Description: (Former President of Ethiopia (1987 - 1991))
Mengistu Haile Mariam was an Ethiopian politician and military officer who served as the head of state of Ethiopia from 1977 to 1991. He led the Derg, a Marxist-Leninist military junta, and later became the president of the People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Mengistu's economic policies included nationalization and land redistribution. His rule was characterized by internal conflict, government repression, and economic mismanagement. A devastating famine occurred from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu fled to Zimbabwe in 1991 after being convicted of genocide.