page_title: Merawi, Ethiopia
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Merawi, Ethiopia / History
caption_attribution_description: English: DessalegnChanie
context_page_description: Merawi is a city administration located 30 kilometers south of Bahir Dar, Amhara Region's capital in north-western Ethiopia, in what was previously Bahir Dar Awraja of Gojjam province. The town also hosts the seat of Mecha Woreda administration.
context_section_description: Merawi in its modern form is said to be founded in early 1940s by Dejazmach Abere Yimam, then governor of Gojjam and his younger brother Fitawrari Admasu Yimam. Fitawrari Admasu was the first administrator of Merawi. The Yimam brothers, together with other iconic patriots such as Belay Zeleke, defended Gojjam from Italians and were recognized as national heroes. The town is also known to be the birthplace of prominent politicians and national heroes such as Colonel Tadesse Muluneh, a former airforce pilot for Ethiopian National Defence Forces renowned for his bravery during the Ogaden War, later turned politician as the Co-founder and first chairman of Ethiopian Patriotic Front; Wassie Gela, one of the first Ethiopian soldiers (together with Kerie Degu) who broke the Eritrean mighty "Geza Gebresilassie" mine fortress during the Ethio-Eritrean War of 1998–2000; Dessalegn Chanie (PhD), first chairman of National Movement for Amhara (NaMA), Zemene Kassie of Amhara Youth Association; Fasil Yene'alem of ESAT; Tazebew Assefa of Amhara Democratic Force Movement; Captain Memar Getnet of Amhara Special Forces, Gashu Kindu (MD), First President & Co-Founder of Amhara Medical Association, Tesfahun Alemneh (studied in Merawi) of Amhara Democratic Force Movement, etc.
caption: Dessalegn Chanie (PhD), Chairman of National Movement of Amhara