Makonnen Endelkachew
Encyclopedia
Ras Betwoded Makonnen Endelkachew (1890 – 1963) was an Ethiopia
n aristocrat and Prime Minister under Emperor Haile Selassie. Makonnen was born in Addisge, the nephew of the noted Shewa
n general and politician Ras Betwoded Tessema Nadew, who introduced him to Emperor Menilek II
. He was a member of the alpha class of the Menelik II School in Addis Adaba when it opened in 1908.
John Spencer describes Makonnen as "a mountain of a man, weighing nearly 300 pounds, and with a high-pitched voice." Despite this unimpressive appearance, Spencer notes "he was a particularly affable, indeed, gentle and kindly man, not given to the acerbities associated with sharp intelligence." He was a published author, having written a novel, and a booklet on the Second Italo-Abyssinian War
and Fascist atrocities.
Ras Betwoded Makonnen Endelkachew should not be confused with his son, Endelkachew Makonnen
who was also an Ethiopian political figure and Prime Minister.
, followed Makonnen's affair with the woman, who was married to the Tigrigna noble Ras Gugsa Araya Selassie
at time. The affair threatened to destroy the accord Emperor Haile Selassie had carefully crafted, and led to Makonnen's recall from his post as Minister to Great Britain in 1932.
Makonnen accompanied Haile Selassie during his tour of Europe
from April 16 to September 4, 1924. Following his recall from London, he served as Minister of the Interior, then governor of Illubabor Province
; while governor, he led the troops of that province against the Italian invasion on the Ogaden
front, afterwards going into exile from 1936 to 1941 in Jerusalem, and accompanying the Emperor back into Ethiopia upon the liberation of the country. Emperor Haile Selassie appointed him Minister of the Interior in March 1941, as part of the cabinet Haile Selassie established to re-assert Ethiopia's existence as an independent state against the views of the British War Office
that, since Ethiopia had previously been Italian territory, the Emperor "cannot fully reassume his status and powers as Emperor until a peace treaty has been signed with Italy". However, as John Spencer points out, Ethiopia was able to rely on the principle of postliminium
-- that is, once enemy occupation is terminated, a state may act as if its existence had survived without interruption. "Having withdrawn its recognition of the Italian conquest
," Spencer points out, "Britain was in no position to contest Ethiopia's application of the doctrine of postliminium." The conflict between Ethiopia and the United Kingdom over the former's sovereignty dominated their relations for the next several years.
From 1942, when the Emperor created the position, Makonnen served as Ethiopia's first Prime Minister
, until his retirement November 1, 1957. Bahre Zewde notes, however, that Makonnen "was a mere ceremonial figure, given more to intellectual pursuits than to political machinations. The de facto prime minister [during Makonnen's tenure] was Tsahafe T'ezaz Walda-Giyorgis Walda-Yohannes
." Spencer notes that his fellow ministers considered him "as a lightweight."
Although Makonnen led the delegation that represented Ethiopia at the summit in San Francisco that created the United Nations
, because he was not fluent in either French or English he took no part in the debates.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
n aristocrat and Prime Minister under Emperor Haile Selassie. Makonnen was born in Addisge, the nephew of the noted Shewa
Shewa
Shewa is a historical region of Ethiopia, formerly an autonomous kingdom within the Ethiopian Empire...
n general and politician Ras Betwoded Tessema Nadew, who introduced him to Emperor Menilek II
Menelek II of Ethiopia
Emperor Menelik II GCB, GCMG, baptized as Sahle Maryam , was Negus of Shewa , then of Ethiopia from 1889 to his death. At the height of his internal power and external prestige, the process of territorial expansion and creation of the modern empire-state had been completed by 1898...
. He was a member of the alpha class of the Menelik II School in Addis Adaba when it opened in 1908.
John Spencer describes Makonnen as "a mountain of a man, weighing nearly 300 pounds, and with a high-pitched voice." Despite this unimpressive appearance, Spencer notes "he was a particularly affable, indeed, gentle and kindly man, not given to the acerbities associated with sharp intelligence." He was a published author, having written a novel, and a booklet on the Second Italo-Abyssinian War
Second Italo-Abyssinian War
The Second Italo–Abyssinian War was a colonial war that started in October 1935 and ended in May 1936. The war was fought between the armed forces of the Kingdom of Italy and the armed forces of the Ethiopian Empire...
and Fascist atrocities.
Ras Betwoded Makonnen Endelkachew should not be confused with his son, Endelkachew Makonnen
Endelkachew Makonnen
Lij Endalkachew Makonnen was an Ethiopian politician. Born in Addis Ababa, his father, Ras Betwoded Makonnen Endelkachew served as Prime Minister of Ethiopia in the 1950s. Endalkachew Makonnen was a member of the aristocratic Addisge clan that were very influential in the later part of the...
who was also an Ethiopian political figure and Prime Minister.
Life
He was married twice. His second marriage, to the Emperor's niece, Princess Yeshashework YilmaYeshashework Yilma
Princess Yeshashework Yilma was the daughter of Dejazmatch Yilma Makonnen, governor of Harar and niece of Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia. Her mother Woizero Aselefech was the niece of Empress Taitu Bitul, consort of Emperor Menelik II of Ethiopia. Through her paternal great-grandmother, she...
, followed Makonnen's affair with the woman, who was married to the Tigrigna noble Ras Gugsa Araya Selassie
Gugsa Araya Selassie
Gugsa Araya Selassie was an army commander and a member of the Royal family of the Ethiopian Empire.- Biography :Leul Gugsa Araya Selassie was the legitimate son of Ras Araya Selassie Yohannes...
at time. The affair threatened to destroy the accord Emperor Haile Selassie had carefully crafted, and led to Makonnen's recall from his post as Minister to Great Britain in 1932.
Makonnen accompanied Haile Selassie during his tour of Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
from April 16 to September 4, 1924. Following his recall from London, he served as Minister of the Interior, then governor of Illubabor Province
Illubabor Province
Illubabor was a province in the south-western part of Ethiopia, along the border with Sudan. The name Illubabor is said to come from two Oromo words, "Illu" and "Abba Bor". "Illu" is a name of a clan, and "Abba Bor" was the horse name of Chali Shone, who founded the ruling family of the area when...
; while governor, he led the troops of that province against the Italian invasion on the Ogaden
Ogaden
Ogaden is the name of a territory comprising the southeastern portion of the Somali Regional State in Ethiopia. The inhabitants are predominantly ethnic Somali and Muslim. The title "Somali Galbeed", which means "Western Somalia," is often preferred by Somali irredentists.The region, which is...
front, afterwards going into exile from 1936 to 1941 in Jerusalem, and accompanying the Emperor back into Ethiopia upon the liberation of the country. Emperor Haile Selassie appointed him Minister of the Interior in March 1941, as part of the cabinet Haile Selassie established to re-assert Ethiopia's existence as an independent state against the views of the British War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
that, since Ethiopia had previously been Italian territory, the Emperor "cannot fully reassume his status and powers as Emperor until a peace treaty has been signed with Italy". However, as John Spencer points out, Ethiopia was able to rely on the principle of postliminium
Postliminium
The principle of postliminium, as a part of public international law, is a specific version of the maxim ex injuria jus non oritur, providing for the invalidity of all illegitimate acts that an occupant may have performed on a given territory after its recapture by the legitimate sovereign...
-- that is, once enemy occupation is terminated, a state may act as if its existence had survived without interruption. "Having withdrawn its recognition of the Italian conquest
Italian East Africa
Italian East Africa was an Italian colonial administrative subdivision established in 1936, resulting from the merger of the Ethiopian Empire with the old colonies of Italian Somaliland and Italian Eritrea. In August 1940, British Somaliland was conquered and annexed to Italian East Africa...
," Spencer points out, "Britain was in no position to contest Ethiopia's application of the doctrine of postliminium." The conflict between Ethiopia and the United Kingdom over the former's sovereignty dominated their relations for the next several years.
From 1942, when the Emperor created the position, Makonnen served as Ethiopia's first Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
, until his retirement November 1, 1957. Bahre Zewde notes, however, that Makonnen "was a mere ceremonial figure, given more to intellectual pursuits than to political machinations. The de facto prime minister [during Makonnen's tenure] was Tsahafe T'ezaz Walda-Giyorgis Walda-Yohannes
Wolde Giyorgis Wolde Yohannes
Wolde Giyorgis Wolde Yohannes was an important government Minister during the reign of Haile Selassie of Ethiopia...
." Spencer notes that his fellow ministers considered him "as a lightweight."
Although Makonnen led the delegation that represented Ethiopia at the summit in San Francisco that created the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
, because he was not fluent in either French or English he took no part in the debates.