The Menelik Factor on the Question of Eritrea

Eritrea under the dictator Isaias Afewerki has become a thorn on the Ethiopian flesh. In 1998 Eritrea drew Ethiopia into a war she neither want nor was prepared for. As a result lives were lost and property damaged on both sides of the border. What is baffling is that Eritrea has not yet learned its lesson. It is still trying daily to foment trouble by arming dissidents and sending them across the border to stir trouble in the country. Worse still it is daily broadcasting over its radio station that iy will launch yet another invasion to rectify matters. Why are we suffering by a country that ought to be grateful for having been given its independence? In the creation of Eritrea, the problem child of the Horn, there is the Menelik factor. Ethiopian historians do not want to address the issue. Yet it is there and cannot be ignored forever. Had it not been for the wrong political perception and self interest of Menelik Eritrea as a country would not have existed to day let alone be a problem.  In a way we can say that Eritrea is a creation of Menelik II. Let us now briefly survey the sudden birth of Eritrea.

Italy was one western country that did not have a colony in Africa. In order to join the rank of the other European powers with colonies in Africa, it took a careful look at the map of the continent. At first it looked as if all had been taken. Britain had a vast number of colonies, so did France, Spain, Germany, Portugal and Belgium.   A careful look however revealed that there were a couple of countries that were not colonized. These were  Ethiopia, Liberia and Libya. Italy decided on Ethiopia and started to take measures. It also had an eye on Libya but that had to wait. Remember that at this stage most of to day’s Eritrea was part of Ethiopia, part of Tigrai-Tigrigni. The Tigrigna speaking people were one, all be it divided into districts like the rest.

The first step Italy took was to purchase the port of Assab from the Sultan of Afar. This was done through a proxy. It also took steps to occupy part of Somalia that was not under British or French rule.  However Italy was not satisfied. Its eye was on Ethiopia. It was at this point that it started to befriend Menelik king of Shoa. Italy had concluded that Menelik was ambitious enough to act against his Emperor and advance the Italian cause. Italy’s emissary to the court of Menelik was a certain Antonelli. Antonelli was Menelik’s link with Rome. It ought to be remembered that Menelik despite his plea for mercy and pledge of loyalty to Emperor Yohannes IV was not a trustworthy servant. He was bent on  having the upper hand in the country. That is perhaps the reason why he was always ready to side with foreign enemies of Ethiopia. Take the Mekdela expedition for example. Here is what Menelik  wrote to Napier :

                  Having heard that you have come to Abyssinia, I was first willing

                  to send ( supplies ) to you in a suitable manner, but my enemies are between

                 us ……..Now I am far off, but I have no hesitation ( to help )…..( Marcus p32)

Again here is what he wrote to King Umberto of Italy after the Italian invaders were soundly defeated at Dogali by the Ethiopian army led by Raisi Alula ;

            I have now learned that Yohannes threatens my country, saying that

            It was Menelik who advised the Italian government to make war over

 Massawa. I have decided, for the salvation of my country to defend

myself, and it is therefore necessary for me to have your help.

In October last year I signed a convention with Antonelli in which

I promised to do nothing that would damage my friendship with the

Italian government. Now on defending my country,I can revenge

the Italians who have died.

Now I ask you to immediately send help by way of arms and that

there shall not be less than 10,000 Guns. I have confided to Antonelli

many things that I cannot write which he should tell you. ( p 145/6 )

            The new Negus was as brave as Theodros and possessed his virtue but

 none of his vices; But the he was never given an opportunity to show

his ability to develop his country. (p 135)

Emperor Yohannes was constantly at war defending Ethiopia from foreign invaders and quelling internal problems: Fr.  O’Mahony wrote:

            Unlike Theodros ,whose policy had been to eliminate political rivals

            Emperor YohannesIV had reduced his rivals to vassals,. By controlling

their mutual precarious balance of power, he neutralized any political challenge to his own overall suzerainty. (p 250 II) and in the words of Edmonds;  “Yohannes proved himself an able Emperor. He brought back some national unity that Theodros had lost”. (p 114)

  Menelik was constantly plotting against his emperor and siding with Egypt and Italy and their campaign to occupy Ethiopian territory. He was also supporting the Mahdists in the Sudan. He was above all befriending Italy in a bid to get military assistnce and other help and thus strengthen his over all stand in the Ethiopean situation. “While Yohannes was busy fighting the Egyptians, Menelik Pursued his policy of self-aggrandizement.”

As all true students of Ethiopia history would remember Emperor Yohannes IV was fighting the Egyptians when they tried to expand their occupation of parts of northern Ethiopia and also moved to Harar. The Egyptian campaign led to the battle of Gunda Gundi and Gura’i. In this campaign the invading-army, was led by some 48 American and other European military officers among whom were one major-general, four brigadier generals, eleven colonels and others of lower ranks. The Americans were mostly trained at west–point. Emperor Yohannis defeated the Egyptian army officered by Americans at Gunda Gundi and Gura’i. As Bairu put it  :-

           In anyway, the Gunda Gundi and Gura’i victories were even remarkable

           than their famous successor, battle of Adwa. While Menelik was to

          lead a  united Ethiopia against the Italians, Yohannis IV faced the Egyptians

             as ahead of a divided house. ( p53 )

It was at this junction that Menelik was courting Egyptian friendship. According to Wylde:

            … at the same time Muzinger, who gad been made a Pasha in the Egyptians

service, was killed ,and his force entirely destroyed. He, on behalf of the

Egyptian government, had been intrigued with Menelik of Shoa, and succeeded in    getting a promise of aid from that potentate. The scheme was while the Egyptians

Were attacking King YohannesIV in the north, Muzinger Pasha and Menelik were to attack from the south via Ifat district, and join the southern Mohammedan Galla in Wollo and Yeju,  who were always willing to loot the christians of Amhara and Tigre. (P 25 )

Menelik moved to Gondar in the hope of being crowned when the Emperor is killed by the Egyptians. However, contrary to Menelik’s dreams the Emperor routed the invading Egyptian army and its American and European officers. At this juncture in time Menelik had no alternative but to beg mercy from the Emperor. As Fr. O’Mahoney put it :

” Yohannes victory, however left Menelik shivering in the light of his naked duplicity. Tedious and protracted peace negotiations with the vanquished Egyptians postponed Yohannes’ return and the day of retribution for Menelik and others.”

When the Emperor finally moved to Shoa, he had     Menelik at his mercy. According to H. Marcus :

            …….in a humiliating act of submission Menelik was to present himself

naked above the waste, with a stone on his neck, to beg Yohannes’ pardon

and pledge loyalty. (p 53)

…Menelik approached Yohannes on foot, carrying a rock on his neck,

his face down on traditional form of submission. The moment he set foot on the rug in the imperial tent, Yohannes’s canons ‘thundered twelve times’ announcing the down fall of Shoan independece…..Yohannes received Menelik with signs of respect, cautious not to damage the wounded dignity further. ( p55)

Menelik renounced his title of king of kings and was given the title of king of Shoa by the Emperor. But, he was never loyal and continued to subvert the Emperor’s effort to defend the country from foreign invaders and in his effort to unite the country.

 Later Emperor Yohannes was asked by the British to help the Egyptians who were encircled by the Mahdists and whom the British could not save. The British when asking the Emperor for help had promised to return all occupied land to its rightful owner. Ras Alula defeated the Mahdists at the battle of Kufit and extricated the Egyptians from encirclement. He also accompanied them to the Red Sea port of Massawa. At this junction the British invited Italy to occupy the port of  Massawa. The reason they gave was that Ethiopia could not defend the port from foreign invasion. If this is not an open duplicity one does not know what to call it. Ethiopia could extricate the Egyptians from Mahdist encirclement but could not protect the port. However what became evident later was that Britain was worried that France might occupy the port. However Ethiopia got back the Bogos area.

Italy was confined to the port area, an area that perhaps is one of the hottest places on earth. In any case their intention of eventual expansion into the interior. As expected they started to move inland. But, Ethiopia did not like the idea and engaged the Italians at Dogali and annihilated most of the invading army. What little was left of the Italian army retreated to Massawa. Britain was not happy with the event and sent an emissary to negotiate for a foothold on the higher grounds for the Italians. The Emperor rejected the  British plea for help to the Italians. He told Portal the British emissary :

“… I did not give them Massawa, England gave it to them, but I will not give an inch of land.”  (p58) And in a letter to Queen Victoria,   “… How could you say that I shall hand over to them the country, which Jesus Christ gave me? That would be an unjust command on your part if your wish were to make peace between us. It would be when they are in their country and I am in mine. (p 174)

Emperor Yohannes was making preparations to engage the Italians and push them out of Massawa when news that Gondar and Begemdir were invaded by the Mahdi was received. The invading Sudanese army had started to lot and burn Gondar. The Emperor upon receipt of this news he abandoned his plan to attack the Italians and went to save Gondar. As we know he beat the Mahdi’s army and pushed them to  Metema. The invaders were almost defeated when the Emperor was killed by a stray bullet and as a result an almost victory was changed to defeat. Menelik, who did neither come nor sent an army to fight on the side of the Emperor and defend the country, wasted no time in declaring himself Emperor. But that was not all. Fearful of challenges from Tigrai he asked the Italians to occupy highland Eritrea including Asmara. This is how Lapiso put it :

            I would beg your majesty to give orders to all the generals in Massawa

not to listen to the words of the rebels who are found in some parts of Tigre

and forbid the passage of arms…I would like the soldiers of your majesty

to forcefully occupy Asmara and make sure that the route is well guarded and

defended. I allow myself to say those things to your majesty, because I see God, in his justice gives me the throne that for so many years I had the right to have and which will give rest and peace to all Ethiopia.” (p 148)

The consequence of this seemingly innocuous plea was to have far reaching consequences. Ethiopia was permanently divided and a country, which the Italians called Eritrea, was born. Menelik, who was only looking for power had no idea on the integrity of the country and its history. What Theodros and Yohannes and others before them had kept together at a great sacrifice he freely gave away only to see his rivals weakened. The Italians called their newly acquired territory Eritrea. What is more they used it as a staging point to try to occupy the rest of Ethiopia. The rest is history and I shall stop here. This is the Menelik factor in the birth of Eritrea, the problem child of the Horn.     

Bibliography

1. Bairu Tafla  (1987) ASMA Giorgis and his work

History of the Gala and the Kingdom of Showa.

2. Dye, William, ME(1969) Moslem Eggpt and the Ethiopian Empire New York, Negro University, press
3. Edmond, I.G (1975) Ethiopia: Land of the Conquering Lion of Judah. New York, Holt Rien hart and Winston.
4. Jones, A.H.M and Monroe, E (1965) A short History of Ethiopia Oxford, The Claredon Press
5. §’þî g¤.Ál¤Â (1974) yxþMp½¶ÃlþZM wr‰Â yxþT×eà TGL DL b›Dê””
6. Marcus H.G (1975) The life and Times of Menelik II of Ethiopia 1844-1913 Oxford, Claredon press.
7. O’ Mahoney, Kevin (1987) The Ebullient Phoenix: A history of the vicariate of Abyssinian 1860 –1881 vol. II
8. Portal, G.H.(1969) My Mission to Abyssinia, New York, Negro University Press.