[6] Bafena became Menilek’s wife by customary law, despite being considerably older than Menelik, the Negus has been entranced with her shortly after his return to Ankober from captivity under Tewodros II in 1865.
Capuchin missionary Guglielmo Massaia, a foreign advisor with good standing at his majesty's court, viewed her as ‘‘sly, immoral, and a troublemaker’’ despite her attempts to win him over with generous gifts.
Massaia knew that Menelik's union with her was ‘‘irregular’’ and that the Negus was under pressure to leave Bafena for a younger woman that could birth him sons.
Enraged, Bafena managed to convince Menelik that his cousin was a potential traitor, and on 14 December 1876 he was imprisoned at Gontcho under the authority of the Muslim governor of Argobba.
Menelik lost considerable support through this arbitrary action, at a time when he needed all the strength he could muster, and his acquiescence to Bafena's demands only hardened her determination to see one of her sons on the throne.
He also wanted to rule Shewa, but was unable to do so because it was controlled by Menilek II, who since 1872 had been the only important political figure in northern and central Ethiopia to refuse to recognize him as emperor.
in fact, at her suggestion, Menelik authorized her to straighten out affairs in Shewa and provided a written edict naming her regent until his return.
Bafena's first act was to free Mashasha Sayfu, whom she intended to use in place of Haile Mikael; to lull him into a false sense of security, she gave him the daughter she had originally promised to him.
She then diverted to Tamo (the most secure fortress in Shewa) all valuables, weapons, and munitions in storage at Ankober, Liche, and Feqra Gemb, together with large supplies of provisions, against the possibility of a long siege.
Menelik had to lift the blockade and return to Liche, where he turned to mediation and asked Father Massaia, one of Mashasha's teachers, to use his good relations to bring about an equitable settlement.
[2][6] The request was discussed at a general council of the realm, it's recommendations (which included Bafena to be exiled) were initially rejected by Menelik II.