The 129th Celebration of the Battle of Adwa: A Legacy Marred by Modern Atrocities in Mariam Shewito
The Echoes of Adwa On March 1, 1896, Ethiopia etched its name into global history by defeating the Italian colonial army at the Battle of Adwa. This victory, a rare African triumph over European imperialism, became a symbol of resistance and unity. Yet, 129 years later, the commemoration of this historic event is overshadowed by a grim paradox: the very land where Ethiopians once united to repel fascism—Adwa and its surrounding villages—has become the stage for modern atrocities. In October 2022, Eritrean soldiers, allied with Ethiopian federal forces, massacred civilians in Mariam Shewito, a village synonymous with Adwa’s legacy. This article explores the intertwined narratives of Ethiopia’s past glory and present trauma, examining how the Tigrayan heroes of Adwa have become victims of a war that betrays their ancestors’ sacrifices.
The Battle of Adwa: Tigray’s Pivotal Role
The Battle of Adwa was not merely an Ethiopian victory but a Tigrayan-led triumph. Key figures like **Ras Alula Aba Nega** and **Ras Mengesha Yohannes** marshaled their forces to defend Ethiopia’s sovereignty. Ras Alula, a seasoned general, had previously routed Italian-backed incursions, while Ras Mengesha, son of Emperor Yohannes IV, commanded central Tigrayan battalions. Together, their armies formed the backbone of Emperor Menelik II’s coalition.
Tigrayan contributions extended beyond combat. The region supplied the bulk of food, ammunition, and logistics for the 100,000-strong Ethiopian force. Farmers and families in Tigray endured immense hardship to sustain the army, reflecting a societal mobilization unparalleled in 19th-century Africa. The victory at Adwa was thus a Tigrayan achievement as much as a national one, enshrining their role as guardians of Ethiopian sovereignty.
Mariam Shewito: From Epicenter of Victory to Site of Massacre
Mariam Shewito, a village east of Adwa, holds a sacred place in Ethiopian memory. It was here that Italian General Oreste Baratieri’s forces crumbled under Ethiopian pressure, sealing their defeat. Yet in October 2022, this symbolic site witnessed a massacre that inverted its historical legacy.
The Massacre: A Week of Horror
On October 25, 2022, Eritrean troops—allies of Ethiopia’s federal army—launched a systematic slaughter in Mariam Shewito and neighboring villages. Survivors recount soldiers moving house-to-house, executing families, looting homes, and burning structures. Among the victims was **92-year-old Gebremariam Niguse**, a living link to Ethiopia’s past, and six members of his family, including a 15-year-old granddaughter. His daughter-in-law was shot in front of her children, who spent the night clinging to their parents’ corpses.
Satellite imagery from Planet Labs and Maxar Technologies corroborates these accounts, showing 67 destroyed structures and military vehicles near the village. Survivors estimate at least 140 deaths, though the true toll remains obscured by Ethiopia’s media blackout.
A Revenge 127 Years Later?
The attackers’ motives defy easy explanation. Survivors claim Eritrean soldiers sought revenge for battlefield losses to Tigrayan forces during the Tigray War (2020–2022). Yet the symbolism is jarring: Eritrean troops—descendants of the *Ascari* (Eritrean colonial troops used by Italy)—targeting Tigrayans, descendants of Adwa’s victors, in the same terrain where their ancestors clashed. This cyclical violence underscores how colonial-era divides still haunt the Horn of Africa.
Connecting Past and Present: Eritrea’s Role as Modern-Day *Ascari*
The parallels between 1896 and 2022 are unsettling. The *Ascari*, recruited from Eritrea by Italy, were instrumental in colonial campaigns, including the invasion of Ethiopia. Today, Eritrea’s army—under dictator Isaias Afwerki—has reprised this role, acting as a proxy force for Ethiopia’s federal government against Tigray.
For Tigrayans, Eritrea’s involvement is a bitter irony. In 1896, their ancestors defeated Italian-Eritrean forces; in 2022, they faced a joint Ethiopian-Eritrean assault. The Tigray War, rooted in political tensions between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, saw Eritrea exploit regional strife to settle historical scores. Afwerki, whose regime views the TPLF as an existential threat, framed the war as a chance to “punish” Tigray, echoing Italy’s colonial vendetta.
Ethiopia’s Complicity: Why Was the Massacre Allowed?
The question of why Ethiopia permitted Eritrean troops to operate on its soil—let alone commit atrocities—reveals the war’s geopolitical underpinnings.
1. Strategic Alliance Against Tigray: Abiy Ahmed’s government, seeking to weaken the TPLF, welcomed Eritrean military support. This alliance, however, required turning a blind eye to Eritrea’s brutality.
2. Historical Amnesia: Ethiopia’s federal leadership, dominated by non-Tigrayan elites, downplayed Tigray’s historical contributions, reframing Adwa as a “national” victory while sidelining Tigrayan narratives.
3. International Apathy: The global community largely ignored the Tigray War, enabling Ethiopia and Eritrea to act with impunity.
The Mariam Shewito massacre exemplifies this complicity. Ethiopian troops not only facilitated Eritrean incursions but also participated in blockades that starved Tigray, weaponizing history against its people.
Human Rights and the Silence of the World
The United Nations International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia has documented widespread atrocities: mass killings, sexual violence, and ethnic cleansing. Yet Mariam Shewito’s story remained buried until survivors bravely shared their testimonies. One woman, who lost seven relatives, told *The Washington Post*: “We want the world to hear…to know what happened to our families.”
International responses have been tepid. Western governments, preoccupied with Ukraine and Middle Eastern crises, relegated Ethiopia’s war to the periphery. African Union mediation, led by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, failed to curb Eritrea’s role or hold perpetrators accountable.
Reclaiming Adwa’s Legacy
The 129th anniversary of Adwa is a call to reflection. How can Ethiopia celebrate a victory rooted in unity while its people are divided? The Tigrayans, once celebrated as liberators, now endure a campaign of erasure—their history appropriated, their present brutalized.
Mariam Shewito’s tragedy is a microcosm of this dissonance. To honor Adwa, Ethiopia must confront its contradictions: reckon with Eritrea’s role, demand justice for Tigray, and reclaim the battle’s true spirit—a collective stand against oppression. Only then can the promise of Adwa, a beacon of African resilience, be fully realized.