Introduction
This piece of writing is just a glimpse for the analysis of the foreign policies implemented by king
Menelik ll mainly from 1889 to 1893, it emphasizes on the strategies used by the king from the objective
of keeping the national interest. The entire paper keeps Adwa as a center of attention as it was the
mightiest accomplishment of the king. After completion, you will have basic knowledge about the
foreign policy during the reign of Menelik ll
I. Territorial Expansion
As menelik ll became Neguse Negest, His foremost action was to incorporate the back then 'neighboring
territories' with coercion, as one of the general objective of foreign policy is to maintain the core
interest of the state; Menelik ll by using the 'holisti' approch tried to foster the power of his aspired
nation by conquering vast territories of southern, southwestern and southeast territories of present day
Ethiopia. As evidences show one of his main motive was to control the vast economic resource of those
areas, as his ambition of building prosperous nation the second most requirement next to stability and
security is economic power, during the 19th century most African nations were falling under colonial
rule or had already fallen so menelik's strategic measure was appreciable as evident by the Adwa battle
the conquest of resource was very important both in man power and economy which finally led to
successful defense towards colonial regime.
Menelik ll used synoptic operational philosophy to incorporate those resourceful lands, we say it was
synoptic because he implemented the expansion soon after his coronation, Even in the period of
yohannes IV there had been advances made by him to secure resources to be crowned as king of kings
so the expansion is continuation of that effort, Even though he faced quite challenge from major
kingdoms like wolayta he persisted with confidence because he had strategic advantage over them with
his huge army; this mindset is another indicator of synoptic leader because when kings advance in such
magnitude they must be sure of their opponent's capacity. The diplomatic skill front was also successful
since he conquered some areas with slim to none resistance; for instance, the ruler of Leqa Neqemt,
kumsa, peacefully subdued and was able to maintain his local autonomy.
To recap, menelik's territorial expansion was overall a successful policy because it helped to shape the
contemporary shape of Ethiopia and helped to keep the independence of the state.
ll. Italian Manipulation
In the late 19th Century, Italian envoys drafted and presented the Wuchale treaty to Emperor
Menelik ll claiming to establish a diplomatic relation with Ethiopia when in reality their main
objective was to have a military base in Ethiopia and to have maximum control of the country by
making it an Italian protectorate. Article 17 of the Wuchale Treaty which was the one that was
decisively crafted to trick Emperor Menilik ll into giving away Ethiopian’s sovereignty, Emperor
Menilk ll wanting to advance the countries modernization, signed the treaty being unaware of the
fact that the Amharic translation which stated a more cooperative than a colonial statement, was
actually wrong. When the treaty was examined after it was signed, the mistranslation of Article
17 became evident and so the first Italo-Ethiopian War was declared. Here we can see that the
king followed a pragmatic mode of operation because he analyzed the cost and benefit of
entering a war with a global power and he was also prudent for analyzing that the state’s
sovereignty comes before economic prosperity.
The Italians used both instruments of foreign policy, diplomacy and economy to weaken the
nation-state’s ability to respond to attacks. The main strategies used were manipulating local
leaders in the country and equipping them with weapons to revolt against the Emperor, economic
sanctions by blocking trade routes and discouraging other European countries from having
relations with the country.
Menelik was a very wise ruler who made his aspiration for royal appointment come true through
his intelligence and diplomatic relations and alliance with foreign countries like at the time of the
death of Emperor Yohannes IV, when he wasn’t the only one who claimed power. His greatest
rival was the son of Emperor Yohannes IV, Mengesha. So, Emperor Menilik formed an alliance
with Italy to demolish his enemy Mengesha even though later he developed a quarrel with that
country.
lll. Adwa and the Defeat of Italy
Adwa is a name given to the battle between Ethiopia and Italy from [Link] main battle of Adwa
was held on 1ST march. Previously Emperor Menelik of the shoa had signed different conventions with
Italy. The treaty that led to the battle of Adwa is signed in may2, 1889 by emperor Menelik of the shoa on
the behalf of Ethiopia and Count Antonelli on the behalf of Italian King. The treaty of Wuchale was
composed of 20 articles and written in both Amharic and Italy. The Italian and Amharic versions of the
treaty have different meanings. The Amharic version of the treaty read as “Menelik may use Italian
government in his dealings with foreign countries.” But the Italian version surprisingly made it required
Menelik to conduct all is foreign affairs only through Italian government. In Emperor Menelik’s attempt
to conduct European countries independently, the emperor was told that Ethiopia had to conduct her
foreign affairs only through her protectorate, Italy. Since then the emperor realized that article 17 th of the
treaty reduced Ethiopia as a protectorate of Italy. The emperor didn’t rush into launching war against
Italy He tried to solve the problem diplomatically however The Italian government attempted to cheat the
emperor. In 1891 letter that formally declared Ethiopia’s position was sent to European countries. On 6 th
December, 1891 Ras Mengesha Yohannes and prominent personalities of Tigray held oath Known as
Mereb convention with Italians. The emperor officially abolished the treaty in 1893. In June 1894, Ras
Mengesha and his followers came to Addis Ababa and submitted to Menelik to stand on behalf of their
country following their apology Menelik II accommodated them. In this way the treaty of Wuchale
became the lightening road of the battle, particularly regarding article 17 of the treaty.
Assessment of Menelik’s action in Individual level
The emperor’s attempt to solve the problem diplomatically.
The emperor’s attempt to solve the dispute diplomatically rather than launching war was indicated;
The emperor’s desire for peace, harmony, mutual understanding and cooperation among the two
countries.
Lack of well-trained army(the farmers had dual role as both farmers and part time soldiers)
The refusal of Italian Bribe
The Italian government attempted to bribe the emperor with 2million round ammunition but due to his
nationalism he refused to take the bribe.
Maintaining Ethiopia’s international standing
By officially abolishing the treaty Menelik II had great role in maintaining his country’s standing
internationally which eventually led to battle.
Menelik’s role in unifying Ethiopian
His call of is testifies his determination to save the country’s sovereignty by giving whatever it [Link]
action highly implies that Menelik’s belief that living in invaded country is ineptitude. This action also
entails that the emperor’s stand about integrity.
Leading the battle of Adwa
His involvement in the battle shows his commitment to endanger his life for the sake of Ethiopia.
lv. Cabinet of Ministers and Addis Ababa as a center
After the battle of Adwa, Emperor Menelik established the first Cabinet of Ministers to help in the
administration of the Empire, appointing trusted and widely respected nobles. This council of Ministers
was composed of nine ministries, including the Ministry of Commerce and Foreign Affairs, as an
institution to execute the country’s foreign relations . Naggadras HaileGiyorgis, a traditional person with
no modern education, was appointed as the first Minister of Commerce and Foreign Affairs. The duties
of the ministry were divided into four categories;
1. To talk about consular relations with other countries,
2. To talk about relations with other states and ministers,
3. To deliver passport to foreigners who live in Ethiopia, and
4. To translate books, newspapers and journals into Amharic.
The level of development of diplomacy during the reign of Menelik was limited due to lack of educated
manpower and lack of understanding about the role of foreign policy. Moreover, Ethiopia’s foreign
relations at that time were more of foreign trade.
Ethiopia’s Diplomatic representation abroad was limited during the time. Though the first and only
consul was opened in Djibouti in 1897, there were neither permanent legations nor embassies
established abroad. At that time, foreign relations were conducted through a delegation system of
representations.
With the victory against the Italian army at the battle of Adwa and the seat of the throne settled in Addis
Ababa, Menelik gained even more recognition from foreign governments. After 1896, this recognition
was signaled and followed by the sending of special missions by France, Italy, Great Britain, Russia,
Germany, and others to Ethiopia .The Indians, Armenians, and Greeks, who primarily were merchants,
traders, artisans, and builders, were a less official yet also significant presence. By 1908, an official bond
was sealed, with the signing of the Klobukowski agreement between Menelik and the French, in
particular, but also all foreigners, by extension. “It was to provide the basis for consular jurisdiction
within Ethiopia in the long run and greater security and privileges for foreigners living in the capital and
the empire.”Consular representations were given large tracts of land and secured their premises by
erecting extensive fences. Foreign residents who lacked representation would also receive consular
services from those who had legations
In protection of their vested interest in trade and public life. Around 1900, Menelik envisioned moving
the capital to Addis Alem, west of Addis Ababa. A palace was built for this aim. But the physical
presence of the legations in Addis Ababa and Menelik’s strong ties with foreign governments, with
whom he was able to introduce technologies such as the telegraph, telephone, and the railway
connecting to Djibouti in the east, influenced the decision to stay in Addis Ababa. As a result, instead of
moving to Addis Alem, he decided only to build a road connecting it to Addis Ababa . The foreign
legations enabled trade to flourish, which in turn encouraged the development of Ethiopian relation
with the out side world.
V. The Noncommittal Policy and Relations with Fellow Africans
After the Mahdist clash during Yohannes IV's reign, Ethiopia took a cautious approach towards Sudan.
The country chose not to align with either the Sudanese government or opposition forces, influenced by
historical mistrust, strategic considerations, and regional dynamics. Ethiopia's reluctance to fully engage
with Sudan was shaped by past conflicts and a need for strategic caution. The country sought to
safeguard its interests without getting involved in Sudanese internal affairs.
Ethiopia's stance was also influenced by the complex geopolitical context of the region. The country
recognized external influences and the complexities of Sudanese politics, choosing a pragmatic approach
and maintaining a degree of distance to avoid being drawn into regional conflicts.
Moreover, Ethiopia's cautious policy towards Sudan and its support for the liberation of African nations
reflected a pragmatic approach shaped by historical experiences, strategic considerations, and regional
dynamics. The country's commitment to African unity and sovereignty was evident in its efforts to foster
diplomatic relations with nations fighting against colonial rule. Overall we can say that it was a
successful diplomatic strategy.
Ethiopia actively supported the liberation movements across Africa, advocating for the decolonization
and independence of African [Link] country provided diplomatic support, moral encouragement,
and sometimes material assistance to liberation movements in various African countries. Above all the
existence of a role model has inspired many nation that it is possible to become independent once
again,;with this regard we believe that the remarkable history made on the soil of Adwa has given
Ethiopia an opportunity to shine on African stage, for example, one of the reasons that made Addis
Ababa capital of many regional institutions like OAU/AU is the image of Ethiopia as sovereign nation-
state.
In summary, Ethiopia's cautious policy towards Sudan, its active support for liberation movements, and
its role in the formation of the OAU underscored its commitment to African unity and sovereignty. The
country's actions were guided by historical experiences and a pragmatic approach to regional dynamics,
reflecting a deep-seated commitment to the decolonization and independence of African nations, which
gave the nation-state a reputation and opportunities in the global arena as a representative of Africa.
VI. Modernization and armanent
Menelik ll had a keen ambition to introduce Western technological and administrative advances into
[Link] II's foreign policy on modernization and armament was crucial in achieving his
ambitions of maintaining Ethiopian sovereignty and establishing the country as a modern, independent
state. He began large-scale modernization which included bringing back a national currency,
constructing buildings for improved educational facilities and ministries, installing a railway from
Djibouti to the new capital of Addis Ababa, and establishing the first telephone and telegraph systems in
the Empire. All of these amendments were done in effort of making the nation up to date with the
already civilized western society, as it was evident in the battle of Adwa Ethiopia’s backwardness in
technology had caused severe loss mainly in-terms of manpower; that is why menelik ll declared a 7
years of grief for those martyrs; we think the main intention of the king was to prevent history from
repeating itself through modernization of armament less manpower is needed and logistics is made easy
if we encountered such envision again, which is a brilliant strategy to self-sustain. The expansion of
modernization during the reign of King Menelik showed that Ethiopia has a special need for
modernization in the eyes of the Europeans, better than other African countries.
In 1894, Menelik granted a concession for the building of a railway to his capital Addis Ababa from the
French port of Djibouti .The construction of the Djibouti-Addis Ababa railway was a significant step in
modernizing Ethiopia's transportation infrastructure, facilitating trade and the movement of troops and
supplies. The construction of this railway had a great advantage for menilik to easily interact with
international [Link] ,the modernization process during Emperor Menelik II greatly affected
the strategic international relationship. His strategic focus on infrastructure, education, military
enhancement, and diplomatic balancing enabled Ethiopia to successfully resist colonial domination and
emerge as a symbol of African independence and resilience.
Conclusion
King Menelik ll undoubtedly was one of the most influential and strategist leader in Ethiopian history. As
we have seen the foreign policy and diplomacy approch used by the king were nonetheless fruitful in
keeping the national interest and also the sovereignty of the nation via the battle of Adwa, which was
patriotic and also simultaneously a role model by itself for the independence of those under colonial
rule.