Happy Victory Day, Ethiopia!

On this day in 1941, 5 years to the day that the troops of Fascist Italy had occupied Addis Ababa, Emperor Haile Selassie returned to his capital.

After weeks of intrigue by British regional colonial authorities to prevent the return of the Emperor, his allies, which included his military advisors Wingate and Sandford as well as his influential friends in London, had convinced Churchill and his government that it would be dishonourable to prevent it. The British had liberated the city from the fascists in the previous month, but the public had largely regarded the event as one colonial power replacing another. General Cunningham had raised the British flag over the palace, and had even tried to enforce racial separation laws that the Italians had never truly enforced. The Emperor and his Gideon Force of combined Ethiopian and British troops had entered Debre Markos, capital of Gojjam on the same day as Cunningham with his British, South African and Nigerian troops had entered Addis Ababa. The Emperor had wanted to fly to Addis Ababa right away. But Cunningham, Lush, and British colonial authorities in Nairobi, Khartoum and Cairo all urged the British government to prevent it. They argued to London that the “natives” would be so roused by the Emperor’s return that they would massacre the Italians and possibly other white people. Orde Wingate and Daniel Sandford argued vociferously against such dishonourable conduct. Wingate was so passionate in his defence of Ethiopian independence and the Emperor’s cause, that he would eventually be accused of split loyalties and was demoted in rank and made to leave Ethiopia without being allowed to say farewell to the Emperor. The Emperor had strong allies in London as well, and Churchill ordered that all obstacles to the Emperor’s return be removed.

Now, after attending Holy Liturgy at St. Mary’s Church on Mt. Entoto in the early hours of the day, Emperor Haile Selassie prepared to enter his capital. The Emperor was presented with a white horse on which to ride into the city in triumph. Perhaps in recognition of Wingate’s battle for his cause, he granted the honour of riding the white horse to Orde Wingate, and he instead entered the city in the back of an open car. Accounts from the time say that many of the population had treated the news of the Emperor’s return with disbelief. Now as they saw his unmistakable small figure in the back of the car, the people finally believed that foreign rule was over, and that the sovereign and sovereignty had returned to Addis Ababa. Ras Abebe Aregai had said to the Emperor “I never thought I would live to see your face again”. But here he was, the Ethiopian monarch raising the Ethiopian flag over the Ethiopian Palace, and striding into the Throne Hall of the Menelik Palace to sit on the ancient Ethiopian Throne. They threw themselves to the ground in homage, and raised their arms to heaven and ululated with joy. Ethiopia had raised her hands to God, and He had answered.

Happy Victory Day to all Ethiopians and those who love Ethiopia. (painting by Blaten Geta Emeaelaf Heruy)