Afwerki Abraha

Afwerki Abraha (c. 1949 – May 13, 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 suffered paralysis in 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 at a London hospital on May 13, 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]