Derg Downfall Day in Ethiopia
Derg Downfall Day is listed in Ethiopia as a national holiday on May 28, the anniversary of the 1991 capture of Addis Ababa by the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). Its status as a day off is unclear: the Ethiopian Investment Commission lists it as a national holiday, but the 2024 public-holiday proclamation does not name it among the holidays with specified closures.[1][2][3]
Date and legal status
The Ethiopian Investment Commission lists May 28 as “Downfall of the Derg” and calls it a national holiday. However, Proclamation No. 1334/2024 names four celebrated national holidays whose public services close and two memorial national holidays whose public services remain open; Derg Downfall Day is not among them. The proclamation also does not set a substitute day for May 28, so travelers should check directly with offices or businesses they plan to visit.[1][2]
For the holidays it identifies as celebrated national or religious holidays, the proclamation says employees’ salaries are not to be deducted because they did not work. It also specifies services that continue on those holidays, including public transport, hospitals, pharmacies, and utilities. Those provisions apply to the holidays identified in the proclamation, not specifically to Derg Downfall Day.[1]
What the day recalls
The observance recalls May 28, 1991, when EPRDF forces entered Addis Ababa, ending the Derg’s 17 years of Marxist rule. The Derg came to power after the 1974 military coup that deposed Emperor Haile Selassie. The EPRDF takeover was followed by the formation of a transitional government.[3]
For Ethiopia, the date marks a change of government after years of conflict and authoritarian rule. The 2018 government framing linked the date with democratic unity and national consensus.[3][4]
Commemorations and customs
There is no single household custom, traditional dish, or countrywide ceremony that defines the day today. A 2018 Ethiopian News Agency report described a planned program of public discussions and events across Ethiopia and at embassies abroad, focused on democratic unity and national consensus. That was one past programme, not a schedule or custom that can be assumed to recur.[4]
The 2024 proclamation sets out formal celebration arrangements for some national holidays, but it does not prescribe a Derg Downfall Day ceremony. Customs and events may differ by place and year; check local announcements for current details.[1]
Practical planning
The Commission’s list identifies the date as a national holiday, but the newer proclamation does not include it among the holidays with mandated public-service closures. The proclamation does not mandate blanket closures of government offices, banks, schools, or most shops on May 28. Opening arrangements can vary, so confirm with the specific service before making a trip.[1][2]
The proclamation requires public transport and certain essential services to operate on the celebrated national and religious holidays it covers. It does not set Derg Downfall Day transport schedules or mention road closures around commemorations. Check local transport information and event notices if you will be travelling in Ethiopia on the date.[1]
Frequently asked questions
When is Derg Downfall Day?
Is it a day off across Ethiopia?
Are banks, shops, and public transport open?
The proclamation requires public transport on the celebrated holidays it names, but does not address this date. Shops and transport operators set their own hours, so check with them before you travel.[1]
Are there special ceremonies or foods?
A 2018 government news report described public discussions and events for that year’s observance. Check with local organisers for details of ceremonies, food or nationwide customs.[4]
Sources and references
Sources used for Derg Downfall Day in Ethiopia:
- Proclamation to Determine Public Holidays and Celebration of Public Holidays - Proclamation No. 1334/2024- Ethiopian Federal Laws
- Live And Work In Ethiopia- Ethiopian Investment Commission
- Ethiopian capital falls to rebels, ending 17 years of Marxist rule- A&E Television Networks
- Promoting Democratic Unity and Nat'l Consensus Themes of May 28 Victory Day, Says GoCAO Minister- Ethiopian News Agency