Kinfe Gebremedhin
Encyclopedia
Kinfe Gebremedhin was an Ethiopia
n national who fought as a commander of the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front
(TPLF) against the military junta known as the Derg
. Upon the overthrow of the Derg, Kinfe served as Chief of Security and Immigration in the new government and became a right hand man of Meles Zenawi
. He was murdered in 2001 by a fellow officer, which resulted in one of the most high profile criminal cases in Ethiopian history.
took power. Kinfe was appointed Chief of Security and Immigration, and became the right-hand man of Meles Zenawi.
. He was killed when Major Tsehaye Woldeselassie shot him in the head at point blank range. Tsehaye was quickly arrested. Major Tsehaye's motive was unknown, but it was speculated that it was due to a dispute between former members of the TPLF, with some dissatisfied over the outcome of the recent war with Eritrea
. Kinfe's funeral was held in the Addis Ababa, with thousands of people in attendance. Tsehaye was tried, found guilty, and sentenced to death; he was executed on August 6, 2007. The authorities refused to disclose the method used, but Ethiopian law states that all executions must be carried out by firing squad.
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 national who fought as a commander of the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front
Tigrayan People's Liberation Front
The Tigrayan People's Liberation Front , known more commonly and sometimes pejoratively in Ethiopia as Woyane or Weyane is a political party in Ethiopia...
(TPLF) against the military junta known as 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...
. Upon the overthrow of the Derg, Kinfe served as Chief of Security and Immigration in the new government and became a right hand man of Meles Zenawi
Meles Zenawi
Meles Zenawi Asres is the Prime Minister of Ethiopia. Since 1985, he has been chairman of the Tigrayan Peoples' Liberation Front , and is currently head of the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front .Meles was born in Adwa, Tigray in Northern Ethiopia, to an Ethiopian father from...
. He was murdered in 2001 by a fellow officer, which resulted in one of the most high profile criminal cases in Ethiopian history.
Military career
In the 1980s, he served as a commander in the TPLF against the military government.Political career
Following the TPLF victory, a new government under Meles ZenawiMeles Zenawi
Meles Zenawi Asres is the Prime Minister of Ethiopia. Since 1985, he has been chairman of the Tigrayan Peoples' Liberation Front , and is currently head of the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front .Meles was born in Adwa, Tigray in Northern Ethiopia, to an Ethiopian father from...
took power. Kinfe was appointed Chief of Security and Immigration, and became the right-hand man of Meles Zenawi.
Murder
In May 2001, Kinfe walked into an Officer's club in the Ethiopian capital Addis AbabaAddis Ababa
Addis Ababa is the capital city of Ethiopia...
. He was killed when Major Tsehaye Woldeselassie shot him in the head at point blank range. Tsehaye was quickly arrested. Major Tsehaye's motive was unknown, but it was speculated that it was due to a dispute between former members of the TPLF, with some dissatisfied over the outcome of the recent war with Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
. Kinfe's funeral was held in the Addis Ababa, with thousands of people in attendance. Tsehaye was tried, found guilty, and sentenced to death; he was executed on August 6, 2007. The authorities refused to disclose the method used, but Ethiopian law states that all executions must be carried out by firing squad.