Ethiopian Diplomat Dies at 90 After 28-Year UN Career Serving Refugees Across Africa
Nairobi, 3 April 2026
Ato Kidane Alemayehu’s extraordinary journey from Ethiopia’s education ministry to becoming a pivotal figure in African refugee assistance demonstrates how one individual’s dedication can span continents and decades. His 28-year United Nations career took him through eight African countries and two Middle Eastern nations, where he championed human settlements and refugee rights. Most remarkably, after retiring from the UN, he founded organisations demanding reparations from Italy for fascist-era atrocities against Ethiopia, showing his unwavering commitment to justice remained strong into his final years.
A Distinguished Career Spanning Continents
Born on 19 May 1927 in Kombolcha, Hararghe province [1], Ato Kidane Alemayehu began his professional journey serving Ethiopia for 12 years in various positions of responsibility across the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Provinces, and the Imperial Telecommunications Board [1]. His transition to international service came in 1979 when he moved to Tanzania as a United Nations representative in the Ministry of Capital Development [1][2]. This marked the beginning of what would become a remarkable 28-year career with the United Nations, during which he would serve eight African and two Middle Eastern countries [1].
Pioneering Work in Human Settlements
In 1981, Ato Kidane relocated from Tanzania to Kenya, where he took up a pivotal role at the United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (UN Habitat) headquarters [1][2]. His expertise in human settlements and refugee assistance extended beyond Kenya, as he provided professional services to Uganda, Malawi, Botswana, Swaziland, Nigeria and Gambia [1]. The scope of his work later expanded when he was invited to provide professional assistance to the Ministry of Works and Housing of the United Arab Emirates, where he identified significant challenges across all sectors [1]. This extensive experience positioned him as a respected authority on refugee rights and urban development across the African continent.
Post-Retirement Advocacy for Justice
After retiring from the UN, Ato Kidane’s commitment to justice took on a deeply personal dimension. He served as the founder and chairman of the Horn of Africa Peace and Development Centre and as Director General of the International Alliance for Justice - Ethiopia Case [1]. In 2005, he embarked on a determined campaign confronting the Italian government and the Vatican, advocating for compensation for the injustices committed by Fascist Italy against Ethiopians [1]. Through the ‘International Coalition for Justice - Ethiopian Affairs’, which he established and led, he continued this struggle for reparations until his final years [1].
A Legacy Remembered
Ato Kidane passed away at the age of 90, just 1 year and a half before what would have been his 91st birthday, after receiving medical assistance [1]. He is survived by two children and two grandchildren [1]. His close friend Ato Betru from Dallas reflected on his character, noting that Ato Kidane had moved from Florida to Texas 25 years prior to 2018 [1]. ‘I am very happy to have had the opportunity to know him closely, to understand his character, his contributions and his work methods,’ Ato Betru observed, describing him as ‘our brother who had a very zealous attitude towards Ethiopian unity and sovereignty’ and ‘an Ethiopian who truly fulfilled his given opportunity with competence’ [1]. The timing of his passing on 3 April 2026 marks the end of an era for Ethiopian diplomatic service and refugee advocacy across East Africa.