The late Professor Kinfe was receiving medical treatment at the Armed Forces General Hospital for two days and was prepared to go abroad for intensive medical treatment before his departure on Thursday.

Born on 20 Oct. 1950 in Adwa town of Tigray State to his father Abraham Sahle and mother Birrnesh Wasyihun, Professor Kinfe has attended his primary and secondary education at Atse Fasiledas School in Gondar town.

The departed received his first Degree from the Addis Ababa University in Education Administration. He obtained Masters Degrees from Universities in America and Netherlands in the field of Political Science and International Relations.

The late Professor Kinfe also obtained two PhDs in International Relations and Economic Development from California and Uppsala Universities.

Professor Kinfe worked for Agencies of the UN System such as the ILO, UNDP, and SIDA and lectured as visiting Professor in schores of Universities and Institutions in the US, UK, Japan, Sweden, Norway, Austria, China, India, South Africa, other African countries and the UN headquarters.

Described as one of the leading thinkers of Africa by the Africa World Journal [AWJ], he was President of the Ethiopian International Institute for Peace and Development (EIIPD) and also served as president of the HADAD International Lobby and Chief Political Advisor of IGAD.

The Professor has served as Chief Political Advisor to the IGAD and served in various positions in other international organizations.

He has published more than 18 books on national, continental and international issues and five communications, economic and other educational books.

He has also chaired and convened several international conferences. On themes of International and Regional Security and Conflict Management, Economic Integration and Transboundary Resources, the Hydropolitics of the Nile and food security, the Ethio-Arab and Middle Eastern Relations, NEPAD and the African Union.

Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, His Holiness Abune Paulos, said at the funeral service that the professor will be commemorated by generations for his intellectual contributions during his lifetime.

Professor Kinfe was a diligent person who shared the knowledge he acquired through education and experience with his compatriots and the youth, Abune Paulos said.

Relatives, friends, diplomats, ambassadors, ministers and famous personalities attended the funeral service.

Professor Kinfe is survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.

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