Ali Said Abdella

Ali Said Abdella (September 1949–August 28, 2005) was an Eritrean rebel commander, politician and diplomat, who at the time of his death was serving as foreign minister of Eritrea.

Abdella was the son of a shepherd. He was of Afar ethnic origin. As a young man, he joined the Eritrean Liberation Front, a rebel group which was fighting for Eritrean independence from Ethiopia. He received medical and military training in Syria in 1965 and soon returned to Eritrea where he was an active fighter. By the 1970s he had switched to Eritrea's other rebel group, the Eritrean People's Liberation Front^[1] and, in 1977, he became a member of the politburo of that organization.^[2]

When Eritrea successfully gained independence in the early 1990s, Abdella served the new government, becoming Minister of Internal Affairs.^[1] He later left that position and became Minister of Industry. In October 2000, Abdella left this position and became Foreign Minister, switching jobs with Haile Woldense.^[3] He was considered to be a hardliner in Eritrea's continuing struggles with Ethiopia over the border, and was known as a proponent of stronger relations for Eritrea with Middle Eastern nations.^{[citation needed]} He was a fluent Arabic speaker, and most of his overseas trips were to Middle Eastern countries.^[1] He also made an official visit to Russia in April 2005.^[4]

Abdella died suddenly of a heart attack in his sleep at his home in Eritrea's capital Asmara on August 28, 2005. The Eritrean government declared three days of public mourning for him.^[1][2]

Abdella was married and had four children.^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} Ed Harris, "Eritrean foreign minister and ex-rebel dies", Reuters, August 28, 2005.
2. ^ ^{a b} "Eritrea: FM died of heart attack, autopsy", Eritrea Daily, August 28, 2005.
3. ^ "Eritrea to hold elections", BBC.co.uk, October 3, 2000.
4. ^ "Prepackaged War", Kommersant, April 15, 2005.

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