One of the fundamental preconditions of successful socialist construction is to ensure the people's readiness to defend themselves from the ravages of probable regional or global wars on the basis of the balance of forces generating from the basic contradictions of our epoch.

Henceforth we will tackle our enemies that come face to face with us and we will not be stabbed in from behind by internal foes. To this end, we will arm the allies and comrades of the broad masses without giving respite to reactionaries, and avenge the blood of our comrades double - and triple - fold.

From now on you must pray for your people and yourself three times a day.

Ethiopia did not have the same problem [of corruption]. African leaders looked at us with envy.

Everything Mengistu has done since 1977 has been to place himself in a position of uncontestable power. Neither Haile Selassie nor any of the previous emperors had this insatiable thirst for power.

We thought that the proletariat would eventually run the world. But it is the Americans who have assumed that position... The American people have changed.

Mengistu is a barbaric and cruel creature who becomes happy with the death of human beings.