The Italians believed they had tricked Menelik II into giving his allegiance to Rome in the treaty. Unbeknownst to the conquering King was the fact that the version in Italian had been altered by the translators to give Rome more power over Menelik II and his kingdom of Ethiopia. There were two versions of the treaty to be signed, one in Italian, and one written in Amharic. Menelik II agreed to provide Italy with land in the Tigray province in exchange for support in the form of weapons the Italians had been supplying him for some time. The mistrust between the two nations had begun 7 years before during the signing of the Treaty of Wichale (or Uccialli) agreed to in principle in May of 1889. After a long siege in the mountains between Ethiopia and the bordering nation of Eritrea, a series of brutal battles were fought between the army of King Menelik II of Ethiopia and the Italian Army under the command of the Italian governor of Eritrea, Gen. On 1 March 1896, Ethiopia fought a desperate battle against a stronger Italian forces attempting to invade, conquer, and colonize the smaller nation and more importantly, be able to exploit its natural resources. "I wish all Ethiopians and other African citizens a Happy Adwa Victory Day!" Mahamat added. With such a proud history and strong resilience, the African Union is confident in Ethiopia’s ability to overcome the challenges at hand and emerge stronger for the greater good of its people, the region and the continent as a whole." "To our Ethiopian sisters and brothers, I would like to stress that the spirit and patriotism that made the Adwa Victory possible still remain relevant today. "On this happy occasion, I urge Africans of all walks of life to unite and demonstrate a renewed commitment to pan-Africanism, drive forward the aspirations of our people, and ensure that our continent plays its rightful role in a more just international governance system, bearing in mind the goals set in Agenda 2063. He said "At this juncture in the history of the continent, we should rekindle these values and the spirit of our forefathers: from Menelik to Madiba Nelson Mandela, whose centenary is celebrated this year, to the Founding Fathers of the Organization of African Unity. These were also the values that drove the subsequent struggles waged across the continent to free it from the yoke of colonial domination and racial discrimination." These were the values that animated the Ethiopians who joined hands to defend their motherland and sacrificed their lives for the higher interest of their country, thus securing its sovereignty. Mahamat said "As we join our Ethiopian sisters and brothers in celebrating this momentous victory and paying tribute to the Ethiopian patriots who defeated the invading Italian colonial forces. Adwa is an enduring source of pride for the entire continent. It gave them further courage and confidence in their fight for independence and dignity. Mahamat's comment is contained in a statement issued on Friday as the continent marked the 122nd anniversary of the Victory of Adwa - the first victory of an African country over colonial forces.Īccording to the AUC Chief, "This event represented a watershed in the history of the continent, and had worldwide resonance and impact."Īccording to the media channel of the African Union, Adwa was not only an Ethiopian victory but also an African victory and one for all peoples across the world who were, at the time, subjected to colonial domination and discrimination. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, March 4 (Infosplusgabon) - On the occasion of the celebration of the Adwa Victory Day, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), Moussa Faki Mahamat, says there are many lessons to be drawn from the historic event, as the battle of Adwa and its outcome highlight the critical importance of self-reliance, patriotism and selflessness, and unity, irrespective of political, ethnic and other differences.
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