Filipos Woldeyohannes

Eritrean general

Filipos Woldeyohannes (born 1955)^[1] is an Eritrean general who has served as Chief of Staff of the Eritrean Defence Forces since March 2014.^[2] He was appointed after his predecessor died in early March 2014.

Military career

Filipos Woldeyohannes was born in Asmara. Filipos served as a commander during the Eritrean–Ethiopian War^[3] and later served as the commander of Eritrea's Operation Zone 2.^[4] In May 2020, following an official visit by Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki to Ethiopia, Filipos visited the country over an issue of "mutual concern" to the two countries, according to Eritrean media cited by Borkena.^[5]

Sanctions for human rights violations

In August 2021, the United States announced sanctions against Filipos for war crimes in the Tigray War, including the torture and execution of civilians, sexual violence as a weapon of war and a scorched earth policy of looting and destruction attributed to Eritrean forces. Filipos is being targeted for his role as "leader of an entity engaged in serious human rights violations committed during the current conflict in Tigray," as stated by the US Treasury under the Magnitsky Act.^[6]^[7]

References

^ "Sanctions Search". Sanctions List Search. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY. Retrieved 8 December 2023.
^ "Eritrea Appoints New Chief of Staff". TesfaNews. Mar 19, 2014. Retrieved Aug 25, 2021.
^ Cooper, Tom; Fontanellaz, Adrien (31 July 2018). Ethiopian-Eritrean Wars. Volume 2: Eritrean War of Independence, 1988-1991 & Badme War, 1998-2001. Helion and Company. ISBN 9781913118358.
^ Mukhtar, Mejlis Ibrahim. Eritrea's Civil Servants | Farajat English Page. | موقع ارتري اخباري مستقل. Farajat, 10 Feb. 2010. Web. 12 Oct. 2010. "ERITREA's CIVIL SERVANTS | Farajat English Page". Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
^ "Eritrean Chief of staff, General Filipos Weldeyohanes, reportedly visited Ethiopia". Borkena. 2020-05-09. Archived from the original on 2021-03-20. Retrieved 2021-03-20.
^ "U.S. Sanctions Eritrea Military Chief for Abuses in Ethiopia". Bloomberg.com. 23 August 2021.
^ "Treasury Sanctions Eritrean Military Leader in Connection with Serious Human Rights Abuse in Tigray". US Treasury. 2021-08-23. Archived from the original on 2021-08-24. Retrieved 2021-08-24.