A recently acquired hobby of the current president of Ethiopia is having war memorials dedicated to the Derg and Ethiopian resistance to the Derg constructed. The cynics among my readers might suggest that this is because the president is seeking to glamorize his role in the rebel movement as he becomes increasingly unpopular. However, I’m certain his enthusiasm for Derg war memorials is entirely coincidental.

The cynicism of my dear readers aside, the war memorials can be quite interesting to visit. A particularly good one can be found just outside Bahir Dar and should not be missed if you find yourself in the Lake Tana region.

The Bahir Dar War Memorial:

The museum curator was absolutely shocked to see us when we entered, but he recovered quickly and gave us an excellent tour:

Some of the photos in the museum…

Rebels with the Ethiopian People’s Democratic Movement pose for a picture:

Rebels conducting mortar training:

Discussing tactics and strategy:

Rebels on the move:

Communications equipment used by the rebels:

A pamphlet produced by the anti-Derg rebels:

Sandals worn by the rebels:

Weapons of the rebels:

A mortar used by the rebels:

Taking Addis Ababa in 1991:

The above gives a taste of the Bahir Dar War Memorial. However, it is just a taste. There is more to see here and missing it would be regrettable. It’s also free – and few things are in Ethiopia.