Mahmoud Ahmed Sherifo

Mahmoud Ahmed Sherifo
2nd Minister of Foreign Affairs of Eritrea
In office
1993–1994
Preceded by Mohammed Said Bareh
Succeeded by Petros Solomon
2nd Minister of Local Government of Eritrea1
In office
2000–2001
Preceded by Ali Said Abdella
Personal details
Born 1948
Southern Region, Eritrea
Political party PFDJ
1Ministry was renamed from Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Mahmoud Ahmed Sherifo (born 1948), commonly known simply as Sherifo, served briefly as the Head of State of Eritrea while the President was away. He joined the Eritrean Liberation Front in 1967.

He also served as Minister of Foreign Affairs before his last posting as Minister of Local Government. During this time he was also appointed Chairman of the Committee to prepare the draft laws concerning the first round of National Elections and the Political Party laws. Once the drafts were completed the Chairman of the National Assembly (and President), Isaias Afewerki summoned a report on the drafts. Mahmoud Ahmed Sherifo was detained for his hazy role (schemes that occurred on May 19, 1993), and for orchestrating a coup d'état in 2001.[1]

He has been detained since 2001 following the G-15 affair. Dissidents suggest he has been detained for campaigning for democratic reforms,[2] while official sources contend that his detention is a consequence of "discreetly...solicit[ing] support in government circles for ousting the president, and to seek US and UN intervention to end the war on Ethiopia's surrender terms"[3] while being detained.[4] Certain sources indicate that Sherifo died while in custody.

Although Eritrea has no post of vice president,[5] nonetheless some sources have listed Sherifo as the vice president, and continue to do so (2006).[6]

Amnesty International has named him a prisoner of conscience and called for his immediate release.[7]

References

  1. Habteselassie, Bereket (2002). The Making of the Eritrean Constitution. Red Sea Press. ISBN 978-1-56902-161-3.
  2. "Election 2001". Retrieved 2006-09-02.
  3. "Eritrea: Party Puts its Case Against Dissidents". Retrieved 2006-09-02.
  4. "Mahmoud Sherifo et al. v. Eritrea, Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, U.N. Doc. E/CN.4/2003/8/Add.1 at 54 (2002)" University of Minnesota Human Rights Library
  5. Eritrea Constitution Chapter V The Executive
  6. "Country Profile: Eritrea: Politics: Main political figures" Economist Intelligence Unit 1 June 2006
  7. "Eritrea: Prisoners of conscience held for a decade must be released". Amnesty International. 15 September 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2011.