[citation needed] After the Second Italo-Ethiopian War and the Italian occupation of Ethiopia, the palace became the residence of the Viceroy and Governor-General of Italian East Africa.

Emperor Haile Selassie moved back to the palace when he returned from exile after the East African campaign of World War II.

During the 1960 coup attempt, several government officials were massacred in the palace.

In light of this, the Emperor moved to the Jubilee Palace.

[citation needed] The emperor gave the Guenete Leul Palace to the Haile Selassie University, which was renamed Addis Ababa University in 1974.