← Back to the front page

15 Key Moments When Benevolent Leaders Became Tyrants

Darren March 31, 2026 7 min

11. The Fall of Mengistu Haile Mariam

Mengistu Haile Mariam, initially a Marxist revolutionary in Ethiopia, led the Derg military junta after the 1974 overthrow of Emperor Haile Selassie I. In 1977, he initiated the “Red Terror” campaign, a brutal crackdown targeting opposition groups and civilians, resulting in an estimated 30,000 to 750,000 deaths. This period marked a shift from revolutionary idealism to violent authoritarianism, highlighting the dangers of absolute power. (britannica.com)

Written by

Darren

11. The Fall of Mengistu Haile Mariam

Keep reading

Desert Storm Won in 100 Hours — and Unleashed 30 Years of War

Stanislav Petrov Saw 5 Nuclear Missiles Incoming in 1983 — and Did Nothing

Ancient Egyptian Princesses Were Elite Archers — Their Bones Prove It