Asfaha Wolde-Michael: The Eritrean politician who was most Ethiopian of them all,

Asfaha Wolde-Michael: The Eritrean politician who was most Ethiopian of them all, a sort of ‘Fikir Iske Megabir’- love from the cradle to the grave. He opposed to Eritrea’s independence in 1991. He served loyally both Fascist Italy and Imperial Ethiopia.

Asfaha was born on 13.03.1914 in Segeneiti, Akle Guzai and died 1993 in Ethiopia. The most authentic biography about him comes from Zewde Retta (Ye Eretra Gudai 1941-1961 in Amharic) who was not only a friend, but has interviewed him several times. He used to state that he had a deep love of Ethiopia since he was young. He is quoted to have said, “ We are Ethiopians, but Menelik sold us to the Italians.” He studied at the Catholic Seminary in Keren. He was described an intelligent person. He worked as a translator to Italians since he was 18 years old. When Italy occupied Ethiopia in 1936 he was assigned as a translator to the Fascist administrator there, Duca Daosta. Later he was sent to Italy to study administration. While in Italy he was responsible for Ethiopian prisoners and other officers who were sent to Italy. Before leaving Italy he was at the audience of Mussolini who awarded him a ‘Cavallieri’ medal in recognition of his services to Italy.

In 1937, when Enrico Cherulli was appointed as a deputy to Duca in Ethiopia, Asfaha was assigned as a member of the cabinet and a special advisor to Enrico. He used to treat Ethiopians well during his assignment in Ethiopia. When Italy was defeated in 1941, he did not return to Eritrea, but the Emperor made use of his services and he was assigned to posts in Gondar and Wollo. In 1945, he was assigned as Secretary General for Tigray. He was later assigned to the Foreign Ministry and his main task was to unite Eritrea with Ethiopia. He was one of leading members of the Society of Unification of Eritrea and Ethiopia (SUEE) that was established in Addis. In 1953, he became vice-representative of the Emperor in Eritrea. He became the 2nd Chief Executive in Eritrea on August 8, 1955. If there is any Eritrean politician who worked hard to unite Eritrea with Ethiopia, it was him. On November 15, he declared to the Eritrean Parliament that the Federation was dead and void and from that date onwards, Eritrea was united with its mother, Ethiopia. He lived long enough to see that the Eritrean autonomy that he worked hard to dismantle was reversed and that Eritrea became independent, for which the Eritrean people paid a very high price.

The then Eritrea's Chief Executive, Asfaha Woldemichael, and the then President of the Eritrean Parliament, Hamid Farej, visiting the Eritrean lowlands, 1956 - 1957

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vu0q0XZk5tk