Abiye Abebe
Son-in-law of Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia and Politician of Ethiopia

Abiye Abebe

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Son-in-law of Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia and Politician of Ethiopia
Gender:
Male
Places:
Ethiopia
Is:
Politician
Work field:
Politics
Birth:
8 July 1916(Abyssinia)
Death:
23 November 1974(Addis Ababa, Ethiopia)
Star sign:
Cancer
Family:
Spouse(s):
Princess Tsehai
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Biography

Introduction

Lieutenant-General Lij Abiye Abebe, KBE, (1918 – 23 November 1974) was an Ethiopian politician and son-in-law of Emperor Haile Selassie.

Biography

Son of Liqa Mequas Abebe Atnaf Seggad, Abye was born 1918 in Addis Ababa as a Lij. He attended the Holeta Military Academy. In the 1940s and 1950s he was Minister of Defence, and later served as Minister of Justice and Minister of the Interior. He chaired the High National Security Commission during the Ethiopian Revolution until his arrest by the Derg 16 July 1974. Lt. General Abiye was serving as Chief of the General Staff when he was arrested.

According to John Spencer, when Prime Minister Aklilu Habte-Wold sought to resign his post in 1973, he suggested to the Emperor that he be replaced by General Abiye. Other sources indicate that Aklilu Habte-Wold's rival Prince Asrate Kassa was the person who put General Abiye forward as a fellow aristocrat. However Abiye consented to becoming Prime Minister only if his nomination, and those of his cabinet, were approved by the Ethiopian parliament, a condition Emperor Haile Selassie found unacceptable. As a result, Haile Selassie decided to appoint Endelkachew Makonnen Prime Minister instead. Abiye was one of 60 former government officials executed the night of 22–23 November at Akaki Central Prison by the Derg.

General Abiye was married three times. At Addis Ababa, on 26 April 1942, he married Princess Tsehai of Ethiopia who died in childbirth a year later. Subsequent to this marriage Lt. General Abiye Abebe wa accorded the dignities and protocol rank of the Emperor's son-in-law, even after he remarried. In 1946, married Woizero Amarech Nasibu, and then later to Woizero Tsige, his widow.

Career

  • Brigadier-General (26/04/1942).
  • Governor General of Wollega (1942-1943).
  • Minister for War 1949-1955 (Acting 1943-1947).
  • Minister of Justice (1958-1961).
  • Minister of Interior (1961-1974).
  • Ambassador to France (1955-1958).
  • Viceroy of Eritrea (1959-1961).
  • President of the Senate (1964-1974).
  • Minister for Defence and Chief of Staff (28/02/1974-22/07/1974).

Honours

National

  • ETH Order of Menelik II - Grand Cross BAR.png Grand Cross of the Order of Menelik II
  • Military Medal of Merit of the Order of St. George (Ethiopia) - ribbon bar.png Military Medal of Merit of the Order of St George
  • ETH multiribbon.png Haile Selassie I Gold Medal
  • PatriotMedalEtiopia.png Patriot Medal & three torches (1944)
  • RefugeePatriotMedalEtiopia.png Refugee Medal (1944)
  • Jubilee Medal 1955 (Ethiopia).gif Jubilee Medal (1955)
  • ETH Emperor Haile Selassie I Jubilee Medal.png Jubilee Medal (1966)

Foreign

  • Order Sint Olaf 1 kl.png Knight Gran Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav (Kingdom of Norway, January 1956)
  • Legion Honneur GC ribbon.svg Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Legion of Honour (French Republic)
  • Royal Order of Sahametrei (Cambodia) - ribbon bar.gif Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Sahametrei (Kingdom of Cambodia, 4 January 1968)
  • 39-45 Star BAR.svg British Star (United Kingdom, 1939-1945)
  • Ribbon - Africa Star.png Africa Star (United Kingdom, 1940-1943)
  • War Medal 39-45 BAR.svg British War Medal (United Kingdom, 1939-1945)
  • National Order of Merit (France)