Aman Andom
Ethiopian Senate | |
---|---|
In office 1964–1974 | |
Appointed by | Haile Selassie |
Personal details | |
Born | 21 June 1924 Haile Selassie I, as remaining the de jure Emperor[citation needed ] |
Aman Mikael Andom (
Early life
Aman Mikael Andom was born in the village of
Military career
Educated in Sudan, Aman returned to Ethiopia with the British forces who defeated the Italians and restored Emperor Haile Selassie to the throne. He proceeded to distinguish himself in a brilliant military career, commanding Ethiopian contingents in Korea and the Congo.[4] In 1962 he was promoted to major general. During the 1964 Ethiopian–Somali Border War he was given the nickname the "Desert Lion" after a significant battle with Somali forces in the Ogaden.[3]
Head of State
Aman's official title was Chairman of the
There is some evidence that indicates he had contacts with the officers of the junta as early as February and March 1974, but by July he was appointed chief of staff to the
From the first day of his of him becoming chairman, the Ottaways note, "the general found himself at odds with a majority of the Derg's members over most major issues, including whether he was chairman of the ruling military body or simply its spokesman.[7] Aman fought the majority of the Derg over three central issues: the size of Derg, which he felt was too large and unwieldy; the policy to be taken towards the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF); and over the punishment of the numerous aristocrats and former government officials in Derg's custody. His refusal to sanction the execution of former high officials, including two former prime ministers and several royal family members and relatives, put his relations with the majority of Derg on an especially bitter footing.[8]
As an Eritrean, General Aman found himself fiercely at odds with the majority of the Derg. He wanted to negotiate a peaceful settlement; his opponents hoped to crush the ELF by military force. Aman went as far as making two personal visits to Eritrea—the first 25 August to 6 September 1974, the second in November 1974—giving speeches stating that the end of the Imperial regime was also the end of old practices towards Eritrea, that a government dedicated to national unity and progress would restore peace and prosperity to Eritrea, and lastly that he would begin investigations concerning crimes that the army had perpetrated on Eritreans and punish the guilty.[8]
However, at the same time the Derg had begun the task of eliminating opponents within the military. The three significant units were the
General Aman responded with a personal campaign to seek support outside the Derg, among the rest of the army and the country where he was popular. On 15 November 1974, he sent a message to all military units that was highly critical of the Derg. During a general assembly of the Derg two days later, Mengistu Haile Mariam demanded that 5,000 men be dispatched to Eritrea and six imprisoned Imperial officials be executed; Aman refused, resigned his official posts and retired to his house where he secretly sent appeals to his supporters, especially those in the Third Division. But Mengistu managed to intercept these appeals.[10]
Death
On 23 November 1974, Aman died in a battle in his home with several troops sent there to arrest him. That same night, the political prisoners that the Derg had marked for execution were taken from Menelik prison, where they had been held, and shifted to the
Notes
- ^ "Video: General Aman Andom's Role Discussed with Former Ethiopian PM Fikre Selassie". EastAFRO.com. 27 January 2014. Archived from the original on 10 February 2020. Retrieved 2 September 2020.
- ISBN 9780313306334.
- ^ a b "Biography of General Aman Andom" (PDF). emnetu.com. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
- ISBN 978-0-19-538207-5.
- ISBN 9780841903630.
- ^ Ottaway & Ottaway (1978), pp. 59f, and n. 29.
- ^ Ottaway & Ottaway (1978), p. 60
- ^ a b Ottaway & Ottaway (1978), p. 155
- ISBN 9780821414408.
- ISBN 9780862321543.
- ^ Ottaway & Ottaway (1978), p. 61
- ^ Zewde (2001), p. 238