Major General Hadush "Hayelom" Araya (1955–1996) is a former member of the Tigrayan Peoples' Liberation Front (TPLF), which was the leading member of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) political coalition. While fighting as a TPLF fighter, he earned the nickname Hayelom, "Overpowering" for his brave and daring acts.[1]
He was born in Addi Nebreid in Northwestern Tigray, and although he completed high school in Adwa. After the Ethiopian revolution broke out, he joined the TPLF. As a commander of EPRDF forces, General Hayelom led his forces to northern Shewa and later marched to Addis Ababa coming out victorious in 1991. One of his most daring acts was the "Agazi Operation", which happened on the early evening of 5 February 1985: he led a squad of TPLF fighters in attacking the main prison in Mek'ele, and freed over a thousand prisoners, killed 16 prison guards and wounded 9 soldiers without losing a single man.[2] He later become one of the military leaders in the defence force of the Transitional Government of Ethiopia.
General Hayelom was shot down in a restaurant bar in Addis Ababa on 14 February 1996. A prominent Eritrean businessman called Jemil yassin was convicted of the murder of Major General Hayelom Araya in April 1996. The general was killed in a drunken brawl after he slapped the perpetrator because reportedly the general did not like the Eritrean accent the businessman used while trying to propose a business idea to the general who was also the defense minister at the time. Due to heavy governmental censorship, however, most reports lack integrity. Jemil was hanged unannounced on June 2 1998. The timing of the execution is linked to the outbreak of border fighting in May 1998 between Ethiopia and Eritrea. [3]