ARAGAY, ABABA

Ras Ababa Aragay (August 18. 1903-December 15, 1960) emerged as a hero of resistance to foreign rule during the five-year Italian occupation of Ethiopia (1936-41). He was made Ras (military commander) by the Patriot forces of Shawa.

PHOTO CAPTION: Ababa Aragay SOURCE: EA Library

He was the son of Afanegus Aragay and of Wayzaro Askala Gobana, daughter of Ras Gobana Dachi. He started his career as a lieutenant in the bodyguard of Emperor Haile Selassie [reigned 1930-74]. Later he was transferred and made chief of police in Addis Ababa, with the title of Balambaras (“chief of a fortress”).

At the time of the Italian invasion, he did not participate in the battle of Maychaw (March 31, 1936), won by the Italians, since he was then guarding Addis Ababa. When Emperor Haile Selassie left for London later in the year, Ababa Aragay returned to his native village of Salalé. From this time onwards, until the liberation of Ethiopia, he was an implacable enemy of the Italians. He was one of the Ethiopian leaders who made an attempt to free Addis Ababa from them on July 21, 1936. Failing in this, he returned to the forests of Salalé, Manz, Bulga, and Tagulat in northern Shawa, where he engaged in guerrilla warfare until independence was regained. It was during this period that he was made commander of the patriots of Shawa.

After the liberation of Ethiopia in 1941, Ras Ababa held various government posts. He was in turn governor of Addis Ababa (1941), Sidamo (1941-42), and Tegré (1943-47), respectively. He also served as minister of war (1942-43), minister of the interior (1949-55), minister of defense (1955-60), and chairman of the Council of Ministers (1955-60). He was killed by leaders of the abortive coup against Emperor Haile Selassie in December 1960.

SALOME GEERE EGZIABHER