Mogus Wolde Mikael
Encyclopedia
Captain Mogus Wolde Mikael (died 3 February 1977) was a member of the Derg
, the military junta that ruled Ethiopia
during the Ethiopian Revolution.
Following the Derg's assumption of power over Ethiopia in 1974, Mogus, who was a Major at the time, became the chairman of the Derg's social and economic affairs committee.
A member of the faction opposed to Lieutenant Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam
, Mogus was appointed to chair a committee to reorganize the Derg. This committee proposed a new structure which included: a Congress which included all of the members of the Derg, to act as its legislature; a Standing Committee of 17 members, to act as its executive; a group of 40 members who act as a go-between, which Rene LaFort believes was "established, so it seems, to calm the fears of the other ranks in the Derg who had always been afraid of being edged out of power"; and a detailed enumeration of the powers of the two Vice-Chairmen of the Derg. Subsequent to the adoption of this proposal, Captain Mogus became chairman of the Political Affairs Committee of the Derg, a key position; his ally, Captain Almayahu Haile
became its Secretary-General, "a post with such ill-defined limits that it could confer vast powers.".
If it was not clear by this point to Mengistu that he was being squeezed out of power, after a mass rally in Revolution Square in Addis Ababa
(better known by its older name, Meskel Square
, which was later restored after Mengistu's fall), when General Tafari Benti
gave a speech for reconciliation between the various revolutionary factions, he was flanked by Captains Almayahu Haile
and Mogus. "The absence of Mengistu and Atnafu
eloquently testified to their violent disagreement" with the content of this speech.
At a February 1977 meeting between Mengistu and his opponents, who included not only Mogus but chairman General Tafari Benti
and a number of leading members of the Derg, gunfire erupted leaving both Captain Mogus and General Tafari, as well as six other leaders of the Derg dead. Mengistu afterwards broadcast on Radio Ethiopia
that Mogus and his dead compatriots had attempted a "fascist coup d'etat in the capital identical to what had taken place in Chile", and labeling them "fifth columnists" of the Ethiopian Democratic Union and Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party
rebel groups.
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...
, the military junta that ruled 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...
during the Ethiopian Revolution.
Following the Derg's assumption of power over Ethiopia in 1974, Mogus, who was a Major at the time, became the chairman of the Derg's social and economic affairs committee.
A member of the faction opposed to Lieutenant Colonel Mengistu Haile Mariam
Mengistu Haile Mariam
Mengistu Haile Mariam is a politician who was formerly the most prominent officer of the Derg, the Communist military junta that governed Ethiopia from 1974 to 1987, and the President of the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia from 1987 to 1991...
, Mogus was appointed to chair a committee to reorganize the Derg. This committee proposed a new structure which included: a Congress which included all of the members of the Derg, to act as its legislature; a Standing Committee of 17 members, to act as its executive; a group of 40 members who act as a go-between, which Rene LaFort believes was "established, so it seems, to calm the fears of the other ranks in the Derg who had always been afraid of being edged out of power"; and a detailed enumeration of the powers of the two Vice-Chairmen of the Derg. Subsequent to the adoption of this proposal, Captain Mogus became chairman of the Political Affairs Committee of the Derg, a key position; his ally, Captain Almayahu Haile
Almayahu Haile
Captain Almayahu Haile was a member of the Derg, the military junta that ruled Ethiopia during the Ethiopian Revolution....
became its Secretary-General, "a post with such ill-defined limits that it could confer vast powers.".
If it was not clear by this point to Mengistu that he was being squeezed out of power, after a mass rally in Revolution Square in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
(better known by its older name, Meskel Square
Meskel Square
Meskel Square is a square in the city of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It is often a site for public gathering or for demonstrations and festivals, notably, the Meskel Festival from which it takes its name....
, which was later restored after Mengistu's fall), when General Tafari Benti
Tafari Benti
Brigadier General Tafari Benti was the Head of State of Ethiopia , and chairman of the Derg, the ruling junta. His official title was Chairman of the Provisional Military Administrative Council.- Life :...
gave a speech for reconciliation between the various revolutionary factions, he was flanked by Captains Almayahu Haile
Almayahu Haile
Captain Almayahu Haile was a member of the Derg, the military junta that ruled Ethiopia during the Ethiopian Revolution....
and Mogus. "The absence of Mengistu and Atnafu
Atnafu Abate
Lieutenant Colonel Atnafu Abate was an Ethiopian military officer and a leading member of the Derg, the military junta which deposed Emperor Haile Selassie and ruled the country for the next several years....
eloquently testified to their violent disagreement" with the content of this speech.
At a February 1977 meeting between Mengistu and his opponents, who included not only Mogus but chairman General Tafari Benti
Tafari Benti
Brigadier General Tafari Benti was the Head of State of Ethiopia , and chairman of the Derg, the ruling junta. His official title was Chairman of the Provisional Military Administrative Council.- Life :...
and a number of leading members of the Derg, gunfire erupted leaving both Captain Mogus and General Tafari, as well as six other leaders of the Derg dead. Mengistu afterwards broadcast on Radio Ethiopia
Radio Ethiopia
Radio Ethiopia is an album by the Patti Smith Group, released in October 1976 on Arista Records.- History :Radio Ethiopia was the followup record to Smith's widely acclaimed debut Horses. In interviews surrounding the album's release, Smith explained that she chose producer Jack Douglas in hopes of...
that Mogus and his dead compatriots had attempted a "fascist coup d'etat in the capital identical to what had taken place in Chile", and labeling them "fifth columnists" of the Ethiopian Democratic Union and Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party
Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party
Founded in April 1972, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party was a prominent Marxist-Leninist organization in Ethiopia during the 1970s. It is also known as "Ihapa" from the acronym in Amharic...
rebel groups.