Dergue

/ dɜːɡ /

noun

1. the Dergue
   the socialist ruling body of Ethiopia, established in 1974

Word History and Origins

Origin of Dergue¹

C20: from Amharic, literally, committee

Example Sentences

A champion of capitalism, Ahmed joined an armed uprising as a young man against his country’s Dergue Socialist regime.

From Washington Times

Only in Maaza Mengiste’s 2010 novel Beneath the Lion’s Gaze, set in Ethiopia during the downfall of Emperor Haile Selassie and the first years of the Dergue dictatorship, does politics dominate.

From The Guardian

Eshetu Alemu had accepted blame for crimes of the former regime known as the Dergue but told judges he did not personally commit them.

From Seattle Times

The Dergue was led by former dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam, who now lives in exile in Zimbabwe.

From Seattle Times

The suspect, 63-year-old Eshetu Alemu, last week accepted blame for the crimes of the regime known as the Dergue nearly 40 years ago, but told judges in The Hague he did not carry out the crimes for which Dutch prosecutors hold him responsible.

From Seattle Times