He passed away on Tuesday in Zimbabwe while on duty with an electoral observation mission of the African Union.

Following the funeral procession accompanying the bereaved family were members of the academia, diplomats, relatives, friends and admirers who paid homage to the outstanding lifetime commitments and achievements of the departed.

According to the obituary read out at the burial, the late Dr. Berhanu was born in 1925 E.C. in Addis Ababa to his father Ato Abebe Gedil and his mother Woizero Yeshimebet Woldearegay.

The late Dr. Berhanu followed his academic learning both in his country and abroad, which he furthered to the highest Phd. status after he graduated in 1949 E.C with Bachelor Degree from the Paris University. A polyglot, a researcher of remarkable standing and man of letters, Dr. Berhanu also received various trainings at universities in several countries.

During his long years of career, the late Berhanu held a number of high profile posts at various times with many national and international organizations and as a teacher and researcher with the Addis Ababa University.

The late Dr. Berhanu also produced many research papers and literary works, which he authored in Amharic, English and French, including a bi-lingual French-Amharic and Amharic-French dictionaries. He was fluent in Amharic, Ge'ez, Tigrigna, Oromiffa, French, English, Italian and Arabic languages.

He was honored with various awards, medals and honorary distinctions by various prestigious institutions locally and abroad.

R:6:00-6:16pm

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