Mersha Nahusenay

Mersha Nahusenay
Mersha Nahusenay around 1900
Born	c. 1850 Shewa, Ethiopia
Died	c. 1937 Harar, Ethiopia
Occupation	Governor, Reformist, Pioneer of Modernization
Nationality	Ethiopian

Ato Mersha Nahusenay (c.1850 – c.1937) was a reformist and pioneer of change who made key contributions to the modernization and independence of Ethiopia. One of the closest advisors to Emperor Menelik II, he went on to become the founder and first governor of Dire Dawa, the second largest city in Ethiopia and its environs (1902–1905). Prior to that he was governor of the strategic and frontier town of Jaldessa (Gildessa) where he also held the position of chief of customs. His public career lasted over three decades from the era of Menelik II until the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie. He was one of the most educated and recognized Ethiopians of his time. He knew the French language well and was open to European ideas and way of life earning him admiration abroad. Among his important contributions was the prominent role that he played in the construction, maintenance and security of the first railway. Mersha belongs to a generation of Ethiopians who took advantage of the stability created in the late 19th – early 20th century to implement a series of wide-ranging political, economic and social reforms the impact of which continues to be felt to this day.

Early life

Mersha Nahusenay’s early life centered around what was then known as the Shewa kingdom. Although he received church education as a child, he gained secular knowledge later on by traveling and interacting with a wide array of people, including foreign nationals. Mersha's formative and early adulthood experiences helped him prepare for the long and illustrious public career.

Childhood and Formative Years

Ato (Mr.) Mersha Nahusenay (አቶ መርሻ ናሁሠናይ) was born about 1850 near the town of Ankober, the former capital of Shewa. According to oral history, Mersha came from a family of priests. His father served in the local church. His parents were strict followers of the Ethiopian Orthodox faith and religion played a central role in their life. As a result, Mersha's childhood was heavily influenced by events involving the Church where he was also baptized.

Family lore further indicates that Mersha's father possessed a land given to him in return for the service he rendered. This was common at the time. In addition to holding lands, churches received considerable assistance from the royal palace which they then used to provide key services to their members, including the education of children. As a result, Mersha was taught reading and writing at an early age. Whether or not he had any siblings remains unknown. He probably had a few that survived to become adults. That said, the name Mersha in the Amharic language of Ethiopia suggests that his parents were trying to forget a traumatic experience, including the loss of a previous child.

Growing up, Mersha spent a great deal of time on the farm aiding his parents. He also traveled to various places within Shewa and beyond allowing him to interact with a diverse group of people and to take advantage of opportunities available for a career in a secular (non-religious) field. For example, he understood the importance of learning local and foreign languages. Today Ankober is one of many districts (woredas) of Ethiopia. But back then, it was the capital of one of several powerful kingdoms. By the mid-19th century, the expansion of trade and agriculture had already increased public interest in international affairs, European and other languages, history, geography and medicine, as well as the design, manufacturing and function of machinesa and tools. Under Menilek, the last ruler of Shewa (1865–1889), Ankober rapidly evolved into a vibrant political and economic center. Trade was booming in multiple directions and was tied to the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea coast via Harar. The following quote encapsulates the vitality of the Ankober area at the time:

“The early nineteenth-century Shawan royal capital of Ankober was a spectacular sight, ‘perched at 2400 meters atop a volcanic cone above the steep escarpment of the eastern highlands’. It commanded a prosperous, cosmopolitan and culturally diverse polity. Founded as a frontier outpost in the late-eighteenth century, fifty years later Ankober stood amidst a rich agricultural area and controlled the Red Sea trade through regional markets such as Aliyu Amba. Visited by Muslim merchants and traders from the Mediterranean, and a busy ecclesiastical base of Orthodox theology, Ankober was a lively commercial and intellectual center.”

Beyond these sketchy details, little is known about Mersha’s early life at this point. It is unclear, for example, if he had any royal ancestry, although the fact that he was later married to the daughter of one of Menilek’s trusted public servants suggests that the family had ties to the palace. What is abundantly clear is that Mersha's long pioneering and distinguished public service, just as his formative and early adulthood years, were strongly influenced by historical events unfolding at the time. Indeed Mersha was born and grew up during one of the most consequential periods in Ethiopia’s history.

The second half of the nineteenth century was a turning point in the sense that it marked: the end a long period of deep divisions within and between the various kingdoms located in the northern part of the country known as the Era of Princes or Zemene Mesafint (1769–1855) and the beginning of a nation-state. Emperor Tewodros (Tewodros II) was the first ruler (1855–1868) to try and unify the kingdoms under his control. Included in Tewodros’s vision was also the introduction of European-style civilization. His efforts were cut short however by internal resistance and external challenges as well as his untimely death. Emperor Yohannes (Yohannes IV) advanced the unification goal further during his reign (1872–1889), but he hardly had the time to pursue any meaningful development plans. Finally, Emperor Menelik II (1889–1913) was fortunate in realizing the dreams of his predecessors and much more. He was able to bring northern and southern regions under a central authority paving the way for the emergence of the Ethiopia that we know today.

Menilek's extraordinary achievements, including his decisive victory over Italy at Adwa, in 1896, enabled him to put the country on the path to stability and modernization. According to the prominent Ethiopian historian Tekletsadiq Mekuria, Menilek’s top priorities included: negotiating Ethiopia’s borders with the three European colonial powers (i.e., France, Britain and Italy) who controlled much of Eastern Africa; securing access to the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea as a way of improving trade relations with Europe and beyond; maintaining security and stability across the vast empire; implementing wide-ranging political, economic and social reforms; and building Ethiopia’s image abroad.

Ato Mersha was at the forefront of most, if not all, of these undertakings. He answered the emperor's calls for service by taking on difficult tasks often in extreme living conditions. More importantly, he was a strong advocate for reform and modernization. In his book Atse Menilek and the Unity of Ethiopia, Tekletsadiq wrote:

“ስለዚህ ዐፄ ምኒልክ የነዚህንና የውጭ አገር ተወላጅ አማካሪዎች ምክር በመስማት እውጭ አገር ደርሰው መጠነኛ እውቀት እየቀሰሙ የተመለሱትን የነግራዝማች ዬሴፍን፤ የነነጋድራስ ዘውገን፤ የእነ አቶ አጥሜን፤ የነ አቶ መርሻ ናሁ ሠናይን፤ የነ ብላታ ገብረ እግዚአብሔርን፤ የነ ከንቲባ ገብሩን፤ የነአለቃ ታየን፤ የነነጋድራስ ገብረ ሕይወት ባይከዳኝን፤ የነአቶ ኃይለማርያም ስራብዮንን፤ አስተያየት በማዳመጥ በአገራቸው የአውሮፓን ሥልጣኔ ለማስገባት ታጥቀው ተነሡ”

English translation: “Thus, after listening to the advice of these and other personal foreign advisors and taking into account the views of those who had travelled abroad and returned with limited knowledge such as Grazmach Yosef, Negaddras Zewge, Ato Atsme, Ato Mersha Nahusenay, Blata Gebre Egziabher, Kentiba Gebru, Aleqa Taye, Negadras Gebre Hiwot Baykedagn and Ato Hailemariam Serabyo, Atse Menilek decided to introduce European civilization to his country.”

Statue of Emperor Menilek II in Addis Abeba

Later life

Whether or not Mersha Nahusenay held any government-appointed positions before Menilek II became Emperor of Ethiopia in 1889 remains unknown. What is known is sometime in the early 1890s, at the age of about 40, he left his birthplace and settled in the Harar province where he became a prominent public official. By then, Ankober had declined in part due to the rise of Addis Abeba (Addis Ababa), the new capital of Ethiopia, founded in 1886 by Menilek and his influential wife Empress Taytu Betul (1851–1918).

Governor of Jaldessa and Head of Customs

Mersha’s relocation to Harar marked the beginning of his long public career. Possibly as early as 1892, but surely by 1895, he was appointed governor of Jaldessa (Gildessa, Jildessa, Guildessa, Gheldessa), a small but historic and strategic town, near the present city of Harar. According to one source, Jaldessa had 6,000 inhabitants, compared to 8,000 in the port city of Djibouti and 30,000 in Harar. Located near the border with the French Somalinand and British Somaliland, Jaldessa was the first frontier town. That means all visitors were required to pass through an armed post established by the imperial authority.

Because Jaldessa was a key customs post along an important caravan route connecting Ethiopia with the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea coast, Mersha assumed the position of Chief of Customs. Essentially he oversaw the import of all goods and tax was levied on merchandise generating revenue for Menilek and his empire. Caravans were stopped. They underwent inspections. Camels and mules rented outside Ethiopian borders were often replaced by those obtained locally. The economic value of Jaldessa grew considerably after the port of Djibouti became operational. However, it sharply declined following the founding of Dire Dawa, in 1902.

Though Mersha was the governor of Jaldessa, in reality however, he controlled and kept secure a vast area between the borders and the Awash inhabited by Somalis, Oromos, Afars and other ethnic groups. He served under Ras Mekonnen Woldemichael (Makonnen Wolde Mikael), governor of Harar Province, until he passed away in 1906. Before Mersha, the governor was none other than the Armenian Sarkis Terzian (1868–1915). Terzian, a well-known figure to scholars of Ethiopian history, served Menilek in various capacities, including the import of arms and ammunition. Apparently, there was confusion at times about what belonged to whom. On one occasion, Mersha confiscated arms claimed by Terzian as personal, according to historical records.

Furthermore, Jaldessa was at the center of international negotiations between Menilek and the three colonial powers. Article 3 of the 1897 treaty signed between Britain and Ethiopia, for example, stated that the route between Zeyla (Zeila) and Harar via Gildessa should remain open for the commercial interests of the two countries. Not only Mersha was consulted on relevant affairs; but he was also directly responsible for implementation of agreements and treaties. For instance, in 1896, he hosted Cyrille Macaire (Kyrillos Makarios), the Egyptian bishop who came as a special envoy of Pope Leo XIII, to plead with Menilek to free the Italian prisoners from the battle of Adwa. The prisoners were freed later and brought to Gildessa to meet with a team of Italian Red Cross before they were transferred to Italian authorities in Harar for their safe return to Italy. As governor of Jaldessa, Mersha traveled to Djibouti on several occasions, including at the request of Emperor Menilek. His knowledge of French was invaluable during his foreign trips.

Promoting the progressive image of Ethiopia

Following the victory over Italy at the battle of Adwa (1896), there was a heightened global interest in strengthening diplomatic and trade relations with Ethiopia. A large number of foreign nationals, including diplomats, journalists, writers, scientists and explorers visited the country. The visitors were intrigued by Menilek's wisdom and remarkable accomplishments. Realizing the significance of the moment for the future of his country, the emperor was equally determined to build a progressive image of his empire. What better place to create a good first impression than the frontier town of Jaldessa? Lord Edward Gleichen, the British courtier, officer and author who visited Ethiopia, in 1897 and who was a member of Sir Rennell Rodd's diplomatic mission wrote the following:

“Next day we made a long march of twenty-four miles over stony country to Garasle, a pretty little river, three inches deep, running between high banks, and a three hours' march on the following morning brought us to Gildessa. Here we were received in great state by the governor, one Aito Merzha (i.e., Ato Mersha), who, to impress on us that we were now on Abyssinian territory, had turned out a guard of about a dozen men, all armed with rifles and carrying the Abyssinian flag. The latter, I fear, did not impress us much, as it only consisted of triangular yellow, red, and green pennons nailed on a thin and crooked stick; but the guard of honour was very beautiful.”

Reception of the British mission led by Rennell Rodd at Gildessa in 1897, after Count Edward Gleichen 1898

Most international visitors came to the country through the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea and many camped at Jaldessa for at least a day before traveling further to Addis Abeba, Harar or other parts of the country. As a result, Mersha was responsible for providing logistical and other forms of assistance. He was uniquely positioned to meet and converse with a large number of Europeans and other nationals. Through his official dealings and personal interactions, he always advanced the positive image of Ethiopia. In an article published in Le Figaro (April 1901), the French journalist and author Hughes Le Roux observed the following after a discussion the two had about Feteha Negest or Fetha Negest.

“Je ne sais si ce sage a lu Candide, mais depuis les années déjà longues que le Roi des rois lui a confié la clef de la première poterne de l'empire, il a vu défiler beaucoup d'hommes de toutes couleurs, de tous pays, de toutes langues.”

English translation: “I do not know if this wise man read Candide, but since for many years the King of Kings has given him the key to the first gate of the empire, he had seen people from all colors, all countries, and all languages.”

The following is a partial list of notables who either interacted with or hosted by Mersha:

-Prince Philippe, Duke of Orléans (1869–1926): French Prince; Duc d'Orleans; -Harald George Carlos Swayne (1860–1940): British army officer and author; -Vicomte Edmond de Poncins (1866– 1937): explorer, naturalist and author; -Lord Albert Edward Wilfred Gleichen Lord Edward Gleichen (1863–1937): British diplomat and author; -P. M. Vlasov or Pyotr Mikhailovich Vlasov (1850-1904): head of the Russian Imperial mission to Ethiopia -Jean-Baptiste Marchand (1863–1934): French army officer and explorer; -Robert Peet Skinner (1866–1960): American diplomat; -Lucien Heudebert (1860–1949): French writer; -Jean-François-Albert du Pouget, Marquis de Nadaillac (1818–1904): French anthropologist; -Hugues Le Roux (1860–1925): French journalist, author and senator; -Pierre Marie Robert, vicomte du Bourg de Bozas (1871–1902): French explorer; -Peter Nikolaevich Krasnov (1869–1947): Russian diplomat and military officer; -Victor Félix Edmond Marie Goedorp (1874–1963): French publicist and author; -Benito Sylvain (1868–1915): Haitian lawyer and anti-slavery activist; -Friedrich or Felix Rosen (1856–1935): German diplomat, orientalist, author and politician; -Kyrillos Makarios or Cyrille Macaire (1867–1921): Egyptian Coptic leader, patriarch of Alexandria, special envoy of Pope Leo XIII to Menilek II; -Cesare Nerazzini (1849-1912): Italian diplomat, doctor and military officer -William Fitzhugh Whitehouse (1846–1909): American explorer; -François Marie Casimir Mondon-Vidailhet (1847–1910): French journalist and writer; -Rennell Rodd (1858–1941): British diplomat, politician and poet; -Alexander Bulatovich(1870-1919): Russian military officer, diplomat and writer.

Despite robust diplomatic efforts by Menilek, there was a great deal of skepticism initially among many Europeans that Ethiopia was ready to embrace modernization. In an article titled The Menelik Myth, published in 1899, for example, vicomte Edmond de Poncins, the wealthy French naturalist and explorer, concluded:

“The history of Ethiopia, then, may be summed up thus: a country in which communications are difficult, peopled by a multiplicity of races; its internal life presents ever the same cycle of wars, victories, defeats, its external life the same blank. A real civilization is impossible in that black chaos, and the products of civilization, such as agriculture, invention, commerce, do not exist.”

In contrast, there were those who offered unwavering support for the expansion of trade and foreign direct investment in Ethiopia. Menilek’s closest European advisors such as the Swiss engineer Alfred Ilg and the French trader Leon Chefneux (“chief commerce advisor”) were incontestably at the top of the list. Mersha worked closely with both of them. But there were others as well. Casimir Mondon-Vidailhet, the French journalist and contributor to the Le Temps, was another important figure who played a major role in advancing Ethio-French relations. According to one source, Mersha introduced him to Ras Mekonnen while giving him a tour of Harar. Mondon-Vidailhet was instrumental in the introduction of the eucalyptus tree (የባሕር ዛፍ) from Australia. He studied local languages (e.g. Amharic, Guraghe, Harari, etc.) and even wrote books about them. More relevantly, Mondon-Vidailhet helped advance the progressive image of Menilek and Ethiopia in Europe and the United States. He did this primarily through his speeches and writings. In an interview that he gave to The New York Times, in 1898, Mondon defended Ethiopia's records and potential:

“The country lends itself easily to civilization, and its organization, still encumbered by feudal relations, tends more and more to become modelled on the lines of European constitutional monarchies. Menelek, powerful and respected, an enlightened reformer and administrator, who abolished slavery in his dominions, and dislikes fanatics to whatever sect they belong, has revealed himself as a really great sovereign, worthy of admiration by his conduct, as well as by the dignity of his character.”

The First Railway

The most shining example of European direct investment in Ethiopia was the construction of Ethiopia’s first railway. The agreement to create a company for the construction of the railroad was first signed in 1894 between Menilek and Alfred Ilg. Due to financial and political difficulties, however, it took five years to build the line from Djibouti to Dire Dawa and another twelve years to extend it to the capital Addis Abeba. The French government, Menilek’s strongest ally at the time, supported and encouraged the financing of the railway, but British investors were also involved, especially in the completion of the Djibouti-Dire Dawa line. The railway was the first major infrastructure built in Ethiopia.

Ethiopia's first train Anbessa

Mersha was a key figure in the negotiations, construction and security of the railway, particularly during the initial phase of the project (1897–1911). He was asked by Menilek to oversee the construction. When the Djibouti railroad reached the Ethiopian border town of Dewele (Dawale), in July 1900, he represented the emperor at the inaugural ceremony attended by a delegation of the French government led by Gabriel Louis Angoulvant, acting governor-general of the French Somaliland as well as other diplomats and representatives of the shareholders not to mention local officials. When the construction resumed in 1909, after a brief hiatus, Mersha was once again called for service and he accepted the Emperor's call without hesitation. He walked barefoot for kilometers at times and had to overcome extreme heat and living conditions. The railway was finally completed when it reached the capital Addis Abeba, in 1917.

Emperor Menilek's letter to Mersha, written in December 1908

English translation of Menilek's letter to Mersha:

“Dear Ato Mersha. How have you been? I, thank God, am well. Since the French railway companies informed me that they would resume construction, I would like you to manage the work in consultation with Negadras Yigezu. Written in the city of Debre Libanos on the 2nd day of Tahsas 1901.”

(*The above letter has been included in the recent book titled 'Emperor Menilek's Domestic Letters' as letter #1898 (Paulos Gnogno collections); Aster Nega Publishers; 2010 p. 517).

The renowned historian Richard Pankhurst called the first railway “the country’s greatest technological achievement of the period.” The railroad transformed the nation by substantially expanding internal and external trade. By cutting the amount of travel time to the coast in half, for example, the railroad dramatically increased the import and export of commodities. It promoted urbanization in the sense that it led to rise of new towns and settlements and development of existing cities, including Harar and Addis Abeba. Public transportation expanded significantly fostering the movement of people from south to north and vice versa. In short, the railway made life better for hundreds of thousands if not millions of Ethiopians. More importantly, it gave the country direct access to the sea. Robert P Skinner, the diplomat who led the first US mission to Menilek in 1903–04, wrote the following about the state of the nation's economy at the beginning of the 20th century

"The custom-house figures show a movement of importations and exportations in 1902 amounting $1,659,800, but, having in mind the methods of appraisement and the possibility of entering goods in contraband, it may be conservatively stated that the total trade under present conditions amounts to $3,000,000 per annum. Henceforth, this trade will grow rapidly, although the full power of the country will not be appreciated until the railroad is extended to the capital, 300 miles distant from its present terminus."

Spinner further observed:

"When the railroad connecting the Empire and the sea was projected, a route was naturally selected which should give the greatest advantages to commerce...A town was created at this point, to which was given the name Dire Douah, and it has already become an important business center..."

First governor of Dire Dawa

The conclusion of the Djibouti-Dire Dawa railway, in 1902, marked the birth of Dire Dawa, the second largest city in Ethiopia. Shortly after, Mersha was ordered to move the Jaldessa custom house and his residence to the new terminus, then called Adis-Harer or Addis-Harar.

“Before the foundation of the town, the whole frontier region up to Dawale including the great environ of Dire Dawa used to be administered by a governor whose seat normally was at Jeldessa, a few km to the east of Dire Dawa. In 1902 the Governor was one Mersha Nahusenay, an educated and also French speaking personality, who took a considerable part in the foundation of the station and eventually of the town.”

It didn't take long before residential communities emerged and roads, offices and workshops as well as other critical facilities were built, under the direction of Leon Chefneux and Ato Mersha. The end result was the emergence of two distinct quarters separated by the Dechatu River: Kezira or Gezira (European quarter) and Megala (Native quarter). Thus, in the first several years of its founding, residents of Dire Dawa and employees of the Franco-Ethiopian railway company were able to lay the foundation for what later became a French-style, cosmopolitan city. Professor Pankhurst once called Dire Dawa “Ethiopia’s first modern town.”

“The earliest town quarters of Käzira and Mägala, which sprang up following the establishment by the railway company of a station and its main workshop, soon evolved into the two most important nodes of economic, social and administrative activities of the new town. Käzira was built according to a regular plan and well provided with modern amenities. In the meantime, Ato Märsha Nahusänay, the first governor, and his followers, cleared and settled an area of land across from Käzira on the opposite side of the Dächatu that was largely covered with dense brush and cacti then. Growing out of this nucleus the larger quarter of Mägala took shape by degrees. In fact, the present quarter of Dächatu used to be known as Gändä-Märsha in the past in honor of its illustrious resident and founder.”

Not only Dire Dawa was built differently than other towns, but its administration was also somewhat unique. Regarding the earliest public officials, historian Shiferaw Bekele remarked:

“The officials shared certain important characteristics which sharply set them apart from the general run of Ethiopian officialdom at the time… Firstly, they spoke one or more European languages; many of them were men who had some modern education. But some were highly trained intellectuals… Almost in every province, one would meet one or two men who belonged to this category. However, in no other much concentration as in Dire Dawa.”

Shiferaw, who is an expert on the early history of Dire Dawa, went on to say:

The Dire Dawan officialdom invariably spoke at least one European language. Even the earliest, Mersha, spoke French. A good number of them were highly educated. Afework Gebre Yesus and Gebre Hiwot Baykedagn who were the directors of Customs had had long years of stay in Europe where they had attained a tertiary level education. Beshah Wured was educated in the United States. The rest had gone to Mission schools.”

Mersha governed Dire Dawa and its environs. He was in charge of administrative as well as judicial affairs. He even held courts under a tree at the beginning of his governorship. He gave up his post in 1906 and was succeeded by Ato Negatu Gugsa who administered the city, with distinction, until the municipality was established sometime between 1915 and 1920. Mersha was about fifty-five years old at the time.

Chief of railway security

Between 1906 and early 1920s, Mersha served as the head of the railway force. According to the 1894 agreement between Menilek and Ilg, Ethiopia was responsible for safeguarding the line. Securing the railroad was a risky mission to everyone involved, however, due to local hostilities. Some groups resisted the construction because they saw the railroad as a threat to their way of life. Others weren't used to foreign presence in their lands, not only Europeans but also laborers brought from other countries. As a result, establishing and deploying a railway police force was critical to maintain not only the safety of the railway employees but of the line itself. However, the task could not be completed without the support of tribal chiefs and leaders. Mersha was very good in that as well.

“As the governor of the province through with the line passed, he (i.e. Ato Mersha) was responsible for the peace and security of the line. He posted detachments of troops all along the line. He carried out negotiations with all the important chiefs of the Afar and Somali tribes in the region. He received orders from Ras Mekonnen and from Menilek.”

Mersha served as the liaison between the Ethiopian government and the railway company. He was in charge of the recruitment, training and deployment of the security personnel; negotiated their wage with the company; and mediated disputes and settled grievances. Moreover, he made sure that the company honored its contractual obligations. Mr. J. Gerolimato, the British consul agent in Harar, sent the following message to his boss, James Hayes Sadler, the Consul-General of the British-Somaliland, in September 1900.

Dear Sir: BEFORE yesterday, Atto Marcha, Governor of Jildessa, who was in Jibuti arrived here. There were in Daranli (i.e., Dawale) 200 Abyssinians to protect the line against the Essa (i.e., Issa), the Company paying 12 dollars per month for each Abyssinian soldier; now the Company paid them 8 dollars, instead of 12 dollars, and the Abyssinians have withdrawn these 200 men.

Mersha served as chief of the railway police until his retirement, with the exception of his brief dismissal by Lij Iyasu in 1916. His prior experience as chief of Harar police must have helped him to successfully fulfill the duties of the position. The railway police was also in charge of stability and peace in the new city of Dire Dawa and its surroundings.

Modernization under Menilek

Under Emperor Menelik II, the country took important practical steps towards modernization. Transport and communication were expanded. The first telephone and telegraph were introduced following the first railway. Major roads were built and bicycles and automobiles appeared for the first time. The tax system was restructured. A modern monetary system was created. The first bank (Bank of Abyssinia) was established. A national currency was introduced. The governance system underwent reorganization. The justice system was restructured. Each of the six districts had two judges appointed by Menilek himself. The position of a supreme judge was created. The first cabinet of ministers was formed. The first public schools emerged. The first newspaper, the first hotels, the first hospitals and post offices appeared. The list goes on.

Reforms of Lij Iyasu

When Menilek II died in 1913, after a long illness, Iyasu V, his grandson became the successor. Mersha was approaching sixty years of age at the time. During his brief reign (1913–1916), Lij (Ledj) Iyasu continued the reforms that were aimed at improving the country.

However, Iyasu also made a number of controversial decisions that led to a successful coup. In 1915, he appointed Hasib Ydlibi (Idlibi), well-known to scholars of Ethiopian history, as Neggadras of Harar. The appointment was made without the knowledge of Dejach Teferi (Tafari) Mekonnen, governor of Harar Province, raising further tensions between the two cousins. Yidlibi was also appointed by Iyasu as the governor of Dire Dawa, perhaps replacing Negatu, according to his relatively recent biography.

Moreover, Iyasu pursued a foreign policy that sought to strengthen relations with Germany and Turkey (the Ottoman Empire) rather than the traditional allies such as France and Great Britain.

In July 1916, shortly before the coup, Iyasu deposed Teferi from his governorship of Harar causing anger and resentment. He also replaced Mersha with Neggadras Abubakar Mahammad, another important figure in Ethiopian history. Ironically, just months before their removal, both officials had accompanied Iyasu during his trip to the region, along with a number of other notables, including Mikael Berru (a German educated, British agency interpreter and father of the Sorbonne graduate Lij Seifu Mikael), and Tesemma Eshete. Interestingly, the dismissal was reported around the world as a deliberate plan designed to favor Muslims over Christians.

“Suddenly, at the end of last July, Yasu left Adis Abeba for Harrar and came on to Jibuti on August 8th, where he renewed his protestations of friendship to M. Simoni, Governor of French Somaliland .... He was found to have deposed Prince Taffari, son of Ras Makonnen, from the Governorship of Harrar and substituted a Muhammadan... Intrigue was rampant at Harrar under the Turk Ydlibi; and finally the chief of the Issas, Ato Marcha, was deposed in favour of a Muhammadan. These events caused a stir at Adis Abeba. The legations of the Entente Powers also sent in a protest. And on September 27th...Lij Yasu was formally deposed.”

In reality, however, the situation was a lot more complex. There was a power struggle within the royal family that intensified following Menilek's death. Neggadras Abubakar came from a family of rich Muslim Afar traders who made enormous contributions to Menilek and the nation in commercially, administratively and diplomatically. His father, Negadrass Mahammad, was the governor of the commercial center of Aliyu Amba (near Ankober, Shoa) while he himself served as the governor of Shenno, another commercial town. His grandfather, Abubakar Ibrahim Chehem, was a notable statesman and the Sultan or Pasha of Somalia’s port city of Zeila (Zeyla) before it became part of the British Somaliland.

“From the end of the XIXth century, the members of this family lost their role as obligatory intermediaries in favour of European traders supported by their respective states. However, one of them, Naggadras Mahammad Abubakar, continued to enjoy the trust of Menelik, who was unwilling to rely solely on the Europeans.”

Furthermore, scholars argue today that at least some of Iyasu's reforms were aimed at consolidating his power and strengthening the modern nation. For example, he sought to fully integrate marginal territories such as the Afar state. He tried to achieve this objective by various means, including by marrying Fatima, the daughter of Neggadras Abubakar. Finally, Ato Mersha was Catholic. Not only were Catholics persecuted historically, but even individuals who distinguished themselves in their domains, during this important period, were singled out for criticism simply because they did not adhere to the dominant and traditional Orthodox Christian belief.

Despite Abubbakar’s remarkable service and notability, Mersha's absence was a cause of great concern to the railway company in part because he was notorious for taking his responsibilities very seriously. Menilek wrote to him once praising his diligence and encouraging him to continue enforcing the agreements signed by Ethiopia. The following comment by Mr. De Mazérieux, the company's administrator, captures the unexpected loss:

“Avec Ato Marcha, qui était au courant des usages et des méthodes de la Cie, et qui lui était surtout absolumment dévoué, les difficultés etaient rapidement aplanies. Abou-Baker est trop connu en Abyssinie et à la Cie, pour qu’on puisse espérer, qu’il en sera de même avec lui.”

English translation: “With Ato Marcha, who was very knowledgeable of the practice and methods of Cie (i.e., Compagnie Imperiale d’Ethiopie), and to which who was especially absolutely devoted, difficulties were quickly resolved. Abu-Baker is very well known in Abyssinia and Cie, so we can hope it will be the same with him.”

After the coup, Mersha was restored to his position, which he continued to hold until his retirement in the 1920s. Empress Zewditu, the daughter of Menilek II, ruled Ethiopia from 1916 until 1930. Teferi became regent to the throne during this time and emperor of Ethiopia after the death of Zewditu (1930–1974).

A prominent Catholic

Ato Mersha was a famous Catholic who played an important role in the spread of the faith in the Harar province and beyond. His wife Tedeneqyalesh was the daughter of Ato Mekbeb (also Ato Mekev, Makeb and Makbeb), a notable Menilek servant who was converted to Catholicism in the late 1860s by Cardinal Guglielmo Massaja also known in Ethiopia as Abba or Abune Messias. Menilek, who was still King of Shoa at the time, wrote him a letter and sent one of his trusted men to meet with him. Martial De Salviac, the French missionary who lived in Ethiopia at the end of the 19th century and studied the history of the Oromo, remarked in his book:

"Such was the first letter which the future King of Kings of Ethiopia, the African champion of progress, wrote to a white European. The one which Menelik called 'a man of my confidence', that was Ato Makeb (i.e., Ato Mekbeb), officer of the royal house. He soon earned the confidence of missionaries by becoming an edified Catholic. Later he gave his daughter in marriage to one of the better students of the mission, Ato Marsha, who was a police chief in Harar, and actually directed the customs at Jaldessa. The piety toward God and the title of royal privilege seem to be perpetuated in this relationship."

Mersha's parents did not approve his conversion, according to oral history. Given their strong Orthodox background, it was a surprisingly bold move. But that did not stop Mersha from becoming an influential member of the Catholic mission. He also encouraged members of his family and relatives to follow his path. As a result, his grandchildren and great grandchildren today are followers of both branches of Christianity. His children were certainly brought up in a Catholic tradition. Benito Sylvain, the Haitian lawyer, author and anti-slavery activist who visited Ethiopia a few times during the late 19th and early 20th century wrote:

“En l'absence de Ras Makonnen, retenu par l'Empereur à Addis-Abeba, pour la conclusion du traité de paix avec l'Italie, était le Ghérazmatch Banti qui remplissait les délicates fonctions de gouverneur. Il manifesté de cordiale faҫon sa joie de me voir et après avoir vidé le tedj ou hydromel de l'amitié, il me fit donner l'hospitalité chez Ato Marcha, chef des douanes de Guieldessa, dont tous les enfants sont élevés à la Mission catholique française que dirige actuellement le sympathique Mgr André, récemment promu Evèque.”

English translation: “In the absence of Ras Mekonnen, kept by the Emperor in Addis Ababa, for the conclusion of the peace treaty with Italy was the Gerazmatch Banti who filled the delicate functions of governor. He expressed in a cordial way his joy to see me, and after emptying the tedj or mead of friendship, he offered me hospitality at the residence of Ato Marcha, Chief of Customs of Gildessa, with all the children raised in the French Catholic Mission currently headed by the friendly Mgr André who was recently promoted Bishop.”

Many young Ethiopians were educated in schools founded by French missionaries such as the notable French missionary Andre Jarosseau (Abba Endryas). Recent biographies (e.g. Ras Emru Haile Selassie) provide insight into the type of education offered by mission schools. In his recent autobiography, Captain Alemayehu Abebe, one of the pioneers of Ethiopian aviation and the first black African pilot of a commercial jet airliner, wrote the following:

“አቶ መርሻ ከነቤተሰቦቻቸው በሐረር ከተማ የታወቁና የተከበሩ የካቶሊክ ሃይማኖት ተከታይ ስለነበሩ ምንሴኘር አንድሬ ዣሩሶ በሚያስተዳድሩት የካቶሊክ ሚሲዮን ገብቼ በአዳሪነት እንድማር ተደረገ።” English translation: “Since Ato Mersha, along with his family, was a well-known and respected follower of the Catholic faith in the city Harar, I was allowed to attend the Catholic mission school headed by Mgr Andre Jarousseau.”

Another important biography by Mickael Bethe-Selassié describes in detail the historic contributions of Catholic Ethiopians during the first half of the 20th century. Many, including Mersha Nahusenay and the author’s uncle Berhane-Marqos Welde-Tsadiq, played a role in the modernization efforts of Emperors Menilek and Haile Selassié. The biographer argued that these Catholics form a distinct group within the larger community of educated men or La Jeune Ethiopie. This is not to say that there weren't historical ties between Catholic and traditional Orthodox Christian intellectuals as himself pointed out and as Pankhurst stressed later: also stressed the historical links between Catholic and Orthodox Christian intellectuals:

“The Ethiopian Roman Catholic community, the first of whose members were converted in the late 19th century by Italian or French missionaries, such as Guglielmo Massaia and André Jarosseau, included Zäwgä Haylu, who attended the Paris Exposition Universelle of 1900, and Märsha Nahu Sänay, who represented Menilek at the ceremony marking the completion of the Jibuti railway as far as the Ethiopian frontier in 1902. The community thus came into existence at the very same time as the emergence of the Young Ethiopians as a whole. The Catholic community was moreover influenced by the same factors - missionary education, travel to France or Italy, employment by foreigners, service on the railway, etc. -which gave birth, as we have seen, more generally to Young Ethiopianism.”

Death and legacy

Mersha retired from public service sometime in the 1920s. During retirement, he found time to focus on personal matters, but he also kept in touch with friends such as A. Jarousseau, according to the renowned historian Bahru Zewde. He later became seriously ill and was confined to bed for almost a decade. Mersha Nahusenay died at the age of about 85, during the Italian occupation, and was buried in the city of Harar.

Mersha Nahusenay during retirement

Ato Mersha and Woizero Tedeneqyalesh were blessed with eleven children: Beyene, Negest, Zewditu, Alemu, Worqe, Desta, Yosef, Marqos, Negatu, Zegeye, and Medemdemya. The first eight were born before the first year of the twentieth century (1901). Mersha encouraged his children to embrace modern education and to learn foreign languages. His eldest son Beyene Mersha was fluent in French and one of his daughters (probably Zewditu) read a greeting in French to Jean-Baptiste Marchand (1863–1934), the French officer and explorer, during his visit to Harar in 1899, according to Martial de Salviac. Mersha enjoyed taking his family to important public events such as the inaugural ceremony of the railway line at Dawale in 1900. Martial wrote that Mersha came to the event surrounded by "a beautiful crowd of eight children".

Beyene was undoubtedly the most notable of Mersha's children. He traveled to France and Italy with A. Jarosseau. In 1903, on behalf of his father, he met in Dire Dawa with R.P. Skinner, the American diplomat sent to Menilek by Theodore Roosevelt to sign a trade treaty with Menilek. Mersha was present, however, when the delegation was ready to depart for Djibouti to return home and in fact conveyed a farewell message from the Emperor delivered over the phone, according to Skinner. This was the first ever American diplomatic mission to Ethiopia. Beyene went on to become balambaras. He was active in many areas of public service and influential resident of Dire Dawa. He was appointed by Menilek as head of postal and telephone office established at the frontier town of Dewele. He also took part in the campaign to remove Ledj Iyasu along with Fitawrari Tekle Hawaryat.

Ato Denqu, husband of Negest, was appointed in 1907 as the first director of the Dire Dawa Post Office. He traveled to Europe (e.g. Switzerland and Italy) to attend meetings of the International Postal Union after Ethiopia became a member in 1908. A large number of descendants of Mersha Nahusenay lives in Ethiopia and around the world. They had made and are making important contributions in various fields, both public and private. Ato Abennet GebreMeskel (Abinet G/Meskel), the most notable descendant today, is a successful businessman and philanthropist in Ethiopia. The author of this short biography (click here for Amharic version of the Bio), Tadewos Assebework, is the grandson of Zegeye Mersha.

Mersha Nahusenay made key contributions in at least four areas of public service: border and railway security, public administration, economic development and diplomacy. He helped stabilize Ethiopia’s borders and frontier towns. He was among the first administrative officials of the new state. He helped built a railway that transformed the nation and became a powerful source of economic growth. And on the diplomatic front, he helped promote the image that Ethiopia was open for business and trade. It's important to remember that stability and investment were interdependent. Due to the great deal of skepticism among many Europeans and others, the country had to prove that it was capable of protecting foreign investment. On the other hand, the new economic environment created favorable conditions for further stability until the relative peace was undermined later by the invasion and occupation of Italy.

Ato Mersha was one of the most recognized figures of his time. His legacy includes a street named after him in Kezira (Gezira), Dire Dawa, during Emperor Haile Selassie's rule. The street is being used to this date. He was recently honored when the railway city celebrated its 105th anniversary.

Mersha Nahusenay Street (Kezira, Dire Dawa)

However, Mersha Nahusenay is still very much a forgotten hero, like many in his generation. His biography remains unwritten. His distinguished service is still poorly known by many scholars and students of Ethiopian history. A recent book by Professor Bahru Zewde (2005) discusses in detail the historic contributions of many pioneers and reformist intellectuals of the early twentieth century. Though the book does not mention Mersha, some of the historic figures discussed either held the positions he held or occupied the offices that he pioneered to create. Neggadras Gebrehiwot Baykedagn, one of the foremost intellectuals of the time, for example, was director of the Dire Dawa customs administration. Fitawrari Tekle Hawariat Tekle-Mariam (1884–1977), who later became governor of Jigjiga; credited for founding Asebe Teferi; and is best known for drafting the 1931 constitution, was chief of the railway briefly during Lij Iyasu. He was also among the first to travel abroad for education. Shortly before the young Tekle Hawaryat departed for Russia, in 1896, Mersha gave him his blessings. In his autobiography, he (p. 78) wrote:

"ጄልዴሳ ላይ ስንደርስ አቶ መርሻ ናሁ ሰናይ ከቤታቸው ወስደው ጋበዙኝ። ያስቀሩኛል ብዬ ፈርቼ በቶሎ ወጣሁና ወደ ሰፈሬ ሮጥኩ። ፀሀይ እንዳይጎዳኝ አስበው አቶ መርሻ ጥላ ገዝተው ሰጡኝ። (ከወንድሜ ከሟቹ ገብረ ጻድቅ ጋር በጣም ይፋቀሩ ነበር።)"

English translation: When we arrived at Jaldessa, Ato Mersha invited me for lunch at his residence. Because I was afraid that he might not let me travel overseas, I ran away as soon as I finished. Ato Mersha, however, bought me an umbrella so I could protect myself from the scorching sun. (He and my deceased brother Gebre Tsadiq were dear friends)."

The last decades of the 19th century marked a turning point in Ethiopian history. They opened the door to new possibilities and ways of living in the new century. This is not to say that the era of Emperor Haile Selassie, especially after the devastating Italian occupation (1935–1941), did not bring further modernization. To the contrary, significant advancements were made in many areas, including manufacturing and transportation (e.g. aviation) as well as education. Foreign trade and direct investment continued to play a vital role in the economic growth of the country. In a way the Menilek era also resembles the recent (post-1990s) period of unprecedented economic growth and infrastructure development. Though the two decades following the 1974 revolution witnessed a major economic slowdown, important structural changes were made, most notably the end of the feudal (ባላባት) system. When all is said and done, however, the journey that Ethiopians are currently embarked on in search of a stable and prosperous future was founded on and is deeply rooted in the historic reforms of the late nineteenth – early twentieth century.