A History of a Reaction of the Mareko People Against the Italian Invasion and the Five Year Italian Rule-in South Central Ethiopia

Abstract

The prime objective of this paper is to explore a history of reaction made by Mareko people against the Italian invasion and the five year occupation. The paper also uncovers the role played by Mareko and other integrated ethno-linguistic individual patriots who fight against Italian occupation and rule at the then Mareko woreda (district). At the eve of the Fascist Italian aggression Mareko people were lived under Mareko woreda (district) which was under the administrative division of Shawa tekely gezat (division of country).  Butajira town was the administrative site of the then Mareko woreda. Like other nation, nationalities, and peoples of Ethiopia, fighting class from Mareko people marched in Maychew and other battles to defend their county from Italian aggression. Even though the final battle at Maychew was unsuccessful, they actively resist Italian rule. To speak frankly the then governor of Dobena Sub- district and his officers peacefully submitted and became a leading collaborator, but the majority of Mareko people resisted for the Italian rule. The resistance was mainly led by Wärѐqѐ Märeyamѐ, spiritual leader of Mareko people in Mareko land, and qegnazmach Tuji Anjilo outside Mareko land. Subsequently the Italian Fascist officials established military camp at Koshe kebele the center of Dobena sub-district. This paper presents how and why the Italian divide- rule policy failed in the area under the study.

Keywords: aggression, Mareko people, resistance, collaboration, Italian rule.

DOI: 10.7176/HRL/53-01

Publication date: April 30^th 2021