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28-607: MEISON was formed as a clandestine organization during the 8th ESUE (Ethiopian Student Union in Europe) congress in August 1968 by some of the most senior of the exiled radical Ethiopian students. Prominent founders include: Worku Ferede (elected chairman at meeting), Kebede Mengesha, Negede Gobeze, Andargachew Assegid, Fikre Merid, Hagos Gebreyesus, and Haile Fida . Other early prominent members included Andreas Eshete , Haile Menkerios , Alem Habtu, and Dessalegn Rahmato . Limited free expression

56-694: A Marxist ideology that was closer to the Soviet version than to the New Left ; Haile studied towards an MA in sociology and social anthropology and PhD in philosophy at the Institut Universitaire de France . Rene LeFort states that he was a fellow-traveller of the French Communist Party . He returned to Ethiopia soon after the start of the Ethiopian Revolution , sometime in 1975, having answered

84-563: A program of Red Terror designed to eliminate all EPRP opposition. During the first stages of the Red Terror, MEISON remained closely allied with the Derg and assisted in combatting suspected EPRP supporters. In February 1977 MEISON joined the Union of Ethiopian Marxist–Leninist Organizations (Imaledih). But later in 1977, the Derg turned on MEISON, fearing its membership was more loyal to the party than it

112-729: Is the oldest university in Ethiopia. AAU has thirteen campuses. Twelve of these are situated in Addis Ababa, and one is located in Bishoftu , about 45 kilometres (28 mi) away. AAU has several associated research institutions including the Institute of Ethiopian Studies . The Ministry of Education admits qualified students to AAU based on their score on the Ethiopian University Entrance Examination (EUEE). The origins of AAU

140-523: The Derg's appeal for all educated Ethiopians to return home to help modernize the country. With Negede Gobeze , who had also been studying abroad in France, he opened the "Progressive Book Store" near the campus of Haile Selassie University (now Addis Ababa University ), which made the basic texts of Marxism-Leninism available to Ethiopians. "The store", as described by the Ottaways, "[was] a dilapidated old house,

168-522: The Derg, and found sanctuary in Yemen. Haile Fida remained in prison for some time, until at last he was executed; the circumstances of his conditions are unclear, but Andargachew Tiruneh states that he was killed two years after his arrest, in 1979. Addis Ababa University Addis Ababa University ( AAU ) ( Amharic : አዲስ አበባ ዩኒቨርሲቲ ) is a national university located in Addis Ababa , Ethiopia . It

196-473: The Derg. August 1975, he joined Sisay Hapte , chairman of the Derg's Political Affairs Committee, in negotiating with six Arab countries over the increasing problems with Eritrea . Unable to defeat each other with words, the opposing groups resorted to violence. The first victim was Theodore Bekele , MEISON member and leader of the All-Ethiopia Trade Union , who was killed 25 February 1977. This

224-581: The awareness of the rural population in the spirit of the revolution. The university offered its first Master's programs in 1979 and its first PhD programs in 1987. Until 1974 the charter provided for a governance structure in the following descending order or authority: Chancellor (the Emperor himself); the Board of Governors, composed of ministers and members of the royal family; and the Faculty Council, made up of

252-567: The civilian opposition. Along with disaffected zamecha members who had abandoned their assigned tasks in the countryside and found their way back home, the opposition had come to support the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party (EPRP), greatly increasing its numbers and influence. While MEISON supported the Derg, the EPRP attacked the Derg, accusing them of having crushed the popular movement which had been ruthlessly crushed by military intervention;

280-429: The end of 1976, a struggle broke out between Mengistu and MEISON, after which Mengistu began to systematically replace all of its members in the government. Tensions increased when 11 March 1977 in a ministerial reshuffle MEISON failed to acquire any positions. Then on 14 July management of POMOA was taken from the party. Haile Fida and the rest of MEISON knew that the next blow would be bloody, and acted first: on 19 August

308-478: The leading figures of MEISON and some 500 cadres went underground. Mengistu denounced the party in a speech five days later, and on 26 August Haile Fida with several other leaders were captured outside of Addis Ababa, and detained in the Old Gebbi, where the Derg had made its headquarters; a number of the other MEISON leaders were killed either on the spot or in subsequent shoot-outs. Only Negede Gobeze managed to escape

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336-589: The only correct socialist line was to continue the struggle for a true people's government against the repressive Derg. Despite their bitter disagreement over what role the Derg should play in controlling the Ethiopia Revolution, both the MEISON and EPRP "published strikingly similar programs". According to the Ottaways, who were witnesses to this debate, "most Ethiopians, even educated ones" were left confused. They explain: Meanwhile, Fida strengthened his ties with

364-492: The revolution. Ideological friction between EPRP and MEISON, for years played out in the arena of exile student politics, would never come close to improving at home, with deadly consequences for all. The EPRP opposed the Derg, claiming it was standing in the way of a genuine "people's democracy" and later accusing Mengistu of fascism . MEISON, on the other hand, was willing to allow the Derg authority in restructuring Ethiopian society along Marxist-Leninist principles, at least for

392-533: The revolutionary alliance of the proletariat, the peasantry and the progressive petit-bourgeoisie, the trinity of feudalism, imperialism and bureaucratic capitalism would be destroyed and eventually a People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia established. Mengistu announced the adoption of the National Democratic Revolution at a mass demonstration 20 April 1976. However, the POMOA failed to connect with

420-413: The time being, and favored a more "controlled democracy." Because of this, MEISON won the Derg's favor, and gained key posts in the new government. Ideological differences eventually erupted into violent conflict that peaked in 1976, with clashes between EPRP and MEISON supporters and EPRP attacks against public buildings and high-ranking Derg officials. In response to this instability, Mengistu implemented

448-659: The university officers, deans, directors and elected members. The Faculty later became the Senate. In 1977, Duri Mohammed was appointed president of AAU, under his leadership the academy was preserved and even saw its resurgence despite the turbulent times amid the Ethiopian inserruction . The AAU also lost its relative autonomy when it was brought under the Commission for Higher Education, which came to exercise administrative jurisdiction over all institutions of higher learning. In 1993, AAU

476-507: The wake of the abortive Coup d'état in 1960, in favor of the new Jubilee Palace. Following the 1974 revolution, the university was briefly renamed University of Ethiopia (National University) before it came to assume its present designation, AAU, in 1975. In the wake of the revolution, AAU was closed for two years and students and staff were drafted into what was known as the Development through Cooperation Campaign ( zemecha ), designed to arise

504-479: The years before the 1974 revolution . In the late 1960s and early 1970s, students were required to do a year of national service under the Ethiopia University Service program. University teachers and students were instrumental in exposing the hidden 1973 famine and launching the first famine relief program. The Ethiopian Student Movement, of which the university was the birthplace and main venue, played

532-617: Was a two-year college in 1950 by the Jesuit Lucien Matte , at the appeal of His Majesty Emperor Haile Selassie I . It began operations the following year. Over the following two years an affiliation with the University of London , and University of Oxford was developed. Africans from various parts of the continent would receive free scholarships through programs subsidized by the Organisation of African Unity for higher learning. AAU

560-529: Was also known for sending its students abroad for an extended interpersonal educational experience, and having those students return with the exemplary standards of the international community. The nucleus of AAU was formed with the establishment of the University College of Addis Ababa (UCAA) in 1950. UCAA, which initially consisted of the Faculties of Arts and Science, became a fully fledged college when it

588-667: Was an Ethiopian politician and the leader of the All-Ethiopia Socialist Movement (popularly known as "MEISON", after its Amharic abbreviation መኢሶን). His most significant accomplishment was drafting the Program for the National Democratic Revolution on behalf of the Derg . Haile Fida was born in Arjo , Ethiopia and grew up in the town of Nekemte . Haile Fida studied in France during the early 1960s, and during his studies he had acquired

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616-588: Was chartered in 1954. In 1955, the Building College was opened. In February 1961, these various colleges and the Theological College were brought together to form the Haile Selassie University. Emperor Haile Selassie I gave his Guenete Leul Palace to serve as the administration building and main campus. He had abandoned the palace, where a number of his ministers and favorites were killed in

644-485: Was made its chairman. The goal of POMOA was not only to build support amongst the general public, but to reach out to other leftist civilians. It was while chairman of POMOA that Haile Fida drafted the Program of National Democratic Revolution, a document which replaced the patriotic but vague motto Itiopiya Tikdem ("Ethiopia first") the Derg had used as their guiding principles with a Maoist vision for Ethiopia. Relying on

672-468: Was permitted following the 1974 revolution that installed the Derg as the state's authority, and politics became dominated by members of the radical Left who had previously opposed Haile Selassie at home and abroad. MEISON and the EPRP quickly grew to be the two dominant Marxist parties, and their leadership & members across Europe, North America, and the Middle East quickly returned home to take part in

700-504: Was placed under the Ministry of Education by a government proclamation. The incoming transitional government appointed Duri Mohammed as president once again, a purging of 42 staff members which included Asrat Woldeyes and former president Alemayehu Teferra ensued. Over and above their academic pursuits, AAU students have been actively engaged in community service (such as conducting literacy programs) and political struggle, particularly in

728-564: Was swamped by students, and each new shipment of books was immediately sold out." He soon came to the notice of not only the Derg, who were in need of both civilian supporters and advisers in Marxist-Leninist theory - but as well as to the notice of its leading member, Mengistu Haile Mariam . In December 1975, the Derg secretly created what became known as the Provisional Office for Mass Organizational Affairs (POMOA), and Haile Fida

756-515: Was the start of the Red Terror , during which hundreds died and ended with the defeat of the EPRP; the few who survived fled Addis Ababa for Mount Asimba . Despite the departure of the EPRP, conditions did not improve for either Haile Fida or MEISON. On 10 July 1976, a coup to remove Mengistu failed, and Sisay Hapte, who had been the Derg's chief liaison with the civilian Left, was executed three days later along with over 17 accomplices. Then towards

784-528: Was to the Derg. In August 1977, most of MEISON's domestic leadership including its chairman Haile Fida, quickly went underground and Haile attempted to flee Addis Ababa to his home province of Welega, but all were arrested and later executed. All other high-ranking MEISON members were removed from their government posts, and the Derg soon launched a bloody campaign against rural MEISON supporters. Haile Fida Haile Fida ( Amharic : ኃይሌ ፊዳ, Oromo : Haaylee Fidaa , c. 4 April 1939 – c. 4 April 1979)

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