Gugsa Wale's Rebellion

Gugsa Wale's rebellion
Date January - March 1930 Location Begemder, Ethiopia Result Gugsa Wale defeated and King Tafari Makonnen proclaimed as Emperor Haile Selassie I
Belligerents
Pro-Empress Zewditu faction Galla (arrived late)	Pro-King Tafari Makonnen faction
Commanders and leaders
Gugsa Wale †	King Tafari Empress Zewditu Mulugeta Yeggazu
Strength
Approx. 35,000	Approx. 32,000

Gugsa Wale's rebellion of 1930 was a rebellion raised by Gugsa Wale and by supporters of EmpressZewditu to rid her of the Crown Prince and heir apparent, Tafari Makonnen. With Tafari gone, Zewditu would be the sole claiment to succession as the ruler of the Ethiopian Empire (Mangista Ityop'p'ya). As the husband of Empress Zewditu, Gugsa Wale expected to become Emperor.

In 1916, when Zewditu was crowned Empress, she was forced to separate from her fourth husband, Ras Gugsa Wale. Empress Zewditu was named Regent during the minority of Ras Tafari Makonnen, the heir apparent and Regent Plenipotentiary. As Regent, Zewditu exercised the real power in Ethiopia. Zewditu would govern while Tafari would administer.

Early in 1928, the authority of Ras Tafari Makonnen was challenged when DejazmachBalcha Safo went to Addis Ababa with a sizeable armed force.

When Tafari consolidated his hold over the provinces, many of Menilek's appointees refused to abide by the new regulations he imposed. Balcha Safo, of coffee-rich Sidamo Province was particularly troublesome in his refusal to comply. The revenues he remitted to the central government did not reflect the accrued profits and, as a result, Tafari recalled him to Addis Ababa. The old man came in high dudgeon and, insultingly, with a large army. When he arrived in Addis Ababa, the Dejazmach paid homage to Empress Zewditu, but snubbed Ras Tafari. On 18 February, while Balcha Safo and his personal bodyguard were in Addis Ababa, Ras Tafari had Ras Kassa Haile Darge buy off his army and arrange to have him displaced as the Shum of Sidamo Province. Powerless, Balcha Safo surrendered and was imprisoned.

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