Berhanu Kebede
Encyclopedia
Berhanu Kebede is the current ambassador of Ethiopia
to the United Kingdom
. He was appointed in March 2006.
Berhanu Kebede was born in Addis Ababa
. He graduated in 1978 with a degree in economics from Addis Ababa University
and continued his studies at the Free University of Brussels
, earning M.A. degrees in Development Economics (1986) and in Management and Finance (1988).
in 1978, serving as Ethiopia/EEC Relations Desk Officer. In 1983 he transferred to the Diplomatic Mission in Brussels, with the title of economist. Berhanu participated in negotiations leading to the 1981 and 1985 extensions of the Lomé Convention
– an agreement concerning international aid and trade between the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries and the European Union
– as well as participating in the committees that managed this convention.
In 1992 Berhanu returned to Addis Ababa to lead the Western European Division at the Ministry at the rank of Counselor, before taking on the role of Acting Director General for International Organisation and Economic Cooperation in 1993. Later that year he was promoted to Director General, and it was in this role that he represented Ethiopia at all of the Organisation of African Unity Council and Summit conferences held between 1992 and 2000, as well as the Economic Commission for Africa Ministerial Conferences held in this period, chaired the Economic and Social Council meeting of the African Economic Community
in June 1998, and served as deputy leader of the Ethiopian delegation to the United Nations
from 1993 to 2000.
On 7 December 2000, he was appointed the Ethiopian ambassador to Russia
. In February 2002, he was appointed Ambassador of Ethiopia to Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland, the position he held when he was appointed as Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Berhanu speaks Amharic
, English and French. He is married with three children.
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...
to the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. He was appointed in March 2006.
Berhanu Kebede was born in Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
. He graduated in 1978 with a degree in economics from Addis Ababa University
Addis Ababa University
Addis Ababa University is a university in Ethiopia. It was originally named "University College of Addis Ababa" at its founding, then renamed for the former Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie I in 1962, receiving its current name in 1975.Although the university has six of its seven campuses within...
and continued his studies at the Free University of Brussels
Free University of Brussels
The Free University of Brussels was a university in Brussels, Belgium. In 1969, it split into the Université Libre de Bruxelles and the Dutch-speaking Vrije Universiteit Brussel....
, earning M.A. degrees in Development Economics (1986) and in Management and Finance (1988).
Career
He joined the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign AffairsMinistry of Foreign Affairs (Ethiopia)
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is the Ethiopian government ministry which oversees the foreign relations of Ethiopia....
in 1978, serving as Ethiopia/EEC Relations Desk Officer. In 1983 he transferred to the Diplomatic Mission in Brussels, with the title of economist. Berhanu participated in negotiations leading to the 1981 and 1985 extensions of the Lomé Convention
Lomé Convention
The Lomé Convention is a trade and aid agreement between the European Community and 71 African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries, first signed in February 1975 in Lomé, Togo.- History :...
– an agreement concerning international aid and trade between the African, Caribbean and Pacific countries and the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
– as well as participating in the committees that managed this convention.
In 1992 Berhanu returned to Addis Ababa to lead the Western European Division at the Ministry at the rank of Counselor, before taking on the role of Acting Director General for International Organisation and Economic Cooperation in 1993. Later that year he was promoted to Director General, and it was in this role that he represented Ethiopia at all of the Organisation of African Unity Council and Summit conferences held between 1992 and 2000, as well as the Economic Commission for Africa Ministerial Conferences held in this period, chaired the Economic and Social Council meeting of the African Economic Community
African Economic Community
The African Economic Community is an organization of African Union states establishing grounds for mutual economic development among the majority of African states...
in June 1998, and served as deputy leader of the Ethiopian delegation to 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...
from 1993 to 2000.
On 7 December 2000, he was appointed the Ethiopian ambassador to Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. In February 2002, he was appointed Ambassador of Ethiopia to Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland, the position he held when he was appointed as Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Berhanu speaks Amharic
Amharic language
Amharic is a Semitic language spoken in Ethiopia. It is the second most-spoken Semitic language in the world, after Arabic, and the official working language of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Thus, it has official status and is used nationwide. Amharic is also the official or working...
, English and French. He is married with three children.