It's an essential place to visit if you are willing to know and understand how the "Durg" used to rule Ethiopia. Free entrance.

Hage hanbure

There is no entry fee but you can tip the guide, which is advisable. It is a small museum but holds cricial records of the country's gruesome past.

Free entrance, Its good to k that about yesterday to predict our tomorrow, its one of the darkest periods of our country, Sadly its still happening twin brothers killing each other. Its sad knowing that there will be another museum in the next decades like this. Good place to visit

An important museum displaying a dark chapter in Ethiopia's history. Free entrance but donations are appreciated near the end. Get the guided tour.

This is by far the most opinionated piece I've written, and no arguments are accepted so brace yourselves. I'll start by saying that it's a remarkably hideous building. And it's not hideous by design, but due to the apparent poor execution of a design that tries so hard to be hideous and yet, finds itself concealed in the landscape of the adjacent Meskel square. The fact that it tries to compliment the square by using the form of the building, which is tilted in a manner that repeats the slope of the tiers of the square, indicates that the architecture of the building has confused priorities. This is amplified by the fact that stone masonry is used on the walls of one half of the building which is continuous to the tiers of the square, and the other half is cladded with aluminum panels in a rather inharmonious grid. I would argue this is not by design, leading me to reiterate that it is indeed poorly executed. Some grand names are mentioned at the entrance to the museum, paying homage to Fasil Ghiorghis (the architect), MH Engineering (the consultant) and Varnero (the contractor). And with such a decorated lineup, one would ask, what could be the cause of this rather undecorated result. A first instance hypothesis would be "budget". But of course, the financiers of the project would surely know better than to underspend on a museum which they put in place not only to commemorate the victims of a horrific past, but to push a larger political narrative by appealing to one's emotions once they're apprehended with their guard down. Afterall, the setting itself subtly influences one to lower their guard. The design possibly draws influence from Daniel Libeskind's Holocaust museum in the instance where the slope of the floor itself becomes tilted, pushing one to rush further down their steps as they approach the final room of the museum, a horrific room where the remains of the red terror victims are displayed in glass casings. It would leave you wondering how the families of these victims could allow them to be exhibited as such? Which brings me back to the "grander political narrative" bit. Now, at the entrance to the museum the first section shows a picture of Emperor Haileselassie cutting a cake for his 80th birthday adjacent to a picture of an emaciated farmer during the famine. The caption beneath the farmer's picture uses the word "peasant". Something that I found unsettling, almost as unsettling as the fact that there are no pictures showing Haileselassie's soulful and anguished expression when he finally encountered the victims of the famine. Across the aforementioned picture of the farmer, is a quote from the then patriarch who made a statement as a peace plea during the ensuing times of unrest, a quote that didn't age well to those who deemed it anti-revolutionary. (Great! First the king now the patriarch? And coming up next it's [INSERT ETHNIC GROUP]). Then there's a quote from Radio Ethiopia just after the revolution which reads, "The era of futile toil without reward has ended for good". I smirked, thinking they had no idea what was to come! The next section of the museum shows pictures taken during peaceful protests, where civilians are carrying slogans in demonstrations against the socialist regime, a regime which they dubbed as fascistic. The leading opposition of the time, EPRP considered itself to be the true champion of socialism. I found the Amharic for Socialism (ማህበረሰብዐዊነት) to be rather peculiar, as when you literally translate that term back into English, it becomes "Collective-Humanism". I was particularly struck by the fact that there was open intellectual political discourse during that era. And there were open demonstrations like the ones shown in the pictures, something that's a rarity even in 21st century Ethiopia! Perhaps because everyone's so smart and selfish nowadays. Nobody saving the epileptic kid lying on his back just outside the museum. We're frightened and confused carcasses. There's nothing to see here, just look around you, that's the true museum. -Circa 2025

Very important place on the map of Addis Ababa. A must see for everyone. Special thanks to Negasi!

Wejście darmowe, jest też przewodnik mówiący dobrze po angielsku. Ważne miejsce, ale zdecydowanie nie dla wrażliwych osób - jedna sala ma na wystawie kości ofiar.

It is small, but one must visit. Speak to locals there who lived thru this regime, and try to learn 'both sides' as there are many different opinions. The museum is free (donation box at end if desired). Many of the exhibits are not in English, so good to go with a translator or a guide. (There are many guides there who lived through this period & will share stories on this beyond horrific time.) NOTE -There is a lot more to be learned about this period and about this museum then what you see and learn there physically. Read. Try to speak to local people, especially the younger generations and their opinion and what is going on with the current government today.

Very interesting museum about an unfortunate time in history. It would be nice to see a consistent upkeep of this place. I went to visit in December of 2022. The entrance had no glass/windows, no lights on the inside, & someone on the outside asking for money to be my guide. I turned the guy down and went inside on my own.

The Red Terror Martyrs’ Memorial Museum is a powerful reminder of the struggles endured by those under oppressive regimes. The exhibits document the impact of the Red Terror in Ethiopia and provide a sobering look at the unconscionable acts of violence and injustice inflicted upon citizens of Ethiopia. The museum is incredibly poignant and serves as a platform to deliver an important message: those who have suffered under a violent government have a voice and it must be heard. Additionally, it is free to enter, making it an accessible place to learn and remember. Apart from the physical museum, there is much to be learned from discussions with locals. It is important to gain insight from those who lived through the Red Terror and can provide multiple perspectives on the political situation at the time. It is equally as important to speak to the younger generations and understand their views of life today in comparison. The museum, plus conversations with those affected, offer a deeper understanding of the past and the present.

It’s a small, simple museum. It’s more of a memorial than a museum. It has problems with illumination and the content is grim. But there are some quality documentary artifacts and a some simple highlights. It take less than 20 minutes. The staff are kind and the entry is free. Narration, background or explanation would be helpful to better contextualise the space.

I only gave 5 stars because of the importance of this place. It’s not Gouvernement financed and is in a bad shape. Relying solely on donations this place is in dire need of it. I met a guide who explains one everything about those dark times in Ethiopia and the struggle and poverty of the Ethiopian 🇪🇹 poeple. Please support.

With the slogan at the gate "Never Again", this memorial museum shows the extreme cruelty of ones own citizens on their brothers, sisters, mother & fathers. After visiting the museum you will fight with your tears to the end. If people are set free and legally backed up to do their evil will, there is no limit to the tragedy they can execute. They will kill you in front of your mother/father simply because they can. This museum partially shows the most tragic days of Ethiopia and Ethiopians by Ethiopians during the blood-thirsty regime of Mengistu Hailemariam's Dergue.

Nice museum of historical importance to visit. Entrance is free but a donation box is near the exit. Plenty of English signs, so not necessary to have a guide to go there.