MFA offers its deepest condolences on the passing away of Dr. Richard Pankhurst

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to offer its deepest condolences on the passing away of Dr. Richard Pankhurst in his ninetieth year.

The doyen of historians and scholars of Ethiopia, Dr. Pankhurst was one of Ethiopia's greatest friends during his long and productive life, and his scholarship and understanding for Ethiopia will be sorely missed.

 

The son of Sylvia Pankhurst, a staunch supporter of Ethiopia's struggle against Italy in the 1930s, Dr. Pankhurst came to Ethiopia in 1956 and devoted his life to Ethiopian studies, writing over 20 books and editing many more on aspects of Ethiopia's history, culture and economics.

He was the founding Director of the Institute of Ethiopian Studies and a leading figure in the Friends of Ethiopia. He was also instrumental in the successful campaign to get the Axum Stelae, re-erected in 2008, back from Italy to Ethiopia, for which he was given an award of recognition by H.E. Dr. Mulatu Teshome. He was also awarded an OBE by the British Government for his services to Ethiopian studies.

Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, also offers his profound sympathy to Mrs. Rita Pankhurst, to his children, Helen and Alula, and to all his family, friends and colleagues.