1937- . Ethiopian soldier and socialist
politician, head of state from 1977
(president from 1987). As an officer in the
Ethiopian army, he took part in the overthrow
in 1974 of Emperor Haile Selassie and in 1977
led another coup, becoming head of state. He
was confronted with severe problems of
drought and secessionist uprisings, but
survived with help from the USSR and the
West. In 1987 civilian rule was formally
reintroduced, but with the Marxist-Leninist
Workers' Party of Ethiopia the only legally
permitted party.