Mehal Sefari
Encyclopedia
Mehal Sefari was the Ethiopia
n Imperial Guard
during the reign of HIM Menelik II. The unit grew from Menelik's personal Guard, although there are oral histories that link it to the elite fighting unit of Atse Tewodros II led by Fitawrari Gebrye. As Gebrye's military unit was among the few of Tewodros that remained when most of his army left, the assumption is not unreasonable if not conclusive. The title "Mehal Sefari" however was not used by any of Tewodros' units, nor by any other previous military unit.
The Mehal Sefari's earlier roles were providing security for young Prince Menelik under the leadership of the later Dejazmach Germame. Upon the death of Atse Tewodros, 3 men — Wagshum Gobeze of Welo, Kassa Mircha of Tigre and Menelik of Shoa — were declared Atse. Kassa marched on Welo, defeated and imprisoned Gobeze, he marched south to Shewa to face Menelik who had gathered his forces and awaited him. Both rulers assumptive, Yohannes by virtue of arms left for him by the British and Menelik by blood sought reconciliation, Menelik agreeing to accept Yohannes as his Suzerain, much to the relief of the latter whose small, though well-armed forces were no match for the Shewan Army. Menelik's Army, though with fewer artillery pieces, had superiority in men, equipment and mounted cavalry. It would also have been fighting on home turf. Yohannes' spy sent to observe the Shoans is said to have come back to tell the Emperor "I thought clouds had descended on the ground, but it was the Shoans and their multitudes in their tents."
Atse Menelik took this opportunity to continue to arm and train his men, dispatching men to the South and West in poses of providing security for the Emperor of Ethiopia
and an elite infantry division
. It was part of the organizational structure of the Ethiopian regular army
as one of the 4 divisions that comprised the regular army. The Ethiopian Imperial Host included the 40,000 men and women of the Regular Army and the approximately 100,000 men and women of the National Guard/Biherawi Tor/. The Kebur Zabagna (as it was later reconstituted under Atse Haile Selassie I) was based at Addis Ababa
.
Richard Pankhurst dates the creation of the Imperial Bodyguard (then known as the Mahal Safari) to 1917, when the Regent Ras Tafari (later Emperor Haile Selassie I) assembled a unit under his direct control from men who had trained in the British army in Kenya
, as well as a few who had served under the Italians in Tripoli
. In 1930, the Regent invited a Belgian military mission to train and modernize the Ethiopian military, which included the Kebur Zabagna. The unit was organized in three battalions of trained regular infantry armed with rifles, machineguns and mortars; one battalion consisted of men from the earlier Mahal Safari. The Kebur Zabagna also had one heavy machine-gun company. It was commanded by Ethiopian graduates of Saint Cyr
, the French military academy, at the time of the Italian invasion of Ethiopia
. As a unit, the Imperial Bodyguard only participated in the Battle of Maychew
(31 March 1936), but afterwards many of its members joined the various groups of the Ethiopian resistance.
Following the return of Emperor Haile Selassie to Ethiopia in 1941, the Kebur Zabagna was reconstituted, and a Swedish military mission aided in its training. Men for the Kagnew Battalion
, which fought in the Korean War
, were drawn from the Imperial Bodyguard.
"It remained the elite force of the empire," notes historian Bahru Zewde, "until discredited in the wake of the attempted coup of 1960
." That unsuccessful coup had been planned by its commander Brigadier-General Mengistu Neway
, and his brother Germame Neway. In 1961, it numbered nine battalions; in 1969 some 7,000 men. In 1974, the Commander was Major-General Tafessa Lemma. The Kebur Zabagna was disbanded after the Derg
consolidated their hold on Ethiopia.
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 Imperial Guard
Imperial Guard (disambiguation)
An imperial guard or palace guard is a special group of troops of an empire, typically closely associated directly with the Emperor or Empress...
during the reign of HIM Menelik II. The unit grew from Menelik's personal Guard, although there are oral histories that link it to the elite fighting unit of Atse Tewodros II led by Fitawrari Gebrye. As Gebrye's military unit was among the few of Tewodros that remained when most of his army left, the assumption is not unreasonable if not conclusive. The title "Mehal Sefari" however was not used by any of Tewodros' units, nor by any other previous military unit.
The Mehal Sefari's earlier roles were providing security for young Prince Menelik under the leadership of the later Dejazmach Germame. Upon the death of Atse Tewodros, 3 men — Wagshum Gobeze of Welo, Kassa Mircha of Tigre and Menelik of Shoa — were declared Atse. Kassa marched on Welo, defeated and imprisoned Gobeze, he marched south to Shewa to face Menelik who had gathered his forces and awaited him. Both rulers assumptive, Yohannes by virtue of arms left for him by the British and Menelik by blood sought reconciliation, Menelik agreeing to accept Yohannes as his Suzerain, much to the relief of the latter whose small, though well-armed forces were no match for the Shewan Army. Menelik's Army, though with fewer artillery pieces, had superiority in men, equipment and mounted cavalry. It would also have been fighting on home turf. Yohannes' spy sent to observe the Shoans is said to have come back to tell the Emperor "I thought clouds had descended on the ground, but it was the Shoans and their multitudes in their tents."
Atse Menelik took this opportunity to continue to arm and train his men, dispatching men to the South and West in poses of providing security for the Emperor of Ethiopia
Emperor of Ethiopia
The Emperor of Ethiopia was the hereditary ruler of Ethiopia until the abolition of the monarchy in 1974. The Emperor was the head of state and head of government, with ultimate executive, judicial and legislative power in that country...
and an elite infantry division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
. It was part of the organizational structure of the Ethiopian regular army
Military of Ethiopia
The Ethiopian National Defense Force is the military of Ethiopia. Civil direction of the military is carried out through the Ministry of Defense, which oversees the ground forces, air force, as well as the Defense Industry Sector. The current defense minister is Siraj Fergessa. . Size of the ENDF...
as one of the 4 divisions that comprised the regular army. The Ethiopian Imperial Host included the 40,000 men and women of the Regular Army and the approximately 100,000 men and women of the National Guard/Biherawi Tor/. The Kebur Zabagna (as it was later reconstituted under Atse Haile Selassie I) was based at Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
.
Richard Pankhurst dates the creation of the Imperial Bodyguard (then known as the Mahal Safari) to 1917, when the Regent Ras Tafari (later Emperor Haile Selassie I) assembled a unit under his direct control from men who had trained in the British army in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, as well as a few who had served under the Italians in Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
. In 1930, the Regent invited a Belgian military mission to train and modernize the Ethiopian military, which included the Kebur Zabagna. The unit was organized in three battalions of trained regular infantry armed with rifles, machineguns and mortars; one battalion consisted of men from the earlier Mahal Safari. The Kebur Zabagna also had one heavy machine-gun company. It was commanded by Ethiopian graduates of Saint Cyr
École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr
The École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr is the foremost French military academy. Its official name is . It is often referred to as Saint-Cyr . Its motto is "Ils s'instruisent pour vaincre": literally "They study to vanquish" or "Training for victory"...
, the French military academy, at the time of the Italian invasion of Ethiopia
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...
. As a unit, the Imperial Bodyguard only participated in the Battle of Maychew
Battle of Maychew
The Battle of Maychew was the last major battle fought on the northern front during the Second Italo-Abyssinian War. The battle consisted of a failed counterattack by the Ethiopian forces under Emperor Haile Selassie making frontal assaults against prepared Italian defensive positions under the...
(31 March 1936), but afterwards many of its members joined the various groups of the Ethiopian resistance.
Following the return of Emperor Haile Selassie to Ethiopia in 1941, the Kebur Zabagna was reconstituted, and a Swedish military mission aided in its training. Men for the Kagnew Battalion
Kagnew Battalion
The Kagnew Battalions were three successive battalions drawn from the 1st Division Imperial Bodyguard sent by Emperor Haile SelassieI between June 1951 and April 1954 as part of the United Nations forces in the Korean War....
, which fought in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
, were drawn from the Imperial Bodyguard.
"It remained the elite force of the empire," notes historian Bahru Zewde, "until discredited in the wake of the attempted coup of 1960
1960 Ethiopian coup
The 1960 Ethiopian coup was the coup d'etat staged in Ethiopia on 13 December 1960 to overthrow Emperor Haile Selassie. While he was away on a state visit to Brazil, four conspirators, led by Germame Neway and his older brother Brigadier General Mengistu Neway, who was commander of the Kebur...
." That unsuccessful coup had been planned by its commander Brigadier-General Mengistu Neway
Mengistu Neway
Brigadier-General Mengistu Neway was the commander of the Ethiopian Imperial Bodyguard during the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie...
, and his brother Germame Neway. In 1961, it numbered nine battalions; in 1969 some 7,000 men. In 1974, the Commander was Major-General Tafessa Lemma. The Kebur Zabagna was disbanded after the Derg
Derg
The Derg or Dergue was a Communist military junta that came to power in Ethiopia following the ousting of Haile Selassie I. Derg, which means "committee" or "council" in Ge'ez, is the short name of the Coordinating Committee of the Armed Forces, Police, and Territorial Army, a committee of...
consolidated their hold on Ethiopia.