The National Day of Ethiopia remembers the collapse of the oppressive Derg regime, which governed the country from 1974 to 1991 and ousted Emperor Haile Selassie in 1975. The Derg regime is also characterized by the Ethiopian Civil War, which lasted from 1974 to 1991. Though this is Ethiopia’s National Day, it is formally known as Derg Downfall Day.
Ethiopia Downfall of the Derg Day is a major national holiday in Ethiopia. It is observed on May 28 every year. The downfall of the Derg Day is observed to mark the end of the oppressive Derg Regime on this day in 1991.
Ethiopia Downfall of the Derg Day Celebrations
Ethiopia’s Downfall of the Derg Day is a countrywide event. This is the National Day of the country. Also known as Derg Downfall Day, this day marks the independence of Ethiopia from the Derg military rule in 1991. Special speeches are delivered to show tribute to the martyrs, and a number of monuments are put up all over the city of Addis Ababa, the national capital. During this occasion, politicians attend war monuments and address the countrymen to offer laurels to the martyrs who lost their lives in the Red Terror and the Civil War. The event is one of the most significant festivals in Ethiopia and is treated as work free.
Background
Ethiopia Downfall of the Derg Day is observed on May 28 every year in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, remembering the occasion in 1991 when the nation was freed from the tyrant regime of the Marxist Derg.
The Marxist Derg (Dergue) seized control after throwing out Haile Selassie I, the previous Emperor of Ethiopia (1930 to 1974). Derg or the Coordinating Committee of the Military, Police, and Defense Forces was created to tackle the uncontrolled corruption in the army at that point. The Derg effectively received a go-ahead signal from the erstwhile emperor to detain people, particularly army officials and government representatives who were assumed to be involved in the alleged corruption. During this phase, the Derg was led by Mengistu Haile Mariam. Emperor Selassie did not have any idea that these were initiating an operation to oust the realm. As a result, on September 12, 1974, Selassie was put behind bars by the Derg. The kingdom was officially dismissed in May 1975. After three months, Emperor Haile Selassie breathed his last in August 1975.
As per dependable sources of information, Derg detained and killed thousands of protesters and rivals who were assumed to be a part of a movement to depose the junta, from 1975 to 1987.
During the regime of Mengistu, a fresh bill was ratified and the name of the nation was altered to People’s Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (PDRE). His rule was spoiled by hostility and death penalties of important functionaries who were constituents of the administration of Emperor Haile Selassie.
Mengistu had to confront the Red Terror in Ethiopia, which occurred from 1977 to 1978, and also the Civil War, which started in 1974 and ended in 1991. The Civil War, with the collaboration of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front, a united coalition of insurgent factions in the nation, effectively brought Derg to its collapse in 1991.