Andreas Esheté, Esteemed Philosopher and Former Rector of Addis Ababa University, Passes Away
The renowned philosopher and former rector of Addis Ababa University, Andreas Esheté, has passed away, as confirmed by his family.
Despite his undeniable talents and accomplishments, Andreas Esheté’s staunch support for ethnic federalism remains a controversial aspect of his career. Throughout his extensive work in human rights, peace, and democracy both in Ethiopia and internationally, Andreas was celebrated for his intellect, compassion, and commitment to the betterment of humanity. He is also well-regarded for his role in drafting Ethiopia’s current multinational constitution in the 1990s.
In addition to serving as a counselor to Meles Zenawi, Andreas held the UNESCO Chair for Human Rights, Peace, and Democracy at Addis Ababa University. Since the 1974 Ethiopian revolution, in which he played a pivotal role, Andreas demonstrated his dedication to justice and equality. He was a prominent intellectual figure in the Ethiopian Student Movement and an early member of the All Ethiopian Socialist Movement.
Andreas taught at prestigious American institutions such as Brown University, UCLA, UC-Berkeley, and the University of Pennsylvania. He studied philosophy at Yale University and Williams College. His academic pursuits included political and moral philosophy, and he authored numerous works on these subjects. Beyond philosophy, he extensively wrote about Ethiopian history and culture, making significant contributions to scholarship. One of his most notable roles was serving as Chair of the Panel of Experts for the Federalism Forum, a biennial global gathering of federative nations.
As Chair of the Centennial Commemoration of the Battle of Adwa and the Inter-Africa Group Coordinator for Constitutional and Governance Issues, Andreas played a key role in honoring Ethiopia’s historical legacy. From 2004 to 2011, he served as president of Addis Ababa University, significantly impacting the development of higher education in Ethiopia. His commitment to human rights was further demonstrated by his appointment to the Chair of the African Union Human Rights Memorial Project’s Interim Board around 2011. He also held positions as Deputy Chair of the Tana High-Level Forum, Board Member of the Forum of Federations, and member of the Scientific Committee on Labor History of Africa.
Andreas Esheté will be remembered as a visionary leader, dedicated educator, and steadfast advocate for democracy and human rights. His legacy will inspire future generations to strive for justice, peace, and equality. He is survived by his son, family, friends, colleagues, and the countless individuals whose lives he touched during his distinguished career as an honorable and principled scholar.
