Ketema Yifru
Encyclopedia
Ketema Yifru was a prominent Ethiopia
n diplomat and politician.
Born on the slopes of Mount Gara Muleta, Ketema rose to the highest levels of Emperor Haile Selassie's government, including Foreign Minister
between 1961 and 1970. He played an important role in the forming of the Organization of African Unity, the predecessor of the present-day African Union
.
Ketema also served in several ministries in the Aklilu Habte-Wold
government. He was imprisoned without charge by the Derg
regime for eight years. Following his release, Ketema Yifru accepted a senior position with the United Nations
agency, the World Food Program. He died on January 14, 1994, in Addis Ababa
, from pancreatic cancer
. He was survived by his widow, Woizero Rahel Senegiorgis, and their four sons.
List of honorary British Knights
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
n diplomat and politician.
Born on the slopes of Mount Gara Muleta, Ketema rose to the highest levels of Emperor Haile Selassie's government, including Foreign Minister
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ethiopia)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the Ethiopian government ministry which oversees the foreign relations of Ethiopia....
between 1961 and 1970. He played an important role in the forming of the Organization of African Unity, the predecessor of the present-day African Union
African Union
The African Union is a union consisting of 54 African states. The only all-African state not in the AU is Morocco. Established on 9 July 2002, the AU was formed as a successor to the Organisation of African Unity...
.
Ketema also served in several ministries in the Aklilu Habte-Wold
Aklilu Habte-Wold
Tsehafi Taezaz Aklilu Habte-Wold was an Ethiopian politician under Emperor Haile Selassie. He was foreign minister of Ethiopia from 1947 to 1958 and Prime Minister from 1961 until shortly before his death....
government. He was imprisoned without charge by the Derg
Derg
The Derg or Dergue was a Communist military junta that came to power in Ethiopia following the ousting of Haile Selassie I. Derg, which means "committee" or "council" in Ge'ez, is the short name of the Coordinating Committee of the Armed Forces, Police, and Territorial Army, a committee of...
regime for eight years. Following his release, Ketema Yifru accepted a senior position with the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
agency, the World Food Program. He died on January 14, 1994, in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
, from pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
. He was survived by his widow, Woizero Rahel Senegiorgis, and their four sons.
Source
- Aberra Jembere: "Kätäma Yefru", in: S. Uhlig (ed.): Encyclopaedia Aethiopica, vol. 3 (2007)
External links
List of honorary British Knights