Field and river

20th International Conference of Ethiopian Studies (ICES20)
Mekelle University, Ethiopia

"Regional and Global Ethiopia - Interconnections and Identities"
1-5 October, 2018

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THE ROLE OF INTERNATIONAL MISSIONS IN THE ETHIOPIAN RESISTANCE: 1939-1940 [Abstract ID: 0515-05]

SELTENE Seyoum, Associate Professor, Research & Publications Office, Unity University, Ethiopia

The Ethiopian resistance and liberation movement against the Fascist Italian occupation (1936-1941) demanded the alliance of national and international forces. One major example of this was the dispatch of political and special diplomatic missions from abroad to Ethiopia with the hope of fomenting the national liberation movement. So far, scholars have focused on this issue from the viewpoint of Europe. However, an in-depth investigation of the issue leads to a presentation of this topic from another angle, that is, from an European-Ethiopian perspective. This study is based on a historical analysis of data, to check their validity and accuracy. It identifies three international missions: Langrois-Masfen, Monnier-Lorenzo and Sandford-Kabbada. From the several missions carried out during this period, that of Langrois-Masfen has been sufficiently discussed in other studies already. This study specifically focuses on the Monnier-Lorenzo mission of 1939-1940. An analysis of the study shows that there were international collaborative efforts to promote Ethiopian resistance. Assessing the extent and magnitude of the collaboration, this study hopes to fill some of the gaps in the study of Ethiopian resistance against the Italian occupation.