Afewerki, Isaias

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Isaias Afewerki, 1945–, Eritrean political leader, president of Eritrea (1993–), b. Asmara. He studied engineering at the Univ. of Addis Ababa, leaving in 1966 to join the Eritrean Liberation Front (ELF), a group fighting Eritrea's unification (1962) with Ethiopia. In 1970 he co-founded the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF), which battled both Ethiopian forces and the ELF; he became EPLF secretary-general in 1987. By 1991 the EPLF had effectively gained control of the province, and Afewerki became secretary-general of a provisional government. In 1993, following a referendum on Eritrean independence, Afewerki was named both president and chairman of the national assembly, positions he has held since; he is also commander in chief of the army. His party, renamed the People's Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ), is Eritrea's only recognized party, and promised elections have not been held.