Petros Solomon
1st Minister of Defence of Eritrea
In office 1993 – 1994
Succeeded by	Mesfin Hagos
3rd Minister of Foreign Affairs of Eritrea
In office 1994 – 1997
Preceded by	Mahmoud Ahmed Sherifo
Succeeded by	Haile Woldense
2nd Minister of Marine Resources of Eritrea
In office 1997 – 2001
Preceded by	Saleh Meki
Succeeded by	Ahmed Haj Ali
Born	1951 Asmara, Maekel
Political party	PFDJ
Spouse	Aster Yohannes

Petros Solomon (also known as Wed'Solomon, Son of Solomon) is an Eritrean politician. Mesfin Hagos was a founding member of the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF in 1977 Mahmoud Ahmed Sherifo (born 1948 served briefly as the Head of State of Eritrea while the President was away Haile Woldense is an Eritrean politician Woldense attended High School in Asmara, Eritrea. Saleh Meki was a member of the Eritrean People's Liberation Front offices in the San Francisco Bay Area before he returned to Eritrea. Ahmed Haj Ali has served various posts within the Government of Eritrea. Asmara (English ( Ge'ez: ኣስመራ Asmera, formerly known as Asmera, or in أسمرا Asmaraa Maekel, or Maakel, or the Central region is one of the six regions of Eritrea. The People's Front for Democracy and Justice ( PFDJ) is the only legal political entity in Eritrea. Aster Yohannes is the wife of detained Eritrean politician Petros Solomon. Eritrea () ( Ge'ez: ኤርትራ ʾErtrā, Arabic: إرتريا Iritriya) officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in He was an Eritrean People's Liberation Front commander during the Eritrean War of Independence, and following independence he served in several positions in the Cabinet, including Minister of Defense and Minister of Foreign Affairs. The Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF was an armed organization that fought for the independence of Eritrea from Ethiopia. The Eritrean War of Independence ( 1 September 1961 - 29 May 1991) was a conflict fought between the Ethiopian government and Eritrean He has been in prison, held incommunicado in an undisclosed location, since September 18, 2001. Events 96 - Nerva is proclaimed Roman Emperor after Domitian is assassinated Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar.

During the Eritrean War of Independence

standing: Ogbe Abraha, Ali Said Abdella, Sebhat Ephrem, Haile Woldetinsae, Petros Solomon, Mohammed Said Bareh, Mesfin Hagos, Al-Amin Mohammed Said Sitting: Berhane Gherezgiher, Ibrahim Afa, Romedan Mohammed Nur, Isaias Afewerki, Mahmoud Ahmed Sherifo. Ogbe Abraha (born 1948 is an Eritrean Politician. He joined the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF in 1972 and since independence has held the Ali Said Abdella (September 1949&ndash August 28, 2005) was an Eritrean rebel commander politician and diplomat who at the time of his death was serving Sebhat Ephrem is the Minister of Defence for Eritrea, and former Eritrean People's Liberation Front commander during the Eritrean War of Independence. Haile Woldense is an Eritrean politician Woldense attended High School in Asmara, Eritrea. Mohammed Said Bareh is an Eritrean political figure He was formerly the Administrator of Anseba Region and Minister of Foreign Affairs Mesfin Hagos was a founding member of the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF in 1977 Isaias Afewerki (born 2 February 1946 is the first and current President of Eritrea. Mahmoud Ahmed Sherifo (born 1948 served briefly as the Head of State of Eritrea while the President was away

He was a member of the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF). From 1972 until the end of the Eritrean War of Independence in 1991, he served as Chief Strategist and the head of Military Intelligence (Brigade 72) of the EPLF. He also served as a member of the executive committee (Polit-Bureau) of EPLF from 1977 to 1994.

During the War of Independence, he is credited with having single-handedly organized the EPLF's intelligence section. He is also credited with having been the commander who commanded over the Nakfa, Kerkebet, Zara front during the war in the early 1980s. He led the battle of Massawa in 1977;^[1] He also, along with Ogbe Abraha, led the battle to liberate the town of Barentu in 1987. Ogbe Abraha (born 1948 is an Eritrean Politician. He joined the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF in 1972 and since independence has held the

After Eritrean Independence

In 1991, as he commanded the EPLF army that besieged Asmara, he took charge of the city when it fell for EPLF. Asmara (English ( Ge'ez: ኣስመራ Asmera, formerly known as Asmera, or in أسمرا Asmaraa In its June 16, 1991 publication, The New York Times stated that after the fall of Asmara, "Petros Solomon, was running the city until the arrival of Isaias Afewerki". Events 1487 - Battle of Stoke Field, the last dying breath of the Wars of the Roses. Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. Isaias Afewerki (born 2 February 1946 is the first and current President of Eritrea. ^[2]

Since independence Petros Solomon served in various cabinet positions;^[3] his last post was as Minister of Marine Resources.

During his time as a Minister of Marine Resources, "he independently conceived of a biosaline agriculture as a way of building the economy of the country and gave enthusiastic support to Manzanar Project". ^[4]

In September 2001 he was detained indefinitely along with other politicians who were known as the G-15. G-15 is a name given to a group in Eritrea that opposes the policy of President Isaias Afewerki postponing elections and their failure in implementing the constitution

Personality

Petros Solomon is known for his extraordinary skills of making friends. He is said to have "a quick wit and sparkling, playful sense of humor. "^[5] Given his personality, Dan Connell writes, "It was inevitable he would clash with Isaias Afewerki". ^[6]

After Petros's detention many of his former subordinates openly opposed his arrest and got arrested themselves as a result, including Kidane Wedi Qeshi who used to be Communications Operator for Petros Solomon, Mehari (last name unknown) who was Chauffeur for Petros Solomon, Tesfai "Gomorra" Gebreab who was a close friend of Petros Solomon. Kidane "wedi Qeshi" was an Eritrean Government Official Tesfai "Gomorra" Gebreab was an Eritrean diplomat He has been in prison since October 23 2001 a day after he expressed his opinion in a meeting that judgment Many others, including many diplomats whom Petros recruited when he was Minister of Foreign Affairs, are abandoning the Eritrean Government.

The following is an excerpt from a poem written by one of his friends, ^[7]

But who's this quiet brown man whose eyes see through me,
Who makes me question all that I have done,
Who calls the airy poet back to history,
Who is this fine-boned Petros Solomon?:

Family

He is married to Aster Yohannes. Aster Yohannes is the wife of detained Eritrean politician Petros Solomon. She too has been imprisoned since December 2003. They have four children, including twins.

Quotes

"When confronted with criticism, it is not useful to think only in terms of digging up trenches and launching counter-offensives; criticism should be accepted with an open heart and an environment of tolerance; institutionalism is the best approach to decision-making…nobody or no institution has a monopoly on wisdom and foresight. "^[8]

Petros Solomon, Tsigenai Newspaper, June 11, 2001 as translated by Awate. Events 1184 BC - Trojan War: Troy is sacked and burned according to the calculations of Eratosthenes. Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. com

"The tone we set here (at the UN General Assembly) collectively will have far greater influence in shaping the future of our planet than the isolated measures and endeavours we undertake in our individual countries. "^[9]

Petros Solomon, At General Assembly Session 50 meeting 28, Date 11 October 1995

"natna aingedfn. . . . zeinatna aintnkfn" (meaning We do not let go what belongs to us, We do not touch others' belongings) Asmara, December 30, 1995^[10]

Qtd in ,Reflections on the Hanish Affair, Tekie Fessehazion. Events 1460 - Wars of the Roses: Battle of Wakefield. 1816 - The Treaty of St Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 This saying has been repeatedly used by many officials in the Government of Eritrea to refer to the subsequent conflict between Eritrea and Ethiopia, 1998

"We never argue, my wife and I; because she can shoot straighter and faster than I can"^[11]

Petros Solomon, Qtd by Stephen Chan, Preface of the book "Grasping Africa, Tale of Achievement and Tragedy"

References