AUHRM Project Focus Area: Ethiopian Red Terror

Ethiopian Red Terror which was a campaign of oppression and mass killings in Ethiopia, began in 1976, when communist Mengistu Haile Mariam took control of the military dictatorship after ousting Emperor Halie Selassie, and lasted until 1978. During these years, the governing body used atrocious violence against anyone that was not a part of its party by arbitrarily arresting, torturing, and massacring thousands of people. This was a political campaign against opposing Marxist-Leninist groups that were fighting for power to control the Derg (the military junta) and eventually the control of Ethiopia after the long run of the Emperor.

The most notable opposing group to Mengistu Haile Mariam rule over the Derg, was the Ethiopian Peoples’ Revolutionary Party (EPRP). Members and supporters of the Derg and EPRP carried out executions against each other. During this time the Derg had different factions, those in support and against Mariam. After a raid and killings of the EPRP, Mengistu Haile Mariam emerged as a victor.

The Red Terror campaign was targeting any opposing group to the Derg and it was estimated that more than 700,000 people were killed.