A half century ago, a Marxist-Leninist military junta known as the Derg seized power in Ethiopia, overthrowing Emperor Haile Selassie and a monarchy that had ruled Ethiopia for 700 years. Tens of thousands died at the hands of the new regime, which ruled with callous brutality until its own overthrow in 1991. Its 87-year-old leader Mengistu Haile Mariam lives on quietly in Zimbabwe despite being convicted of genocide and sentenced to death in absentia in 2008. Let’s now delve into history, taking a look back at this seismic event 50 years ago that forever changed the course of history for Ethiopia. FRANCE 24 is joined by South African Journalist specialising in the Horn of Africa and Southern Africa Martin Plaut. He is also a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London.

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38 comments

  3. Martina is supporting Ethiopia for religious reasons. He is well known islamophobic, his efforts are futile. We know we will win the final victory you can't escape destiny

  4. This guy is a blind. There is a war on the country. Ethiopia is in the war none stop the people they can’t sleep every day every second minute they are thinking they’re going to survive for tomorrow and this guy saying Ethiopia is going be the stronger country this guy so blind

  5. I agree the downfall of both Haile Selassie and Mengistu is a result of the independence movement by Eritreans who rejected the forceful re-union with Ethiopia. In the end Eritrea won the war and gained its independence against all odds fighting the mighty Ethiopian army with the backing of both East and Western blocks.

  10. Ethiopia is a unique country with a lot of mystique and antiquity. In the near future, Ethiopia will be a country where many from outside (Europe, US, Arabs, etc) will take refuge to rescue themselves from the havoc that's gonna unleash in the near future. This is Biblical.

  13. The longstanding prophecy is coming that Ethiopia shall be an earthly heaven for its pious so soon. This is not an economics or politics thing; it's a mystry shrouded in God's will. That's the only way Ethiopia will be prosperous and peaceful, not like what many commentators would argue.

  14. Martin Plaut is the most anti Ethiopian English political activist, who Ethiopians despise. I don’t see Kenyan or Nigerian experts being asked about the history of France or Britian on this media

  16. Martin Plaut!? This is the same guy who were campaigning against Ethiopia existence on western supported TPLF war? Whether you mentioned it or not , Ethiopia will be one of prosperous country in Africa. Those close neighboring countries that wish to grow together, “ on give and take” principles welcome. The country only dreaming a “ milking cow Ethiopia “ without offering anything, they have right to run back and forth to “ Egypt “ an old jealous way.

  23. Shameful journalism, "Ethiopia will be powerful and prosperous" based on what Economic or social reform, we are on the brink of collapse, starvation is ravaging the country, civil war is commencing in two biggest regional states Oromia and Amhara, and you claim the government is doing great, typical Europian propaganda, you define successful government in terms of your own interest, and don't care about the people suffering. Shameful! Shameful!!

  25. The Fact that a Brit is narrating the story about the history of Ethiopia's shows how unreal my country's history is. Our history is of racism and slavery showcased in the decade longe ethnic fighting that has and is still taking milions of African lives. Our leaders are still trying to bring back kings Their white masters told them about and build 10 billion USD worth of palaces while ordinary Ethiopians are struggling to eat a daily meal. I would be jailed if i say i am Ethiopian in my own country. so Martin Plaut the deceiver, leave us alone and stop feeding our ego like you did to the people of Tigre and lead them to their death by the hundreds of thousands.

  27. it would have been great if you had brought a guest who has a deeper knowledge of our country rather than someone whose historical narrative specially on the historically pivotal issues which require deeper understanding to fully grasp. what your guest provided was a Wikipedia version of situation which were very complicated with many layers

  30. This is all nonsense. European colonialism and especially French has left behind all this mess and hostilities in the region over century and still stoking off fears and meddles the situation. The saddest thing is that old colonial masters like British and France used and abused successive Ethiopian regimes to incite expansionism policies and conflicts in the region and in the pretex of religious favoritism even though christianity in Ethiopia is less than 50% of the population. Note also that it was France who encouraged current Ethiopian prime minister Abiy to form marine force then trained and sold couple of obsolete small vessels eventhough the country is landlocked and doesn't has sea outlet and a dock to park in it. This is one of the main factors behind current tensions and hostility in the region.

  32. Another big problem with Ethiopia is that every novice regime in any given time hires talking heads and white foreigner propagandists as an international and local experts instead of relaying on or seeking holistic, organic and truthful local experts, who know better. And the main reason is the existing cleavage of inter-ethnic narratives, distrust and political curruption in the country. These foreign experts would cater only to and perpetuate the view points, myths and baised narratives of particular leader, associates and his group instead of covering or telling the whole truth by learning from the entire society in the country. That is why credibility of the likes of Martin Plaute, Alex De Waal, Le Forte, Tom Gardiner et al. are in question now. Their expertises are associated with particular political stance which slanted for the TPLF clique over 27 years. The eras of Haile Selasse and even Menilik have cultivated with similar cults but different foreign personalities. So the truth will never come out and there will never be credible and honest picture and discussion about the real politico, cultural, religio and socio-economic situation inside of the country. But instead what you will find is only self-serving and biased opinion of these foreign hired-pens and charlatan experts masquerading as facts and expertise knowledge about the land and people.

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