Italo-Ethiopian War (1935–1936 CE) - Philosophical Concept | Alexandria
Italo-Ethiopian War (1935–1936 CE), a brutal and unsettling clash often remembered as a straightforward example of colonial aggression, was in reality a far more complex event, riddled with international intrigue and enduring consequences. Also known as the Second Italo-Abyssinian War, it exists in the shadow of assumptions about power and justice that deserve closer scrutiny. Italy's ambition to create a new Roman Empire and avenge its defeat at Adwa in 1896 drove the conflict. While often viewed as a prelude to World War II, it was a defining moment in the history of African resistance and the failures of the League of Nations, themes often oversimplified in popular memory.
Early traces of the brewing conflict can be found in the Walwal incident of December 5, 1934, a skirmish along the disputed border between Italian Somaliland and Ethiopia, reported unevenly by both sides. This incident provided Benito Mussolini with the pretext for invasion, though expansionist desires had been simmering for years. Contemporary accounts, like the dispatches of foreign journalists in Addis Ababa and Rome at the time, reveal the growing tensions and the international community's attempts at mediation, which ultimately proved ineffective, raising questions on the true intentions of the involved global powers.
The war itself, marked by Italy's use of chemical weapons and its blatant disregard for international law, had a profound impact. Haile Selassie's impassioned plea to the League of Nations in 1936, documented in numerous historical records, served as a powerful indictment of collective inaction. Yet, even within Ethiopia, the war sparked internal debates about modernization and resistance strategies. The figure of Haile Selassie himself became a symbol, interpreted in various ways across the African diaspora and inspiring movements for self-determination. Despite Italy's victory and subsequent occupation, Ethiopian resistance never truly ceased, a narrative often overshadowed by the broader scope of the Second World War.
The Italo-Ethiopian War remains a potent symbol of resistance against oppression. The echoes of this conflict resonate in contemporary discussions about neocolonialism, international justice, and the legacies of imperial ambition. How do we reconcile the romanticized narratives of heroism and self-sacrifice with the undeniable suffering inflicted upon the Ethiopian people? Was the League of Nations truly powerless, or were there other forces at play, complicit in their silence? These questions continue to propel scholarly inquiry, urging us to re-examine this pivotal moment in African and world history.