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France 24

Politics

Clothilde HAZARD

Fifty years after fall of Ethiopia's empire, survivors remember terror of Derg dictatorship

Ethiopia Haile Selassie France

FOCUS © FRANCE 24

Exactly 50 years ago, on September 12, 1974, Ethiopia's last emperor, Haile Selassie, was deposed after 44 years in power. A popular uprising and series of nationwide strikes put an end to the monarchy. The military then took over, leading to the feared Derg dictatorship, which remained in power until 1991. But the new Communist regime was opposed to the demands of Addis Ababa University students, who were central to the revolution. To explore this key moment in Ethiopian history, we spoke with surviving witnesses and key figures from that era. FRANCE 24's Clothilde Hazard and Olivia Bizot report.

Watch moreThe last emperor of Ethiopia: Haile Selassie's legacy remains divisive

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