Tafari Benti

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Tafari Benti (1921 - 1977) was the president of Ethiopia (November 28, 1974 - February 3, 1977). Along with Aman Mikael Andom and Mengistu Haile Mariam, he led the military coup of September 12, 1974, which deposed Emperor Haile Selassie.

Following the death of Andom two months later, and a 10-day period in which Mengistu was president, Benti became president. He died in office, either by committing suicide or by being killed by Mengistu, who succeeded him as leader and completed Ethiopia's transformation into a Marxist country until the fall of the military regime in 1991.