The 103rd Commando Division (Amharic: 103ኛ የኮማንዶ ክፍል, romanized: lit, lit. '103nya yekomanido kifili') were the special forces of the Ethiopian Ground Forces under the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. It was activated and began training in January 1987.[1] It was part of the 604th Corps and was described as "the cream of the Ethiopian Army".[2][3]
| 103rd Commando Division | |
|---|---|
| 103ኛ የኮማንዶ ክፍል | |
| Active | January 1987 – May 1989 |
| Country |  People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia |
| Role | Special forces |
| Part of |  Ethiopian National Defense Force |
| Garrison/HQ | Bahir Dar |
| Engagements | |
| Commanders | |
| Notable commanders | Colonel Getahun Wolde Giorgis |
Creation
editIn early 1987, the government began the process of expanding commando units. The division was created on 13 January 1987, with at its head Colonel Getahun Wolde Giorgis. It was based out of Bahir Dar, Amhara Region with a potential capacity of 10,000 commandos. After initial recruitment, training began at the Harar Military Academy, before commando training began at Hawassa and later at Bahir Dar.[4]
Operations
editIn 1989, the Defence Council sent the 103rd to take part in the defence of the capital during the Fall of Addis Ababa during the Ethiopian Civil War. It also took part in the battles for Axum.
In Tigray, the 103rd Commando Division was to provide the government's last hope in keeping Tigray. These attempts were repulsed on 19 February 1989, the division was defeated in and around Shire by the Tigray People's Liberation Front.[5]
Personnel
editThe 103rd during its existence was often seen as a victim of poor command,[6] as it was mostly made up of conscripts and fresh militiamen.[7] General Demissie Bulto, who was involved in the 1989 Ethiopian coup d'état attempt, had his mutilated body dragged in the streets of Asmara by half-drunk commandos.[8] Major Bogale was a brigade commander in the division.[6]
References
edit- ^ Fontanellaz & Cooper 2018, pp. 18, 68.
- ^ Cooper, Tom; Fontanellaz, Adrien (2018-07-31). Ethiopian-Eritrean Wars. Volume 2: Eritrean War of Independence, 1988-1991 & Badme War, 1998-2001. Helion and Company. ISBN 978-1-913118-35-8.
- ^ Berhe, Mulugeta Gebrehiwot (2020-01-15). Laying the Past to Rest: The EPRDF and the Challenges of Ethiopian State-Building. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-1-78738-370-8.
- ^ Ayele, Fantahun (2014-10-30). The Ethiopian Army: From Victory to Collapse, 1977-1991. Northwestern University Press. ISBN 978-0-8101-6805-3.
- ^ Bernhard Lindahl (2005). "Local history of Ethiopia: Ind'Abba Selama - Insway" (PDF). Nordiska Afrikainstitutet [The Nordic Africa Institute].
- ^ a b African Defence. The Journal. 1989.
- ^ Tareke, Gebru (2009-06-23). The Ethiopian Revolution: War in the Horn of Africa. Yale University Press. ISBN 978-0-300-15615-7.
- ^ Tareke, Gebru (2004). "From Af Abet to Shire: The Defeat and Demise of Ethiopia's 'Red' Army 1988-89". The Journal of Modern African Studies. 42 (2): 239–281. doi:10.1017/S0022278X04000114. ISSN 0022-278X. JSTOR 3876226.
Works cited
edit- Fontanellaz, Adrien; Cooper, Tom (2018). Ethiopian-Eritrean Wars: Volume 2: Eritrean War of Independence, 1988-1991 & Badme War, 1998-2001. Africa@War No. 30. Warwick: Helion & Company. ISBN 978-1-912390-30-4.