First Italo-Ethiopian War
In February 1887 was transferred to the General Staff of the Army, and assigned to the African Special Corps of General Alessandro Asinari di San Marzano in Eritrea. In December 1891 he was promoted major of Infantry, and reassigned to the General Staff. In 1895 he returned in Africa, serving as a staff officer in the First Italo-Ethiopian War. While in the Eritrean colony he was promoted twice to the rank of Infantry Colonel.