In the words of the former US diplomat Paul B. Henze, "As his doom became imminent, Mengistu alternated between vowing resistance to the end and hinting that he might follow Emperor Tewodros's example and commit suicide."
Buvusio JAV diplomato Paul B. Henze žodžiais, „jo likimui tapus neišvengiamam, Mengistu mėtėsi tarp priešinimosi iki galo ir užuominų, jog jis gali pasekti imperatoriaus Teodoro II pavyzdžiu ir nusižudyti“.