Getachew Abate

Who was Getachew Abate?

Getachew Abate was an army commander and a member of the nobility of the Ethiopian Empire.

Getachew Abate was the son of Lique Mekwas Abate Ba-Yalew. He had a church education followed by language training at the Menelik School. Getachew Abate grew up in the palace of Emperor Menelik II along with Menelik's grandson, Lij Iyasu.

In 1919, Dejazmach Getachew Abate was sent to Italy to congratulate King Victor Emmanuel on an Allied victory. In 1921, he was part of the force sent to capture the deposed Lij Iyasu. In 1925, Getachew Abate represented Ethiopia at the Geneva arms conference.

In 1926, Getachew Abate was named Shum of Kaffa, Goldiya, Maji, and Gera with the title of Bitwoded. In 1928, he was named Ethiopia's representative to the League of Nations. In 1929, Getachew Abate was appointed as Minister to France.

In 1930, Getachew Abate returned to Ethiopia and, in 1931, he became the Minister of the Interior. In May 1933, Getachew Abate was elevated to Ras

In 1935, at the time of the Italian invasion, as the Shum of Kaffa Province, Ras Getachew Abate commanded the Army of Kaffa. On 31 March 1936, Ras Getachew Abate and the Army of Kaffa was with Emperor Haile Selassie at the Battle of Maychew. When the Kebur Zabangna was sent against the Italians at Maychew, Getachew Abate commanded them. As the Battle of Maychew came to an end, Getachew Abate was named by the Emperor as Asmach. In command of the rear guard, he withdrew with the Emperor from Maychew to the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.