1989 Ethiopian coup d'état attempt
The coup attempt was targeted by military faction from theEthiopian Air Force againstMengistu Haile Mariam's power
Date 16 May 1989 Location Addis Ababa,Asmera,People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia 9°1′48″N38°44′24″E / 9.03000°N 38.74000°E /9.03000; 38.74000 Result Coup attempt fails. Mengistu Haile Mariam remains in power.
Belligerents
Government	Military faction
Commanders and leaders
Mengistu Haile Mariam Haile Giyorgis Habte Mariam	Fanta Belay Demessie Bulto Hailu Gabre Michael   Worku Zwede

The1989 Ethiopian coup d'état attempt took place on 16 May 1989,^[1][2] when President of thePeople's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (PDRE)Mengistu Haile Mariam was out of the country for a four-day state visit toEast Germany.

Thecoup attempt was staged by seniormilitary officers, led by formerAir Force commander, Major GeneralFanta Belay and2nd Revolutionary Army commander,Demessie Bulto; theMinister of Defense,Haile Giyorgis Habte Mariam, was killed by Major GeneralAbera Abebe after refusing to join the revolt. Mengistu returned within 24 hours and nine generals, including the then-current Air Force commander and the Army Chief of Staff, died as the coup was crushed.^[3][4] After being captured, Major General Fanta Belay was killed while trying to escape. 12 more high-ranking military officers were executed in 1990 for their role in the coup attempt.^[5]

• 1989 in Ethiopia
• 1980s coups d'état
• Attempted coups d'état in Ethiopia
• May 1989 in Africa
• Conflicts in 1989
• 1989 in politics
• Ethiopian Civil War

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