Belay Zeleke | |
|---|---|
በላይ ዘለቀ | |
 | |
| Governor of Bichena | |
| In office 1941–1942 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1912 Bichena, Gojjam Province, Ethiopian Empire |
| Died | 12 January 1945 (aged 32–33) Addis Ababa, Ethiopian Empire |
| Cause of death | Execution by hanging |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  Ethiopian Empire |
| Years of service | 1935–1941 |
| Unit | Arbegnoch |
| Battles/wars | Second Italo-Ethiopian War |
Belay Zeleke (Amharic: በላይ ዘለቀ, horse name Abba Koster; 1912 – 12 January 1945) was an Ethiopian military commander who led the Arbegnoch resistance movement in Gojjam against the Fascist Italians during the Italian occupation of Ethiopia from 1936 to 1941. He emerged as a brigand leader after his five-year struggle against Italian rule in Ethiopia.[1][2]