Girma Asmerom

Girma Asmerom Tesfai (10 December 1949 – 5 October 2016) was an Eritrean politician, diplomat and football player. He was the ambassador of Eritrea to the United Nations[1] at the time of his death. He also previously served as ambassador to South Africa, the United States of America, the European Union (2006–2011) and African Union.[2][3] He died in New York City in the United States in 2016.[4]

Girma Asmerom Tesfai
Permanent Representative of Eritrea to the United Nations
In office
23 April 2014 – 5 October 2016
Preceded byAraya Desta
Succeeded bySophia Tesfamariam Yohannes
Eritrean Ambassador to the African Union
In office
? – 2014
Succeeded byAraya Desta
Personal details
Born10 December 1949
Eritrea
DiedOctober 6, 2016(2016-10-06) (aged 66)
New York, U.S.

While Eritrea being part of Ethiopia he played professional football there for Dagnew FC and ELPA in the 1960s and was member of the Ethiopian national football team between 1968 and 1969. He participated at the 1968 Africa Cup of Nations with the host Ethiopia, where he placed third.[5][6]

The very seasoned diplomat was also once a college soccer star as an undergraduate student at Bowdoin College, in Brunswick, Maine. He got his BA degree in June, 1973 where he majored in Government studies. He also was an Honor student-athlete and made the Dean's List. He was also very active on campus and was a Student Proctor between 1971-1972. Outside of the class room he was the winner of the George Levine Memorial Soccer Trophy award and was Bowdoin's leading goal scorer of all time until 2007 when it was broken by another player who played all 4 years. Ambassador Girma accomplished the record in 3 years.

  • After receiving a master's degree in the US, he went to the mountains of Nakfa, Eritrea in 1977 and joined the EPLF to fight for Independent Eritrea.
  • For the next 14 years, he contributed to the struggle for independence in various capacities – most notable of them all was establishing EPLF’s Amharic radio program.
  • On April 10, 2001 he was appointed Eritrean Ambassador to the United States, where he was accredited on June 20, 2001.

References
  1. "New Permanent Representative of Eritrea Presents Credentials". United Nations Press.
  2. "Girma Asmerom". Sudan Tribune. Retrieved May 24, 2015.
  3. "Girma Asmerom to Become Eritrea's Ambassador to the United Nations". Madote. February 2014. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
  4. "Ambassador Girma Asmerom Tesfay has passed away in New York". Asmariono Independent.
  5. "Former Ethiopian Soccer Star & Eritrea's Ambassador To The UN Passed Away In New York". Ethiosports. 7 October 2016.
  6. "Eritrea: Girma Asmerom has passed away, the man of Asmara diplomacy". Dehai News. 7 October 2016.


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