Tesfaye Gebreab, a well-known author and controversial writer in the field of literature in Ethiopia for the past 30 years, passed away. Tesfaye has been receiving medical treatment in Nairobi, Kenya for the past few months and passed away on Friday, December 25, 2021 at the age of 54.

Born in Bishoftu to Eritrean parents, Tesfaye first joined the Derg army and later joined the EPRDF armed struggle.

Tesfaye, a member of the TPLF for ten years, left Ethiopia and lived in exile in Kenya, Holland and Eritrea during the Ethio-Eritrean war. Tesfaye, who was in charge of the Ethiopian Press Agency during his first years in power, was the editor-in-chief of Efoita, a magazine published by the ruling party.

Tesfaye has published eight Amharic books, most notably Burka Zimeta and the Journalist’s Notes. Tesfaye has been widely criticized for his “Burqa Zimeta” conspiracy to create divisions among Ethiopians.