The Ethiopian Revolution was a period of intense civil and military upheaval that began on January 12, 1974, with soldier rebellions and widespread protests against the weakened government of Emperor Haile Selassie. A diverse coalition of junior army officers, students, teachers, taxi drivers, and labor unions joined strikes, demanding human rights, land reform, price controls, and free schooling, fueled by centuries of a semi-feudal system and the government's negligent response to the 1973 Wollo famine.
In June 1974, a pivotal group of army officers established the Coordinating Committee of the Armed Forces, soon branding itself as the Derg. This committee systematically dismantled the imperial structure, detaining key advisors and dissolving royal institutions. The revolution culminated on September 12, 1974, when the Derg successfully executed a coup d'état, formally overthrowing Emperor Haile Selassie.