People's Militia (Ethiopia)

The People's Militia (

Provisional Military Government of Socialist Ethiopia and the succeeding People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.^[1] It was a largely rural organization, under the direction of Addis Ababa. It was frequently armed with more antique weapons, particularly those that were used during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.^[2]^[3]

History

Early years

It was established in 1975 by proclamation No. 71 of the Derg to "safeguard the revolution", referring to the coup d'état that brought it to power. It was intended to be a regional force to assist in auxiliary police duties, such as protect property and farms. It also enforced decisions implemented by peasant association tribunals. In May 1976, the government conscripted 30,000 to 40,000 civilians into the militia, predominantly from the Shewa, Wollo, and Gojam provinces.^[2]^[4]

Ogaden War

During the

Shashemene, Awash, and Fiche. It was then re-deployed to the Ogaden to serve with the regular army. Over the course of the war, the People's Militia suffered heavy losses against the Somali National Army.^[2]

Later years

From the early to mid-1980s, the People's Militia declined in importance, largely due the quality of life for

militiamen. In addition, the establishment of the National Military Service Proclamation in May 1983 required all Ethiopian men between the ages of 18 and 30 to undergo six months of military training followed by two years of active duty, after which they would be placed on reserve status until age 50, effectively removing the need to maintain a large-scale militia. Government training for militiamen continued even into the establishment of the PDRE, especially from villages in frontier areas.^[2]

By 1991 the People's Militia numbered around 200,000, with militia units supporting the regular army's counterinsurgency operations, including one in late 1989 against the

Ethiopian People's Democratic Movement.^[2]^[5]

Organization

By 1980, the People's Militia numbered 150,000 troops and was organized into ten divisions.[2] They included the following:^[2]

Northern People's Divisions (Eritrea)
Eastern People's Divisions (Ogaden)

References

^ "The Rage Of Numbers: Mengistu's Soldiers" (PDF).
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "Ethiopia: The Armed Forces ~a HREF="/et_00_00.html#et_05_02"". memory.loc.gov. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
^ "Ethiopia - People's Militia". www.country-data.com. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
^ Pathé, British. "Ethiopia: New 80,000-Strong People's Militia Parades Before Ethiopia's Ruler Lieutenant-Colonel Mengistu Haile-Mariam". www.britishpathe.com. Retrieved 28 June 2021.
^ "Documentation for Peoples' Militia". militiasdb.sowi.uni-mannheim.de. Retrieved 28 June 2021.

[1] "The Rage Of Numbers: Mengistu's Soldiers" (PDF).

[:0-2] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g "Ethiopia: The Armed Forces ~a HREF="/et_00_00.html#et_05_02"". memory.loc.gov. Retrieved 28 June 2021.

[3] "Ethiopia - People's Militia". www.country-data.com. Retrieved 28 June 2021.

[4] Pathé, British. "Ethiopia: New 80,000-Strong People's Militia Parades Before Ethiopia's Ruler Lieutenant-Colonel Mengistu Haile-Mariam". www.britishpathe.com. Retrieved 28 June 2021.

[5] "Documentation for Peoples' Militia". militiasdb.sowi.uni-mannheim.de. Retrieved 28 June 2021.

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