Mengistu, Haile MariamMen‧gis‧tu, Hai‧le Ma‧ri‧am /meŋˈɡɪstuː, ˈhaɪli ˈmɑːriəm/ 
(1937–) an Ethiopian soldier who took control of the government in 1977. He was defeated in 1991 by opposing military forces after years of civil war had caused many deaths and an extreme lack of food in the country.
(1937–) an Ethiopian soldier who took control of the government in 1977. He was defeated in 1991 by opposing military forces after years of civil war had caused many deaths and an extreme lack of food in the country.