Upon succeeding his grandfather in 1890 he quickly built ties with the Kingdom of Jimma, a tributary of the Ethiopian Empire, marrying the daughter of Abba Jifar II.

He then tried to draw the smaller Omotic Kullo and Konta into his orbit as client states, however, Menelik's cousin Wolde Gyorgis successfully campaigned through both.

After six times of failed protectorate attempts, Emperor Menelik II reached the border of Wolaita after a two weeks march from Addis Abeba, calling on the king to pay tribute and avoid the destruction of his kingdom.

Expertly dug defensive trenches and mounds crippled the initial assault, but Tona Gaga was eventually pushed out of his strongpoint and caught between the Ethiopians and Oromo auxiliaries sent by Abba Jifar II, who had betrayed Tona Gaga.

Using this secret as a weapon, Menelik II had gained a chance to fully control the Kingdom, though they continued to be ruled by their own king until the rise of Derg regime.