Mehal Sefari (Amharic: መኻል ሰፋሪ) was the Ethiopian title for the specialized units of the imperial guard during the reign of Emperor Menelik II.

The Mehal Sefari's earlier roles were providing security for young Prince Menelik under the leadership of the later Dejazmach Germame.

The Mehal Sefari were also involved in protecting the ailing Emperor Menelik as his grandson, Eyasu, attempted to remove his grandfather from his palace by force.

Pankhurst may be writing about the Regent Ras Tafari (later Emperor Haile Selassie I) reconstituting the unit under his direct control from men who had trained in the British army in Kenya, as well as a few who had served under the Italians in Tripoli.

The new Mehal Sefari was involved in the power struggle between Ras then later Negus Teferi on one hand and Menelik's nobles notably Fitawrari Habtegiorgis on the other.

The issue was laid to rest when the Empress interceded with the Imperial Fitwarari whose forces had cornered Negus Teferi with a few of his men in his home and were preparing to make short work of them.

Following the return of Emperor Haile Selassie to Ethiopia in 1941, the Kebur Zabagna was reconstituted, and a Swedish military mission aided in its training.

In the most famous one of these was in 1972 when Wallelign Mekonnen with ELF (Eritrean Liberation Front) trained operatives led a 3 man 2 women cell in an abortive attempt to hijack an Ethiopian airlines Boeing 707.

The 2nd Battalion had an infantry and cavalry regiment based out of Menelik and Jubilee Palaces as well as the soccer stadium in the Lagare area.