Territorial Army (Ethiopia)

The Territorial Army (Amharic: የግዛት ጦር) was the national ground force of the Ethiopian Empire.

It operated essentially as a loosely organized auxiliary force serving to aid in local police work.

It was dominated by a group of officers known as "The Exiles" for their role in fleeing Ethiopia with Haile Selassie in 1936 after the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.

Emperor Selassie authorized the recruitment of many shifta in the Territorial Army during its existence.

[3] In late June 1974, officers of the Territorial Army formed the Derg.