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16 January 2007
Ethiopia’s bid to join the League of Nations, an international organization established after the Paris Conference of 1921, was challenged by the big powers of the time. They claimed Ethiopia could not qualify for membership because it had slave trade widely practised and lacked an internationally acceptable prison facility.
Ras Tafari Mekonnen, a crown prince at the time, abolished slavery and went over to tour Europe in the mid 1920s. It was after this tour that he had brought French architects and built this prison in 1924, under the reign of Empress Zawditu. It remained over the past 80 years as “Alem Bekagn” – literally translated as ‘I have had enough’ – and kept Emperor Hailesellasie’s family during the time of Derg, as it was a house to senior members of the Derg until the place was vacated last year to give way for the construction of cultural centre by the African Union (AU).
This building now is left idle after the Addis Abeba Prison Administration totally left the place last week; according to reliable sources, Ethiopian prison authorities have ordered construction workers not to bulldoze Alem Bekagn, hoping that they will persuade officials at the AU of its historical importance. No decision has yet been made, although.
Source: Addis Fortune