Haile Selassie I, the last emperor of Ethiopia, reigned for over four decades, from 1930 to 1974. During his rule, he modernized the country's infrastructure, education system, and legal code, and abolished slavery. He also played a key role in the formation of the Organization of African Unity and served as its first chairman. Despite his achievements, his reign was marked by economic inequality and political repression. In 1974, a military coup led by a group of Marxist officers overthrew Selassie, ending the monarchy and establishing a socialist republic. Selassie died in captivity in 1975 under mysterious circumstances, his legacy a complex mix of progress and authoritarianism.
