Afwerki Abraha (c. 1949 – 13 May 2020) was an Eritrean diplomat, chemist, and pro-independence rebel fighter during the Eritrean War of Independence. During the 1990s, Abraha became the first Eritrean diplomat to be posted to Ethiopia following Eritrea's independence.[1][2]
Abraha studied political science and chemistry in the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, where he became a chemist.[2] He then moved to the former East Germany.[2] In 1975, Abraha left Germany to join the Eritrean separatist rebels in the ongoing Eritrean War of Independence.[2]
Eritrea achieved independence in 1993. Following the war, Afwerki Abraha became a diplomat. During the 1990s, Abraha became the first Eritrean diplomat to be posted to Ethiopia.[2]
In 1996, Abraha was stationed in London, where he served in the Embassy of Eritrea from 1996 until 2001.[1][2] Abraha's wife, Fatina Ahmedin, an Eritrean artist and former rebel fighter, was struck by a car in London, and became paralyzed from the accident.[2] As a result, couple decided to permanently remain in the United Kingdom so Ahmedin could receive medical treatment.[1] Abraha remained her caretaker for more than 20 years.[1][2]
Afwerki Abraha died from COVID-19 during the COVID-19 pandemic in England at a London hospital on 13 May 2020, at the age of 71.[2] Abraha, who had no pre-existing health conditions, had been hospitalized in the intensive care unit for coronavirus treatment for the previous month.[1][2]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Rahman Alfa Shaban, Abdur (2020-05-14). "Prominent coronavirus deaths: retired Eritrean diplomat dies in UK". Africa News. Archived from the original on 2020-06-05. Retrieved 2020-06-08.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Bekit, Teklemariam (2020-05-13). "Covid-19: Respected Eritrean freedom fighter dies". BBC World Service. Archived from the original on 2020-06-08. Retrieved 2020-06-08.