Greater Russian involvement in Abyssinia

Could it have happened in OTL, to the extent that the country becomes a Russian protectorate? Would this have led to greater Russian involvement in Africa, at least on the eastern side of the continent?
 
Let me take snide remarks from 25% to 20% of the thread's total.

Had the Russians succeeded in getting that (or another) Red Sea port, as in Fight and Be Right, I expect they'd have ended up as protectors of Ethiopia pretty naturally. If the British had not already gone into Egypt, this Ethiopia could've even ended up with the Christian parts of OTL South Sudan. And, banking on avoidance of a further Russo-British war, the protectorate would likely last.

Nifty stuff, that.

Edit: Oops, I guess it's more like 25% to 40%. Ah well. :)
 
Top