Much of Lul Seged's activity was in the south of the country, particularly in Sidamo, where Menelik's regime had begun showing expansionist interest in the late 1880s. In 1891 Lul Seged, then holding the rank of "Dejazmach", set up a permanent garrison at Shisha. In 1894-5, he mounted a successful conquest of the entire province: Menelik afterwards raised him to the rank of "Ras". He is also thought to have been responsible for the Ethiopian annexation of Konso in 1896. After 1896, however, Lul Seged was removed from power in Sidamo in favour of "Dejazmach" Balcha Safo, allegedly because he had failed to appear in the Adwa campaign, although other sources claim that Lul Seged was rewarded by Menelik for bravery at Adwa.