10/13/2026
The Kebur Zabagna: Ethiopia’s Elite Imperial Guard
The Kebur Zabagna, whose name is commonly translated as the “Honour Guard,” was one of the most distinguished military formations in modern Ethiopian history. Based in Addis Ababa, the unit served as the imperial bodyguard, responsible for protecting the Emperor of Ethiopia, while also functioning as an elite infantry force. Its establishment is dated to 1917, when Ras Tafari Makonnen—the future Emperor Haile Selassie I—organized a force under his direct authority. Source
Origins and Military Transformation
The formation of the Kebur Zabagna reflected Ethiopia’s efforts to strengthen and modernize its military while preserving its independence and imperial traditions. Its early ranks included men with military training and experience gained abroad. In 1930, Haile Selassie, then Emperor, invited a Belgian military mission to assist in modernizing Ethiopia’s armed forces, including the Imperial Guard.
The unit developed into a trained infantry formation equipped with ri**es, machine guns, and mortars. Its responsibilities extended beyond ceremonial duties: it was an elite fighting force entrusted with defending the Ethiopian state and its monarch.
Resistance Against Italian Invasion
The Kebur Zabagna became part of Ethiopia’s struggle against Italian aggression during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War. On March 31, 1936, the Imperial Guard fought at the Battle of Maychew. Following the Italian occupation, many members continued the struggle through the Ethiopian resistance.
Their history reflects a defining period in Ethiopia’s fight to preserve its sovereignty against European colonial expansion.
Rebuilding After Liberation
Following Haile Selassie’s return from exile in 1941, the Imperial Guard was reconstituted and received further military training. Its members later contributed to Ethiopia’s international military commitments, including the Korean War, where Ethiopian troops served as part of the United Nations forces.
The guard remained an important institution of the Ethiopian Empire for decades. However, its standing was damaged by the attempted coup of 1960, which involved its commander, Brigadier General Mengistu Neway, and his brother Germame Neway.
The Imperial Guard was ultimately disbanded in the mid-1970s following the overthrow of the imperial government and the consolidation of power by the Derg military regime.
A Legacy of Ethiopian Sovereignty
The story of the Kebur Zabagna is more than the history of a royal bodyguard. It represents Ethiopia’s efforts to build a modern military institution while defending a state with a long history of independence.
Its soldiers embodied military discipline, service to the crown, and participation in some of the most consequential moments in modern Ethiopian history. Their legacy remains part of the broader story of African military institutions, resistance to colonial conquest, and the preservation of national sovereignty.
