Ethiopia has opened up its Imperial Palace to public viewing following months of refurbishment of the historical edifice.
Built by King Menelik II over 100 years ago, the 40-acre estate was used to house the country’s royal family. The palace has a mixed political history, having passed through the different regimes that ruled over Ethiopia.
Between 1889-1913, it served as the crown jewel of Ethiopian power and authority during the reign of King Menelik II. From the palace, he oversaw the country’s defence against colonization in the first Italo-Ethiopian War in 1896.
Prior to his overthrow, Emperor Haile Selassie also lived in the Imperial Palace, where he was later imprisoned by the Derg military government. After him, the palace has alternately been used by various civilian and military regimes for government activities.
In 2018, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced plans to refurbish and redesign a segment of the huge estate tourism. The state has accordingly invested $170 million to implement the re-designation exercise. The new palace, now known as Unity Park, measures 15 acres and boasts of landscapes, palace buildings, and animal enclosures.
The opening of the Imperial Palace is widely celebrated as a move aimed at healing the country’s volatile past
