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List of heads of state of Eritrea

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President of the
State of Eritrea
ፕረዚደንት ሃገረ ኤርትራ (Tigrinya)
Presidential standard
since 24 May 1993
Executive branch of the Eritrean Government
StyleHis Excellency
ResidencePresident's Office, Asmara
Appointer
Term length
  • Five years,
  • renewable once†
Constituting instrument
Constitution of Eritrea (1997)
Inaugural holderIsaias Afwerki
Formation24 May 1993; 33 years ago (1993-05-24)
DeputyChairman of the National Assembly (de jure)
SalaryNfk 90,000 / US$6,000 annually[1]
†: As the Constitution of Eritrea has to date never been implemented, elections have never been held and the incumbent has remained in office without being bound by fixed terms.

Since the establishment of the office of president in 1993, the head of state of Eritrea has been Isaias Afwerki. The president is also the head of government of Eritrea, as well as commander-in-chief of the Eritrean Defence Forces.

As of 2021, there are no term limits for the president in the Constitution of Eritrea.[2]

The list also includes the secretary-general of the Provisional Government of Eritrea, who acted as head of state between 1991 and 1993, before the proclamation of independence.


Eritrea was under foreign rule for much of its modern history. It was first colonized by Italy in 1890 and remained an Italian colony until 1941, when British forces took control during World War II. From 1941 to 1952, Eritrea was administered as a British protectorate before being federated with Ethiopia in 1952 under a United Nations resolution. In 1962, Ethiopia formally annexed Eritrea, leading to a decades-long struggle for independence, which was finally achieved in 1993.

This article provides a list of the colonial governors until 1991.

King

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Tigrayan line

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NameLifespanReign startReign endNotesFamilyImage
Yohannes IV
  • ዮሓንስ አርባእዊ
(1837-07-11)11 July 1837 – 10 March 1889(1889-03-10) (aged 51)11 July 187110 March 1889[a]Son of Dejazmatch Mercha Wolde KidanSolomonicYohannes IV of Ethiopia

Shewan line

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NameLifespanReign startReign endNotesFamilyImage
Menelik II[b]
  • ምኒልክ ዳግማዊ
(1844-08-17)17 August 1844 – 12 December 1913(1913-12-12) (aged 69)10 March 188912 December 1913Son of Negus Haile MelekotSolomonicMenelik II of Ethiopia
Lij Iyasu[c]
  • Iyasu V[d]
  • ልጅ ኢያሱ
(1895-02-04)4 February 1895 – 25 November 1935(1935-11-25) (aged 40)12 December 191327 September 1916Grandson of Menelik IISolomonicLij Iyasu of Ethiopia
Zewditu[e]
  • ዘውዲቱ
(1876-04-29)29 April 1876 – 2 April 1930(1930-04-02) (aged 53)27 September 19162 April 1930[f]Daughter of Menelik IISolomonicZewditu of Ethiopia
Haile Selassie[g][h][i]
  • ኀይለ ሥላሴ ቀዳማዊ
(1892-07-23)23 July 1892 – 27 August 1975(1975-08-27) (aged 83)[3][4]2 April 1930[j]12 September 1974[k]Son of Ras Makonnen Wolde MikaelSolomonicHaile Selassie of Ethiopia
Amha Selassie[l][m]
  • Crown Prince Asfaw Wossen
  • አምሃ ሥላሴ
(1916-07-27)27 July 1916 – 17 January 1997(1997-01-17) (aged 80)[9]12 September 197421 March 1975[10]Son of Haile SelassieSolomonicAmha Selassie of Ethiopia

House of Savoy (Italian occupation)

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NameLifespanReign startReign endNotesFamilyImage
Victor Emmanuel III
  • Vittorio Emanuele III
    ቪቶርዮ አማኑኤል
    (Vītoriyo Āmanu’ēli)
(1869-11-11)11 November 1869 – 28 December 1947(1947-12-28) (aged 78)14 May 1936[11]De jure renounced the title in November 1943[12]
(de facto loss of control in April 1941[13])		King of Italy, proclaimed Emperor of Ethiopia after Italian victory in the Second Italo-Ethiopian War; the title was contested by Haile Selassie in exile. Italian defeat in the East African campaign of World War II, and later Italian capitulation, ended Italian pretensions of rulership over Ethiopia.SavoyVictor Emmanuel III of Italy

List of Provincial, Colonial and Federal Heads of Eritrea

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(Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office.)

List of rulers

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List of Ottoman governors of Egypt (1517–1805)

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List of monarchs of the Muhammad Ali dynasty (1805–1914)

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List of Grand Viziers of Egypt (1857–1878)

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Habesh Eyaleti (Ottoman Province of Habesh) / Massawa Province

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Wali = Governor

Portrait Term Incumbent Notes
MassawaOttoman Province
1687 – 1663 Keki Abdi Pasha, Na’ib of Arkiko, Wali of Massawa Na’ib of Arkiko, Wali of Massawa
1693–1693 Mehmed Pasha
1693–1964 Abaza Mustafa Pasha
1694— 1695 Misirli Mehmed Pasha
1695–1965 Gümrükçü Süleyman Pasha
1793 Ahmad Hasan  Na’ib of Arkiko, Wali of Massawa
1813 to 1826 Idris bin Utman Na’ib of Arkiko, Wali of Massawa
Egyptian occupationEgypt itself nominally within Ottoman Empire
1690 to 1720 Amir bin Ali
1770 to 1773 Hasan Amir
1773 to 1787 Muhammad Amir
1787 to 1800 Uthman Amir
1800 to 1813 Idris bin Uthman
1813 to 1833 Turkci Bilmaz Na’ib of Arkiko
1833 to 1840 Yahya Ahmad
1840 to 1844 Muhammad Yahya Na’ib of Arkiko
1844 to 1845 Hasan Idris Na’ib of Arkiko
1845 to 1846 Muhammad Amir   Na’ib of Arkiko
1846 to 1848 Idris Hasan Na’ib of Arkiko
Ottoman Suzerainty
1848 to 1863 Rustam Agha, Wali of Massawa
Egyptian Province
1866 to 1867 Ismail Haqqi
1867 to 1867 Omar Agha
1867 to 1869 Ibrahim Pasha
1869 to 1869   Muhammad Rasikh Bey                (born c. 1834 – died 1883)
1869 to 1869 Abdallah Halil Efendi
1869 to 1870 Hasan Bey Rifat
1870 to 1870 Abdalkadir
1870 to 1871 Aladdin Pasha Siddiq, Wali of Massawa
1871 to 1871 Ahmad Mumtaz Pasha (at Sawakin)    (born 1825 – died 1874)
1871 to 1871 Hajj Aman
1871 to 1871 Ala al-Din Pasha Siddiq (d. 1883) (1st time)
1871 to 1873 Werner Munzinger, Wali of Massawa, then Governor-General of the Eastern Sudan and the Red Sea Coast until November 1875
1873 to 1874 Johann Albert Werner               (born 1832 – died 1875)
1874 to 1874 Munzinger Pasha
1874 to November 1875 Arakel Bey Abroyan                 (born 1832 – died 1875)
1875 to 1876 Uthman Rifiq Pasha                 (born 1839 – died 1886)
1876 to 1879       Mohammed Ratib Pasha    
1879 to 1882 Khurshid Bey Pertev
December 1882 to 28 June 1882 Giulio Pestalozza, Commandant
1882 to December 1882 Hursid Bey Pertev, Wali of Massawa
1883 to 1884 Muhammad Muhtar Pasha, Wali of Massawa.           (born 1835 – died 1897)
1884 Mason Bey, Wali of Massawa
1884 to 1884 William Nathan Wrighte Hewett      (born 1834 – died 1888) Acting governor of Massawa (made the British Protectorate over this province reality)
1884 to 1885 Izzet Bey, Wali of Massawa
Italian Civil Commissioners of Assab
1885 to 1885 Giuseppe Sapeto (commercial agent) (born 1811 – died 1895)
1885 to 1885 Giovanni Branchi (born 1842 – died 1928)
Italian Suzerainty
1885 to 1885 Marcopoli Bey, Commandant
5 February 1885 to 6 February 1885 Franz Hassen Bey, Commandant
1885 to 1885 Charles Rigolet                    (born c. 1853 – died ....)
February 1885 to 14 November 1885 Tancredi Saletta, Commandant
5 December 1885 to 22 April 1887 Vittorio Dabormida, Superior Commandant
22 April 1887 to 10 November 1887 Tancredi Saletta 2nd Term
November 1887 to 1888 Alessandro Asinari di San Marzano
Assab Protectorate
1888 to 1888 Carlo De Amezaga (born 1835 – died 1899)
1888 to 1888 Giovanni Galeazzo Frigerio Giovanni Galeazzo Frigerio (born 1841 – died 1921)
1888 to 20 December 1889 Antonio Baldissera
20 December 1889 to 20 December 1889 Giulio Pestalozza                  (born 1850 – died 1930)
20 December 1889 to 1 January 1890 Baldassarre Orero, Commandan

Eritrea

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Before the official creation of Italian Eritrea (Colonia Eritrea) in 1890, the territory had seven interim governors: Giovanni Branchi (1882 to 1885), Alessandro Caimi (1885), Tancredi Saletta (1885), Matteo Albertone (1886 to 1887), Tancredi Saletta (1887), Alessandro Di San Marzano (1888) and Antonio Baldissera (1889).

Complete list of Italian Governors of Eritrea:

Tenure[14] Portrait Incumbent Notes
Commandants of Massawa
1885 to 1885 Pietro Caimi (born 1830 – died 1886)
1885 to 1886 Tancredi Saletta (1st time) (born 1843 – died 1909)
1886 to 1886 Carlo Gené (superior commandant) (born 1836 – died 1890)
1886 to 1887 Antonio Baldissera (born 1838 – died 1917)
1887 to 1890 Alessandro Asinari di San Marzano  (born 1830 – died 1906)
Italian Eritrea Colony
1 January 1890 to 30 June 1890 Baldassarre Orero, Commandant
30 June 1890 to 28 February 1892 Antonio Gandolfi, Commandant
28 February 1892 to 22 February 1896 Oreste Baratieri, Commandant Commander of the Royal Italian Army in the Battle of Adwa
22 February 1896 to 16 December 1897 Antonio Baldissera, Governor
16 December 1897 to 25 March 1907 Ferdinando Martini, Governor
25 March 1907 to 17 August 1915 Giuseppe Salvago Raggi, Governor
17 August 1915 to 16 September 1916 Giovanni Cerrina Feroni, acting Governor 1st term
16 September 1916 to 20 July 1919 Giacomo De Martino, Governor
20 July 1919 to 20 November 1920 Camillo de Camillis, Governor
20 November 1920 to 14 April 1921 Ludovico Pollera, Governor
14 April 1921 to 1 June 1923 Giovanni Cerrina Feroni, Governor 2nd term
1 June 1923 to 1 June 1928 Jacopo Gasparini, Governor
1 June 1928 to 11 July 1930 Corrado Zoli, Governor
11 July 1930 to 15 January 1935 Riccardo Astuto dei Duchi di Lucchesi, Governor
15 January 1935 to 18 January 1935 Ottone Gabelli, acting Governor
18 January 1935 to 22 November 1935 Emilio De Bono, Governor
22 November 1935 to 22 May 1936 Pietro Badoglio, Governor
Eritrea Governorate
Part of Italian East Africa
1 June 1936 to 1 April 1937 Alfredo Guzzoni, Governor
1 April 1937 to 15 December 1937 Vincenzo De Feo, Governo
15 December 1937 to 2 June 1940 Giuseppe Daodice, Governor
2 June 1940 to 19 May 1941 Luigi Frusci,

From 1936, the colony of Eritrea was increased in size and called Eritrea Governorate, as part of Africa Orientale Italiana (AOI). The Italian governors were under direct orders of the Viceroy (representing the now-King and Emperor Vittorio Emanuele)

Eritrea Governorate

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Arms of the Eritrea Governorate.
No.Portrait GovernorTook officeLeft officeTime in office
1
Alfredo Guzzoni
Guzzoni, AlfredoAlfredo Guzzoni
(1877–1965)		1 June 19361 April 1937304 days
2
Vincenzo de Feo
de Feo, VincenzoVincenzo de Feo
(1876–1955)		1 April 193715 December 1937258 days
3
Giuseppe Daodice
Daodice, GiuseppeGiuseppe Daodice
(1882–1952)		15 December 19372 June 19402 years, 170 days
–
Luigi Frusci
Frusci, LuigiLuigi Frusci
(1879–1949)
Acting		2 June 194019 May 1941351 days

List

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No.Portrait Viceroy and Governor-GeneralTook officeLeft officeTime in officeDefence branch
1
Pietro Badoglio
Badoglio, PietroMarshal
Pietro Badoglio
(1871–1956)
[n]		9 May 193611 June 193633 days Royal Italian Army
2
Rodolfo Graziani
Graziani, RodolfoMarshal
Rodolfo Graziani
(1882–1955)		11 June 193621 December 19371 year, 193 days Royal Italian Army
3
Prince Amedeo, Duke of Aosta
Aosta, AmedeoGeneral
Prince Amedeo, Duke of Aosta
(1898–1942)		21 December 193719 May 1941 [o]3 years, 149 days Royal Italian Army
–
Pietro Gazzera
Gazzera, PietroGeneral
Pietro Gazzera
(1879–1953)
Acting		23 May 19416 July 194144 days Royal Italian Army
–
Guglielmo Nasi
Nasi, GuglielmoGeneral
Guglielmo Nasi
(1879–1971)
Acting		6 July 194127 November 1941144 days Royal Italian Army

List of Chief Executives of Eritrea (1941–1960)

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Portrait Incumbent Term Notes
British Administration
Sir William Platt, Administrator 5 February 1941 to 4 May 1942 Brian Kennedy-Cooke British Deputy Chief Political Officer for Eritrea 1941–1942
Stephen Hemsley Longrigg, Administrator 4 May 1942 to 9 November 1944
C.D. McCarthy, Administrator 9 November 1944 to 14 August 1945
John Meredith Benoy, Administrator 14 August 1945 to 1 November 1946
Francis Greville Drew, Administrator 1 November 1946 to 19 February 1951
UN High Commissioner in Eritrea
Eduardo Anze Matienzo (born 1902 – died 1979) Non-party 19 February 1951 to 15 September 1952 United Nations Transitional Administration in Eritrea
Chief Administrator
Duncan Cameron Cumming, Chief Administrator 19 February 1951 to 15 September 1952
Tedla Bairu,[15] 15 September 1952 to 29 July 1955 Chief Executive
Asfaha Woldemikael, 8 August 1955 to December 1959 Chief Executive
Abiye Abebe, December 1959 to 20 May 1960 20 May 1960 to 14 November 1962 Chief Executive, Administrator

=British Deputy Chief Political Officer for Eritrea

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Emperor's Representative

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# Name Assumed office Left office
1 Andargachew Messai 15 September 1952 December 1959
2 Abiye Abebe December 1959 14 Nov 1962

Eritrea Governor-General

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Portrait Incumbent Term
Ethiopian Province
Abiye Abebe, 14 November 1962 to 1964 Governor-General
Ras Asrate Medhin Kassa 1964 to December 1970 Governor-General
Debebe Hailemariam December 1970 to August 1974 Governor-General
Amanuel Amde Mikael, August 1974 to 29 May 1975 Governor-General
Getachew Nadew                     (d. 1977) 17 Feb 1975 – Jun 1977         Governor-General
Fikru Woldetinsae                     Jun 1977 – 1979         Governor-General
Dawit Wolde Giorgis, 1979 to 1983 14 NovemberGovernor-General
Afework Wolemikael, August 1989 to 18 May 1991 Governor-General
Tesfaye Gebre Kidan, August 1989 to 29 May 1991 14 NovemberGovernor-General

Eritrean Liberation Movement

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Chairman of Eritrean Liberation Movement 1958 and 1965

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Chairman

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In the list, the chairmen of the Derg are considered to be heads of state – but are not considered to be president. Consequently, the numbering starts with the first establishment of the office of the president of Ethiopia in 1987.

List

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No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Term of office Party
(Coalition)		 Elected
Took office Left office Time in office
• Derg (Provisional Military Government of Socialist Ethiopia) (1974–1987) •
Position not established (12 – 15 September 1974)
– Lieutenant general
Aman Mikael Andom
(1924–1974)
Acting Head of State		 15 September 1974 17 November 1974
(Resigned)		 63 days Military —
– Major
Mengistu Haile Mariam
(born 1937)
Acting Head of State		 17 November 1974 28 November 1974 11 days Military —
– Brigadier general
Tafari Benti
(1921–1977)		 28 November 1974 3 February 1977 X 2 years, 67 days Military —
– Lieutenant colonel
Mengistu Haile Mariam
(born 1937)		 3 February 1977 10 September 1987 10 years, 219 days Military
COPWE
WPE		 —
• People's Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (1987–1991) •
1 Mengistu Haile Mariam
(born 1937)		 10 September 1987 21 May 1991
(Resigned)		 3 years, 253 days WPE 1987
– Tesfaye Gebre Kidan
(1935–2004)
Acting		 21 May 1991 27 May 1991
(Deposed in civil war)		 6 days Independent —
Vacant during the fall of the Derg regime (27 – 28 May 1991)
• Transitional Government of Ethiopia (1991–1995) •
– Meles Zenawi
(1955–2012)
Interim		 28 May 1991 21 August 1995 4 years, 85 days TPLF
(EPRDF)		 —

List of officeholders

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Political parties
No. Portrait Name
(Birth–Death)		 Term of office Political party Ref.
Took office Left office Time in office
• Provisional Government of Eritrea (1991–1993) •
1 Isaias Afwerki
(born 1946)
Secretary-General		 24 May 1991 24 May 1993 2 years EPLF [16][17][18]
• State of Eritrea (1993–present) •
1 Isaias Afwerki
(born 1946)
President
[p]		 24 May 1993 Incumbent 33 years, 137 days PFDJ

Timeline

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Isaias Afwerki

See also

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Notes

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  1. ↑ Killed in the Battle of Gallabat.
  2. ↑ Previously King of Shewa from 1855 to 1856, and from 1865 to 1889. Ruled under the regency of Ras Betwoded Tessema Nadew from 1909 to 1911 and Lij Iyasu from 1911 to 1913.
  3. ↑ Never officially crowned as Emperor. Deposed by nobility with the sanction of the Church.
  4. ↑ Lij Iyasu was never referred to as "Iyasu V" or as an emperor during his rule, either by Ethiopians or by foreigners. Thus, in the treaty of commerce signed between the United States and Ethiopia in June 1914, the ruler of Ethiopia is referred to as "His Royal Highness, Prince Lidj Yassou".
  5. ↑ Ruled under the regency of Ras Tafari Makonnen (future Emperor Haile Selassie).
  6. ↑ Died in the immediate aftermath of the Gugsa Wale's rebellion.
  7. ↑ De facto ruler of the country as regent from 1916 to 1930. Crowned as King in the aftermath of the 1928 coup d'état.
  8. ↑ Exiled from 2 May 1936 to 5 April 1941, during the Italian occupation. During that time, the imperial title was claimed by the King of Italy Victor Emmanuel III.
  9. ↑ Briefly deposed during the 1960 coup attempt.
  10. ↑ Crowned on 2 November 1930, at the St. George's Cathedral in Addis Ababa.[5]
  11. ↑ Deposed by the Derg during the Ethiopian Revolution of 1974.[6][7]
  12. ↑ Proclaimed Emperor by the Imperial Guards during the 1960 coup attempt.
  13. ↑ Designated "King" (not Emperor) by the Derg while out of the country,[8] did not take throne.
  14. ↑ Took control of Addis Ababa on 5 May 1936 at the end of the March of the Iron Will, during the Second Italo-Ethiopian War.
  15. ↑ Surrendered to the Allies at the Battle of Amba Alagi, during the East African campaign of World War II.
  16. ↑ Also Chairman of the National Assembly.

References

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  1. ↑ Today, Latest Africa News, Headlines & Top Stories (5 November 2018). "African Leaders With The Lowest Salaries". Archived from the original on 22 March 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ↑ Cook, Candace; Siegle, Joseph. "Circumvention of Term Limits Weakens Governance in Africa". Africa Center for Strategic Studies. Archived from the original on 6 May 2023. Retrieved 6 May 2023.
  3. ↑ Alden Whitman (28 August 1975). "Haile Selassie of Ethiopia Dies at 83". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  4. ↑ "Death of a King". The New York Times. 28 August 1975. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  5. ↑ "Emperor is Crowned in Regal Splendor at African Capital". The New York Times. 3 November 1930. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  6. ↑ "REMOVAL IS QUIET". The New York Times. 13 September 1974. Retrieved 11 June 2021.
  7. ↑ Paul Hofmann (13 September 1974). "The Lion at Sunset". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  8. ↑ "Ethiopian Crown Prince Hears News of Succession on Radio". The New York Times. 13 September 1974. Retrieved 25 August 2020.
  9. ↑ David Orr (2 February 1997). "Funeral brings the royals back to Ethiopia". The Independent. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  10. ↑ "Ethiopia's Military Government Abolishes Monarchy and Titles". The New York Times. 22 March 1975. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
  11. ↑ Arnaldo Cortesi (15 May 1936). "CHAMBER CONFIRMS EMPIRE FOR ITALY; Cheers for Army and Duce Mark Session Ratifying Ethiopia's Annexation". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  12. ↑ Indro Montanelli, Mario Cervi, Storia d'italia. L'Italia della guerra civile, RCS, 2003.
  13. ↑ "THE FALL OF ADDIS ABABA". The New York Times. 7 April 1941. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  14. ↑ Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office
  15. ↑ Killion, Tom (1998). Historical Dictionary of Eritrea. The Scarecrow Press. ISBN 0-8108-3437-5.
  16. ↑ "Technical Difficulties". 2009-2017.state.gov. Retrieved 31 August 2026.
  17. ↑ "Eritrea at a Glance III – Eritrea Ministry Of Information". Archived from the original on 29 September 2020. Retrieved 31 August 2026.
  18. ↑ "Our History – Eritrean Embassy". us.embassyeritrea.org. Retrieved 31 August 2026.
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