When we lived in Ethiopia there were two coup d’etat (cutting off the state).
The first was foiled by Prince Sahel Selassie who managed to telephone his father Emperor Haile Selassie who was on a state visit to another African country. The emperor returned immediately, and the coup collapsed. The two main coup leaders were hanged on the road out to Mulu and we could see them as we drove past. There were several roadblocks where soldiers stopped our car to see who we were and to make sure we had no suspects on board.
The second coup was more final, two military leaders seized power and captured the Emperor and killed him by suffocation. They then seized power and the “Dergue” revolution was complete. Several other members of the family were also seized and murdered. My mother and I went to various mournings/wakes to give our condolences.
The Emperors daughter and granddaughter were also imprisoned but they had access to the outside and if we didn’t go too close, we could communicate with them but only by shouting. We could take them food as the prison food was practically inedible. For several years until they were released their friends would collect food and someone would use our retainers and take the food to them.