Due to his student activism he was arrested and sentenced to five years imprisonment in April 1969, but was pardoned by Emperor Haile Selassie shortly afterwards.

[4][5] Wallelign’s most famous article On the Question of Nationalities in Ethiopia was published in the student movement’s journal Struggle in November 1969.

The following month, Tilahun Gizaw, president of the University Students' Union of Addis Ababa, was assassinated by what is presumed to be agents of the state.

[9][11] After his release Wallelign worked in the Ministry of Ground Transportation and remained active in the radical movement.

[12] On 10 December 1972, Wallelign and six fellow activists attempted to hijack an Ethiopian Airlines flight leaving Addis Ababa for Europe.