1960 Ethiopian coup attempt

1960 Ethiopian coup attempt
	Part of Opposition to Haile Selassie
	; Guenete Leul Palace in 2018, one of the scenes of the failed coup
Date	13–17 December 1960 ; (4 days)
Location	Addis Ababa, Ethiopian Empire
Result	Loyalist victory
Belligerents
Emperor Haile Selassie loyalists	Council of the Revolution ; Kebur Zabagna;
Commanders and leaders
Asrate Medhin Kassa ; Mared Mangesha	Germame Neway ; Mengistu Neway ; Warqenah Gabayahu ; Tsege Dibu
Casualties and losses
	300-2,000 killed, including civilians

The 1960 Ethiopian coup attempt (Amharic: የታህሳሱ ግርግር)^[2] was perpetrated against Emperor Haile Selassie on 13 December 1960. The Council of the Revolution, four conspirators led by brothers Germame Neway and Brigadier General Mengistu Neway, commander of the Kebur Zabagna (Imperial Bodyguard), sought to overthrow the Emperor during a state visit to Brazil in order to install a progressive government. The coup leaders declared the beginning of a new government under the rule of Haile Selassie's eldest son, Crown Prince Asfaw Wossen, that would address the numerous economic and social problems Ethiopia faced. The Council gained control of most of the capital city, Addis Ababa, and took several ministers and other important people hostage.

The coup was put down following a violent confrontation with the imperial army and air force.^[3] After its initial success, the majority of the military and populace quickly aligned against the coup, and by 17 December loyalists had regained control of Addis Ababa. At least 300 people were killed during the coup, including most of the conspirators.

The coup attempt is considered the most serious threat to Haile Selassie's rule between 1941 and his deposition in 1974 during the Ethiopian Revolution.^[4]

^ Cite error: The named reference Clapham-497 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ ʼAbaba, Balaṭa (2004). Derona zandero (in Amharic).
^ Kebede, Messay (2011). "The Politics of Cooptation". Ideology and Elite Conflicts: Autopsy of the Ethiopian Revolution. Lexington Books. pp. 139–142. ISBN 978-0-7391-3796-3.
^ For example, see Bahru Zewde, A History of Modern Ethiopia, second edition (Oxford: James Currey, 2001), p. 211, where Bahru states "The nearest the emperor came to losing his throne was in 1960."

[Clapham-497-1] Cite error: The named reference Clapham-497 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[2] ʼAbaba, Balaṭa (2004). Derona zandero (in Amharic).

[:0-3] Kebede, Messay (2011). "The Politics of Cooptation". Ideology and Elite Conflicts: Autopsy of the Ethiopian Revolution. Lexington Books. pp. 139–142. ISBN 978-0-7391-3796-3.

[4] For example, see Bahru Zewde, A History of Modern Ethiopia, second edition (Oxford: James Currey, 2001), p. 211, where Bahru states "The nearest the emperor came to losing his throne was in 1960."

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]