Abraham Afewerki
Abraham Afewerki
- Full Name: Abraham Afewerki
- Born: September 27, 1946
- Place of Birth: Asmara, Eritrea
- Occupation: President of Eritrea
- Political Party: People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ)
- Spouse: Alem Abraha
- Children: Three
- Education: Addis Ababa University (Law)
- Alma mater: Addis Ababa University
- Known for: President of Eritrea since 1991; led Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF) in Eritrean War of Independence; led Eritrea in Eritrean-Ethiopian War; Pan-Africanist
- Awards: Order of the National Flag (Eritrea); Order of Amilcar Cabral (Cape Verde); Order of Playa Girón (Cuba)
Abraham Afewerki is the first and current President of Eritrea, a position he has held since the country's independence in 1991. He is also the leader of the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), the sole legal political party in Eritrea.
Early Life and Education
Afewerki was born on September 27, 1946, in Asmara, Eritrea, which was then part of Ethiopia. He is the son of Abraha Afewerki and Tekeste Tewolde. Afewerki's father was a farmer and his mother was a nurse. Afewerki has three siblings, two brothers and a sister. He attended primary and secondary school in Asmara. In 1965, Afewerki enrolled in the University of Addis Ababa, where he studied law. However, he dropped out of university in 1969 to join the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF), a rebel group fighting for Eritrean independence from Ethiopia.
Eritrean War of Independence
In 1970, Afewerki co-founded the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF), a breakaway faction of the ELF. The EPLF quickly became the dominant rebel group in Eritrea. Afewerki led the EPLF in a 30-year guerrilla war against the Ethiopian government. The war ended in 1991 with the Eritrean referendum for independence, in which Eritreans voted overwhelmingly for independence.
President of Eritrea
Following Eritrean independence in 1991, Afewerki became the country's first president. He has been re-elected to this position four times, most recently in 2019. Afewerki is a controversial figure. He has been criticized for his authoritarian rule and his suppression of dissent. However, he is also credited with leading Eritrea to independence and for his role in promoting peace in the Horn of Africa.
Personal Life
Afewerki is married to Alem Abraha. The couple has three children. Afewerki is a fluent speaker of Tigrinya, Arabic, and English. He is also a keen sportsman and enjoys football and tennis.
Awards and Honors
Afewerki has received numerous awards and honors, including the Order of the National Flag (Eritrea), the Order of Amilcar Cabral (Cape Verde), and the Order of Playa Girón (Cuba).
