11 Facts About Isaias Afwerki

Isaias Afwerki was born in the Aba Shi'Aul district of Asmara, Eritrea.

In September 1966, Isaias Afwerki left university and traveled to Kassala, Sudan, via Asmara to join the Eritrean Liberation Front.

Isaias Afwerki was among the first group that went to China in 1967 to receive military training.

Isaias Afwerki played a key role in the grassroots movement which brought about the demise of the zonal divisions of the liberation army.

In 1977, EPLF held its first congress, at which Isaias Afwerki was elected vice-secretary general.

Isaias Afwerki was elected as the president of the State of Eritrea by the National Assembly and declared the first head of state, a position he has held ever since the end of the war for independence.

In February 1994, the EPLF held its third congress, renamed itself the People's Front for Democracy and Justice as part of its transition to a political party and Isaias Afwerki was elected secretary-general by an overwhelming majority of votes.

In 2018, Isaias Afwerki oversaw an unexpected transformation of Eritrea's relations with Ethiopia.

Under international pressure, on 26 March 2021, after a meeting between Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Isaias Afwerki, it was announced that Eritrean troops would withdraw from the Tigray Region.

Shortly before Eritrea declared independence, Isaias Afwerki contracted cerebral malaria and was flown to Israel for treatment.

In June 2015, a United Nations panel accused Isaias Afwerki of leading a totalitarian government responsible for systematic human rights violations in Eritrea that may amount to crimes against humanity.