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]

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