12 Facts About Abebe Aregai

Ras Abebe Aregai was an Ethiopian military commander who served as Prime Minister of Ethiopia from 27 November 1957 until his death.

Abebe Aregai was a victim of the unsuccessful 1960 Ethiopian coup.

Abebe Aregai was born on 18 August 1903 in the village of Woira Amba-Jirru in northern Shewa.

Abebe Aregai's father was Aregai Bechere, an ethnic Amhara, and his mother was Askale Gobena, an ethnic Oromo and the daughter of Ras Gobena Dacche.

Abebe Aregai served in the Kebur Zabagna, rising to the rank of Major before transferring to the police, and by 1935 had been granted the title of Balambaras.

Abebe Aregai was the chief of police of Addis Ababa when the Italians invaded Ethiopia in 1936.

Balambaras Abebe Aregai remained in the capital after the departure of Emperor Haile Selassie, but departing for the northeast with ten men before the Italians occupied the capital.

Abebe Aregai presented himself to the Italians as ambivalent about his role as an Arbegna, always seeming to be at the point of submitting to the occupiers in return for money, arms, honors or power, yet always changing his mind at the last moment.

Now Ras, Abebe Aregai proved to be a valuable retainer to the Emperor.

One of the few Arbegnoch to receive a major government post, Ras Abebe Aregai was appointed governor of Addis Ababa and Minister of War in 1941 soon after Haile Selassie's return.

Abebe Aregai was made governor of Sidamo province from 1941 to 1942.

The Emperor subsequently made him governor of Tigray, and Ras Abebe Aregai brutally pacified the province.