Hayelom Araya
Encyclopedia
Major General Hadush "Hayelom" Araya (1955-1996) is a former member of the Tigrayan Peoples' Liberation Front (TPLF), which is the leading member of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front
(EPRDF) political coalition. While a member of the TPLF he acquired the nickname Hayelom, "Overpowering".
He was born in Addi Nebreid in western Tigray, and although he completed high school in Adwa
, he failed the national college entrance examination. After the Ethiopian revolution broke out, he joined the TPLF. As a commander of EPRDF forces, General Hayelom led his forces to northern Shewa
and later marched to Addis Ababa coming out victorious in 1991. One of his most daring acts was the "Agazi action", which happened on the early evening of 5 February 1985: he led a squad of TPLF fighters in attacking the main prison in Mek'ele
, and freed over a thousand prisoners, killed 16 prison guards and wounded 9 soldiers without losing a single man. He later become one of the military leaders in the defence force of the Transitional Government of Ethiopia
.
General Hayelom was shot down in Addis Ababa at a restaurant bar 14 February 1996; the motives for his death remain unexplained. In May 2008, the Late General Hayelom Araya Monument was unveiled at his birthplace, Shire
, in the Tigray Region
.
Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front
The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front is the ruling political coalition in Ethiopia. It is an alliance of four other groups: the Oromo Peoples' Democratic Organization , the Amhara National Democratic Movement , the South Ethiopian Peoples' Democratic Front The Ethiopian People's...
(EPRDF) political coalition. While a member of the TPLF he acquired the nickname Hayelom, "Overpowering".
He was born in Addi Nebreid in western Tigray, and although he completed high school in Adwa
Adwa
Adwa is a market town in northern Ethiopia, and best known as the community closest to the decisive Battle of Adowa fought in 1896 with Italian troops. Notably, Ethiopian soldiers won the battle, thus being the only African nation to thwart European colonialism...
, he failed the national college entrance examination. After the Ethiopian revolution broke out, he joined the TPLF. As a commander of EPRDF forces, General Hayelom led his forces to northern Shewa
Shewa
Shewa is a historical region of Ethiopia, formerly an autonomous kingdom within the Ethiopian Empire...
and later marched to Addis Ababa coming out victorious in 1991. One of his most daring acts was the "Agazi action", which happened on the early evening of 5 February 1985: he led a squad of TPLF fighters in attacking the main prison in Mek'ele
Mek'ele
Mek'ele , also transliterated as Makale, is a city in northern Ethiopia and the capital of the Tigray Region. It is located some 650 kilometers north of the capital, Addis Ababa, at latitude and longitude with an elevation of 2084 meters above sea level...
, and freed over a thousand prisoners, killed 16 prison guards and wounded 9 soldiers without losing a single man. He later become one of the military leaders in the defence force of the Transitional Government of Ethiopia
Transitional Government of Ethiopia
The Transitional government of Ethiopia was established immediately after the fall of the Dergue regime. It was led by Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia. Zenawi remains the prime minister of Ethiopia to this day....
.
General Hayelom was shot down in Addis Ababa at a restaurant bar 14 February 1996; the motives for his death remain unexplained. In May 2008, the Late General Hayelom Araya Monument was unveiled at his birthplace, Shire
Shire, Ethiopia
Shire , also known as Inda Selassie , is a town in northern Ethiopia. The administrative center of the Mirabawi Zone of the Tigray region, this town has a latitude and longitude of with an altitude of 1953 meters above sea level...
, in the Tigray Region
Tigray Region
Tigray Region is the northernmost of the nine ethnic regions of Ethiopia containing the homeland of the Tigray people. It was formerly known as Region 1...
.