Editing Seyoum Mesfin

{{Short description|Ethiopian politician and diplomat (1949–2021)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{patronymic name|Seyoum|Mesfin Gebredingel|his}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Seyoum Mesfin
| native_name         = ሰዩም መስፍን
| native_name_lang    = ti
| image_size          = 240px
| office1             = [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ethiopia)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]]
| term_start1         = 1991
| term_end1           = 2010
| predecessor1        = Tesfaye Tadesse
| successor1          = [[Hailemariam Desalegn]]
| office2             = [[Ethiopian Ambassador to China|Ambassador of Ethiopia to the People's Republic of China]]
| party               = [[Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front|EPRDF]]
| termend2            = 19 August 2017
| termstart1          = 
| termstart2          = 15 February 2011
| birth_date          = 25 January 1949
| birth_place         = [[Adigrat]], [[Tigray Province]], [[Ethiopian Empire]]
| death_date          = {{death date and age|2021|1|13|1949|1|25|df=y}}
| death_place         = [[Asgede Tsimbla]], [[Tigray Region]], [[Ethiopia]]<ref>{{cite web |title=ENDF says it killed Seyoum Mesfin & Abay Tsehaye, Captured 5 Others |url=https://ethiopianmonitor.com/2021/01/13/fed-military-says-it-killed-seyoum-mesfin-abay-tsehaye-captured-5-others/}}</ref>
| death_cause         = [[Gunshot wounds]] by [[Ethiopian National Defense Force|ENDF]]
| otherparty          = [[Tigray People's Liberation Front|TPLF]]
| alma_mater          = {{Plainlist|
* [[Bahir Dar University|Bahir Dar Polytechnic Institute]]
* [[Addis Ababa University]]}}
| image               = Seyoum Mesfin.jpg
}}
'''Seyoum Mesfin Gebredingel''' ({{Respell|SAY|yoom|_|MEHS|fihn}}; {{Langx|ti|ሰዩም መስፍን}}, {{IPA|ti|säyumə mesefənə|pron|En-us-Seyoum Mesfin from Ethiopia pronunciation (Voice of America).ogg}};<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://names.voa.gov/phrasedetail.php?name=MESFIN,+SEYOUM|title=How do you say SEYOUM MESFIN?|website=VOA Pronunciation Guide|access-date=23 February 2018|archive-date=24 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224173349/http://names.voa.gov/phrasedetail.php?name=MESFIN,+SEYOUM|url-status=live}}</ref> 25 January 1949 – 13 January 2021) was an Ethiopian politician and diplomat. He was Ethiopia's [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ethiopia)|Minister of Foreign Affairs]] from 1991 to 2010 and served as [[List of ambassadors of Ethiopia to China|Ethiopia's Ambassador to China]] from 2011 to 2017.

== Early life and education ==
Seyoum was born on 25 January 1949 in [[Tigray Province|Tigray]], Ethiopia, as ''Ambaye Mesfin''. He later changed from ''Ambaye'' to ''Seyoum'' as a [[Pseudonym#Military and paramilitary organizations|''nom de guerre'']].<ref name="ETObserver_Seyoum_profile" /> He attended Agazi Secondary School in [[Adigrat]] and Bahir Dar Polytechnic Institute from which he received a diploma in industrial chemistry in 1971. He studied international law at the [[University of Amsterdam]]. In May 2010, he was awarded a doctorate of letters from [[Great Lakes University of Kisumu]] in Kenya.<ref>{{cite web|title=MFA Press Statement Presentation of Credentials Ceremony 18 April 2012|url=https://www.mfa.gov.sg/Newsroom/Press-Statements-Transcripts-and-Photos/2012/04/MFA-Press-Statement-Presentation-of-Credentials-Ceremony-18-April-2012|access-date=14 January 2021|website=Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore|language=en|archive-date=15 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115114810/https://www.mfa.gov.sg/Newsroom/Press-Statements-Transcripts-and-Photos/2012/04/MFA-Press-Statement-Presentation-of-Credentials-Ceremony-18-April-2012|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Career ==

=== Political career ===
He was one of the founders of the [[Tigray People's Liberation Front|Tigray Peoples' Liberation Front]] (TPLF).<ref>Berhe 2008, p. 40</ref> Seyoum served as chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the [[Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front]] (EPRDF) in the 1980s.<ref name="foreign">{{cite web|url=http://www.ethioembassy.org.uk/Facts%20About%20Ethiopia/Biography%20Ato%20Seyoum%20Mesfin.htm|title=Seyoum Mesfin Foreign Minister|website=Ethiopian Embassy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160418081018/http://www.ethioembassy.org.uk/Facts%20About%20Ethiopia/Biography%20Ato%20Seyoum%20Mesfin.htm|archive-date=18 April 2016|url-status=dead|access-date=2 November 2016}}</ref> He was a member of the [[Marxist–Leninist League of Tigray]] (MLLT) and composed songs to honor the organization.<ref>Berhe 2008, p. 219</ref> On 23 March 2013, Seyoum resigned from the TPLF Central Committee at its 11th meeting.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article45928|title=Senior members resign from Ethiopia's ruling party|last=Tekle|first=Tesfa-Alem|date=22 March 2013|work=Sudan Tribune|access-date=23 February 2018|archive-date=24 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224113843/http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article45928|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Minister of Foreign Affairs ===
Seyoum was the Ethiopian [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Ethiopia)|minister of foreign affairs]] for nearly 20&nbsp;years, from 1991 until he was replaced after the [[2010 Ethiopian general election|2010 parliamentary election]]. He was also an executive member of the Central Committee of the EPRDF.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eprdf.org.et/EPRDF/EPRDF_doc/Articles/EPRDF_CC.htm |title=List of Central Members of EPRDF |work=Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front |access-date=29 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090408033141/http://www.eprdf.org.et/EPRDF/EPRDF_doc/Articles/EPRDF_CC.htm |archive-date=8 April 2009 }}</ref> He was influential in the [[Eritrean–Ethiopian War|Eritrean Ethiopian war]] and on 18 June 2000, Seyoum Mesfin, and his Eritrean counterpart, Haile Woldetensae, signed a peace agreement ending the war.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Makhubu|date=Jan 2000|title=Ethiopia and Eritrea. A step in the right direction|url=https://journals.co.za/content/accordc/2000/2/EJC15625|journal=Conflict Trends|volume=2000|issue=2|pages=14–15|access-date=24 February 2018|archive-date=24 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224114326/https://journals.co.za/content/accordc/2000/2/EJC15625|url-status=live}}</ref> On 28 December 2004, Mesfin made a speech to the [[UN General Assembly]] in New York on the policy in the region, in particular the relationship of Ethiopia to Eritrea and Somalia.<ref>{{cite web|title=STATEMENT BY H.E. MR. SEYOUM MESFIN MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS OF THE FEDERAL DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF ETHIOPIA AT THE 59TH SESSION OF THE UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY|url=http://www.ethioembassy.org.uk/news/press%20releases/HE%20Seyoum%20Mesfin%20Speech%20to%20UN%20September%202004.htm|website=Ethiopian Embassy|access-date=2 November 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420060418/http://www.ethioembassy.org.uk/news/press%20releases/HE%20Seyoum%20Mesfin%20Speech%20to%20UN%20September%202004.htm|archive-date=20 April 2016}}</ref> In 2007, Seyoum indicated that Eritrea had breached the agreements that ended its war and Ethiopia might end all or part of those agreements.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jopson|first1=Barney|title=Risk grows of Horn of Africa conflict|url=http://ra3ex4yy2j.search.serialssolutions.com/?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info%3Aofi%2Fenc%3AUTF-8&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fsummon.serialssolutions.com&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Risk+grows+of+Horn+of+Africa+conflict&rft.jtitle=FT.com&rft.au=Barney+Jopson+in+Nairobi&rft.date=2007-09-26&rft.spage=1&rft.externalDocID=1342853471&paramdict=en-US|access-date=2 November 2016|work=[[The Financial Times]]|date=26 September 2007|archive-date=1 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201023526/http://ra3ex4yy2j.search.serialssolutions.com/?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info%3Aofi%2Fenc%3AUTF-8&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fsummon.serialssolutions.com&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Risk+grows+of+Horn+of+Africa+conflict&rft.jtitle=FT.com&rft.au=Barney+Jopson+in+Nairobi&rft.date=2007-09-26&rft.spage=1&rft.externalDocID=1342853471&paramdict=en-US|url-status=live}}</ref> He was also a member of the [[House of Peoples' Representatives]], representing [[Adigrat]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ethiopar.net/type/English/hopre/hormemb.html |title=House of Peoples' Representatives of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia |work=Ethiopian Parliament |access-date=6 October 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100603032918/http://www.ethiopar.net/type/English/hopre/hormemb.html |archive-date=3 June 2010 }}</ref>

===Ambassador to China===
After leaving the government in 2010, Seyoum was appointed Ambassador to China.<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.africa-confidential.com/article-preview/id/3837/No-Title |title=A five-year exit plan |journal=Africa Confidential |volume=52 |number=3 |date=4 February 2011 |access-date=2 November 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161103234343/http://www.africa-confidential.com/article-preview/id/3837/No-Title |archive-date=3 November 2016 }}</ref> He visited [[Singapore]] in December 2012 to potentially set up an Ethio-Singapore Special Economy Zone and expand cooperation in aviation.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ethiopia: Ambassador Seyoum Visits Singapore|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201212100788.html|access-date=2 November 2016|work=[[AllAfrica]]|date=10 December 2012}}</ref>

In 2015, Seyoum was the chief mediator of [[South Sudan]]'s IGAD-mediated peace talks. He urged both sides to end hostilities and form a transitional government.<ref>{{cite news|title=Seyoum Mesfin Hopes South Sudanese Peace Talks Reaches Turning Point|url=http://ra3ex4yy2j.search.serialssolutions.com/?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info%3Aofi%2Fenc%3AUTF-8&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fsummon.serialssolutions.com&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Seyoum+Mesfin+Hopes+South+Sudanese+Peace+Talks+Reaches+Turning+Point&rft.jtitle=AllAfrica.com&rft.date=2015-02-28&rft.pub=SyndiGate+Media+Inc&rft.externalDocID=3610944811&paramdict=en-US|access-date=2 November 2016|work=The Reporter|date=28 February 2015|archive-date=1 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220201023528/http://ra3ex4yy2j.search.serialssolutions.com/?ctx_ver=Z39.88-2004&ctx_enc=info%3Aofi%2Fenc%3AUTF-8&rfr_id=info%3Asid%2Fsummon.serialssolutions.com&rft_val_fmt=info%3Aofi%2Ffmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Ajournal&rft.genre=article&rft.atitle=Seyoum+Mesfin+Hopes+South+Sudanese+Peace+Talks+Reaches+Turning+Point&rft.jtitle=AllAfrica.com&rft.date=2015-02-28&rft.pub=SyndiGate+Media+Inc&rft.externalDocID=3610944811&paramdict=en-US|url-status=live}}</ref> He launched the think tank Centre for Research, Dialogue & Cooperation (CRDC), a part of the Ministry of Education, on 12 April 2016.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ethiopia: A Brand New Think-Tank, Re-Christianized From Its Original|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201604131240.html|access-date=2 November 2016|work=AllAfrica|date=12 April 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104003446/http://allafrica.com/stories/201604131240.html|archive-date=4 November 2016}}</ref>

Seyoum was also chief executive officer of the [[Endowment Fund for the Rehabilitation of Tigray]] from 2000 until early 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.addisfortune.com/First%20Lady%20Makes%20it%20to%20EFFORT's%20Helm.htm|title=First Lady Makes it to EFFORT's Helm|date=March 2009|work=Addis Fortune|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402191532/http://www.addisfortune.com/First%20Lady%20Makes%20it%20to%20EFFORT%27s%20Helm.htm|archive-date=2 April 2009|url-status=usurped|access-date=5 May 2010}}</ref> Seyoum served as the Chairman for ten years until 2011 and was a member of the management board of [[Ethiopian Airlines]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://nazret.com/blog/index.php/2011/01/02/ethiopia-addisu-legesse-replaces-seyoum-mesfin-as-ethiopian-board-chairman|title=Addisu Legesse replaces Seyoum Mesfin as Ethiopian board chairman|last=Bekele|first=Kaleyesus|date=11 January 2011|work=The Reporter|access-date=23 February 2018|archive-date=10 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160810020639/http://nazret.com/blog/index.php/2011/01/02/ethiopia-addisu-legesse-replaces-seyoum-mesfin-as-ethiopian-board-chairman|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=30438383&privcapId=12544236&previousCapId=12544236&previousTitle=Ethiopian%20Airlines%20Enterprise%20SC|title=Executive Profile: Seyoum Mesfin|website=Bloomberg|access-date=23 February 2018|archive-date=24 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180224174509/https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=30438383&privcapId=12544236&previousCapId=12544236&previousTitle=Ethiopian%20Airlines%20Enterprise%20SC|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Advisor to the Carter Center ===
From 2018–2020, Seyoum served as the African principal for the [[Carter Center]]'s initiative to further Africa-U.S.-China cooperation. He co-chaired two international track 1.5 dialogues featuring participants from the U.S, China, and various African countries in [[Johannesburg]] and [[Addis Ababa]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://uscnpm.org/2019/07/25/trilateral-cooperation-timeline/|title=China Program's Africa-US-China Trilateral Cooperation Timeline - U.S.-China Perception Monitor|access-date=13 August 2021|archive-date=13 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813190200/https://uscnpm.org/2019/07/25/trilateral-cooperation-timeline/|url-status=live}}</ref> Seyoum co-chaired these dialogues with the Chinese principal for the initiative, Ambassador [[Zhang Jianhua|Zhong Jianhua]]. Seyoum had a close working relationship with Ambassador Zhong Jianhua, who was the former PRC Ambassador to Ethiopia and the Special Representative on African Affairs to the Chinese government.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://nl.china-embassy.org/eng/zgyw/t1117914.htm|title=Special Representative on African Affairs for the Chinese Government Zhong Jianhua Meets with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom|access-date=13 August 2021|archive-date=13 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813185733/http://nl.china-embassy.org/eng/zgyw/t1117914.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Family and personal life ==
Seyoum was married and had four children - three sons and one daughter.<ref name="foreign" /> {{As of|2021|01|14}}, after Seyoum had been killed by the [[Ethiopian National Defense Force|ENDF]] as part of the Tigray war, Seyoum's wife and one of his sons were on bail after having been arrested, according to British African expert [[Alex de Waal]].<ref name="deWaal_Seyoum_obituary" />

== Death ==
According to the [[Government of Ethiopia|Ethiopian government]], Seyoum was killed when his bodyguards and Ethiopian soldiers engaged in a shootout after he refused to surrender in the then ongoing [[Tigray War]] on 13 January 2021.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|last1=Marks|first1=Simon|last2=Walsh|first2=Declan|date=2021-01-22|title=On 'Rooftop of Africa,' Ethiopia's Troops Hunt Fugitive Former Rulers|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/22/world/africa/ethiopia-tigray-conflict-abiy.html|access-date=2022-01-26|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=30 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730105817/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/22/world/africa/ethiopia-tigray-conflict-abiy.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Two other TPLF officials were killed with him and five further TPLF officials were captured.<ref name="ThomReut_FMinister_killed">{{cite news |title=Ethiopia says ex-foreign minister killed by military after refusing to surrender |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-conflict/ethiopia-says-ex-foreign-minister-killed-by-military-after-refusing-to-surrender-idUSKBN29I2GB |agency=[[Thomson Reuters]] |date=14 January 2021 |language=en |access-date=14 January 2021 |archive-date=14 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114110240/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-conflict/ethiopia-says-ex-foreign-minister-killed-by-military-after-refusing-to-surrender-idUSKBN29I2GB |url-status=live }}</ref> The TPLF claimed the veterans, including Seyoum, were summarily executed.<ref name=":0"/>
An obituary for Seyoum Mesfin, describing him as a "peacemaker and patriot", was published by Alex de Waal. De Waal called for an "immediate high-level international investigation" into the killings of Seyoum and the two TPLF officials.<ref name="deWaal_Seyoum_obituary" />

==References==
{{Reflist|refs=

<ref name="deWaal_Seyoum_obituary">{{cite web | last1 =de Waal | first1 =Alex | authorlink =Alex de Waal | title= In Memoriam: Seyoum Mesfin, Ethiopian Peacemaker and Patriot | website= [[Tufts University]] |date =2021-01-14 | url = https://sites.tufts.edu/reinventingpeace/2021/01/14/in-memoriam-seyoum-mesfin-ethiopian-peacemaker-and-patriot | access-date = 2021-01-18 |archive-url= https://archive.today/20210118151430/https://sites.tufts.edu/reinventingpeace/2021/01/14/in-memoriam-seyoum-mesfin-ethiopian-peacemaker-and-patriot/ |archive-date= 2021-01-18 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<ref name="ETObserver_Seyoum_profile">{{cite news | title= Seyoum Mesfin (1949–2021) | date= 2021-01-16 | newspaper= [[Ethiopia Observer]] | url= https://www.ethiopiaobserver.com/2021/01/16/seyoum-mesfin-1949-2021 | access-date= 2021-01-27 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210116210228/https://www.ethiopiaobserver.com/2021/01/16/seyoum-mesfin-1949-2021/ | archive-date= 16 January 2021 | url-status= live }}</ref>

}}

===Other references===
* Seyoum Mesfin (1949-2021) Obituary [https://www.ethiopiaobserver.com/2021/01/16/seyoum-mesfin-1949-2021/ Ethiopia Observer]
*{{cite book|last=Aregawi |first=Berhe|title=A Political history of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (1975–1991) |location=Los Angeles |publisher=Tsehai |year=2008|url=http://www.harep.org/Africa/7219.pdf}}
*{{cite web | last1 = de Waal | first1 =Alex |author1-link =Alex de Waal | last2= Gebrehiwot Berhe | first2= Mulugeta |author2-link = Mulugeta Gebrehiwot |title= Transcript – Call between Mulugeta Gebrehiwot and Alex de Waal 27 January 2021 | website= [[World Peace Foundation]] |date = 2021-01-27 | url = https://sites.tufts.edu/reinventingpeace/files/2021/01/Mulugeta-Call-27-Jan-Full-transcript1-1.pdf | access-date = 2021-01-30 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210129211458/https://sites.tufts.edu/reinventingpeace/files/2021/01/Mulugeta-Call-27-Jan-Full-transcript1-1.pdf |archive-date= 2021-01-29 |url-status=live }}
*{{cite web | title= Situation Report EEPA HORN No. 58 – 17 January 2021 | website= [[Europe External Programme with Africa|EEPA]] |date =2021-01-17 | url = https://www.eepa.be//wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Situation-Report-EEPA-Horn-No.-58-17-January-2021.docx.pdf | access-date = 2021-01-18 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210118142926/https://www.eepa.be//wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Situation-Report-EEPA-Horn-No.-58-17-January-2021.docx.pdf |archive-date= 2021-01-18 |url-status=live  }}
*{{cite web | title= Situation Report EEPA HORN No. 59 – 18 January 2021 | website= [[Europe External Programme with Africa|EEPA]] |date =2021-01-18 | url = https://www.eepa.be//wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Situation-Report-EEPA-Horn-No.-59-18-January-2021.pdf | access-date = 2021-01-18 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210118142905/https://www.eepa.be//wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Situation-Report-EEPA-Horn-No.-59-18-January-2021.pdf |archive-date= 2021-01-18 |url-status=live }}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Seyoum Mesfin}}
[[Category:1949 births]]
[[Category:2021 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Tigray Region]]
[[Category:Addis Ababa University alumni]]
[[Category:Foreign ministers of Ethiopia]]
[[Category:Members of the House of Peoples' Representatives]]
[[Category:Government ministers of Ethiopia]]
[[Category:Ambassadors of Ethiopia to China]]
[[Category:Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front politicians]]
[[Category:Tigray People's Liberation Front politicians]]
[[Category:People killed in the Ethiopian civil conflict (2018–present)]]
[[Category:20th-century Ethiopian politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Ethiopian politicians]]