Territorial Army (Ethiopia)

The Territorial Army (Amharic: የግዛት ጦር) was the national ground force of the Ethiopian Empire. It operated essentially as a loosely organized auxiliary force serving to aid in local police work. It was dominated by a group of officers known as "The Exiles" for their role in fleeing Ethiopia with Haile Selassie in 1936 after the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.[1]

History

It was formed as part of Haile Selassie's transformation strategy, with the mission being to disarm the guerrillas that took part in the Ethiopian Civil War. Emperor Selassie authorized the recruitment of many shifta in the Territorial Army during its existence.[2] Over time, it was gradually incorporated into the regular army.[3] In late June 1974, officers of the Territorial Army formed the Derg.[4]

Role

The Territorial Army's provincial units, commanded by the governor general, assisted the national police force in areas where police were scarce.[5] It also guarded magazines, communication lines and other important places.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Ethiopia - The Establishment of the Derg". countrystudies.us. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  2. ^ "Ethiopia: Military Tradition in National Life ~a HREF="/et_00_00.html#et_05_01"". memory.loc.gov. Retrieved 2021-06-26.
  3. ^ Keller, Edmond Joseph (1991). Revolutionary Ethiopia: From Empire to People's Republic. Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0-253-20646-6.
  4. ^ "The military and politics in Ethiopia". Strategic Survey. 75 (1): 85–87. 1974-01-01. doi:10.1080/04597237408460336. ISSN 0459-7230.
  5. ^ "Public Order and Internal Security: The National Police", Library of Congress Country Studies: Ethiopia (data from 1991; accessed 26 April 2011)
  6. ^ Ethiopia (1972). Consolidated Laws of Ethiopia: An Unofficial Compilation of National Laws in Effect as of September 10, 1969. Prepared in Co-operation with the Office of the Prime Minister, Imperial Ethiopian Government, by the Faculty of Law, Haile Sellassie I University. Faculty of Law, Haile Sellassie I University.