Metemma

Metemma ( Amharic መተማ mätämma ) is a place in the Amhara Province in Ethiopia .

location

Metemma is on the border with Sudan . Gallabat is on the other side of the border .

population

Metemma has about 5,500 inhabitants.

history

In March 1889, the Ethiopians under the leadership of their Emperor Yohannes IV attacked Sudan, where the Mahdi uprising had been taking place since 1881 . The Mahdists attacked and looted the city of Gonder the previous year . On March 9, the battle of Metemma / Gallabat took place near Metemma . 150,000 Ethiopians attacked 80,000 Mahdists. A victory for the Ethiopians seemed to be looming when the emperor was hit by a stray bullet. The Ethiopian troops then withdrew, were persecuted and crushed. The emperor's body fell into the hands of the Mahdists.

Coordinates: 12 ° 58 '  N , 36 ° 9'  E