The Ethiopian Red Terror, or Qey Shibir (also Key Shibbir, etc., Amharic: ቀይ ሽብር ḳäy šəbbər; 1977–1978), was a violent political campaign in Ethiopia and Eritrea that most visibly took place after Communist Mengistu Haile Mariam achieved control of the Derg, the military junta, on 3 February 1977. In December 2006, Mengistu was convicted in absentia for his role in the Red Terror while leader of Ethiopia. It is estimated that between 30,000 and 500,000 people were killed over the course of the Red Terror.