He is one of the black lions of Ethiopia. He demonstrated Ethiopians' heroism beyond Africa's perimeter. My poem indomitable Ethiopia is in the same wavelength.
The Unsnag Hero
Abdissa Aga was born in south western Ethiopia in a province called Welega.
It was when he was 14 he joined the Ethiopian defense force.
In 1935 when fascist Italy that was armed to the teeth with modern arsenals baptized the country with banned poisonous gas conducting innumerable sorties, he decided to reinforce the fight in defense of his motherland.
But Abdissa sustained injuries and ended up in a hospital. Later, he was subjected to house arrest around Piazza, his residential area.
After Ethiopian patriots’ attempt to assassin Rodolfo Graziani , whom Italy assigned to administer Ethiopia, suspected of involvement in the plot, Abdissa was once more detained along with 37 house-arrested Ethiopians.
After a gruesome time in prison, via Somalia, and then under the jurisdiction of fascist Italy, he was sent to Rome as a prisoner of war.
There he was under scrutiny. Along with another captive from Yugoslavia called Hulio, he was designing different plans to escape from the prison.
One day making a rope out of his blanket and descending down the tower prison he managed to escape. But, instead of becoming a fugitive on the run, returning back late at night to the prison and opening fire on the guards he let the prison inmates free to flee.
In so doing, he demonstrated valor is a virtue Ethiopians need borrow from nowhere. The unfolding carried across the message Ethiopians’ military prowess is not only showcased in Adwa but also in Italy.
Teaming up the prisoners from different countries he set free as partisans, he pressed ahead with waging fierce attacks on Italian troops in their own country. He was beating them by the rule of their own game.
As they knew Ethiopians’ heroism starting from Adwa they became very much afraid of him. In numerous engagements with them he did emerge victorious. He kept on ambushing and surprising the fascist troops.
Offering him different allurements they were sweet talking him to join ranks with the Italian army. He turned a deaf ear to their requests making clear joining a fascist force is a treason committed on own country.
When World War II broke out he joined the tide against the Axis powers.
United State of America and English were fighting with Italy that was supporting Nazi Germany. Stunned by Abdissa’s heroism they saw it fit to ask him to join the allied forces. Making use of this support , beefing up the muscle of his army he did a great job in disarraying fascist troops in their own country.
After the ignominious defeat of fascist troops, when the English and US forces entered into Rome he followed suit with an array of his fighters that tried Ethiopia’s flag round their wrist. When he, on par with the rank of a general, made a divine entrance into Rome hovering high Ethiopia’s flag he was accorded a warm welcome by the allied forces.
Next he played quite a role in vanquishing Nazi forces when the allied forces mounted attack on Nazi Germany. He was still hovering high Ethiopia’s flag in liberating many Germany towns being pulverized in the crossfire. He played incalculable role in combing out brutal Nazi troops.
Promising handsome rewards the allied forces did try to persuade him to join them. But Abdissa put down his foot. He made clear “However poor my country may be, I will not abnegate it! My love to Ethiopia is next to none!”
Vexed by the cold shoulder greeting he showed to their offers finding a pretext they put him behind bars.
Later, released, he came back to Ethiopia to Join the Special Imperial guard with the Imperial given title Colonel.
Colonel Abdissa Aga died soon after the demise of the Emperor Haile Sellasie I.
The younger generation has to learn a lot from this exemplary heroism and love for motherland.