Petros Solomon

Petros Solomon (Tigrinya: ጴጥሮስ ሰሎሞን; born 5 May 1951) is an Eritrean former military officer and politician. He served as a paramilitary commander of the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF) during the Eritrean War of Independence, where he played key role. Following the independence of Eritrea, he served in several positions in Eritrean government, including Minister of Defense and Minister of Foreign Affairs.

He has been imprisoned in an undisclosed location since September 2001 for opposing the rule of President Isaias Afewerki. Amnesty International has named him a prisoner of conscience.

== Early life ==

Solomon was born in a recognized family in Asmara. He completed his early education in Asmara and Addis Ababa. He was attending the Haile Selassie University in 1972, when he joined EPLF. He is married to Aster Yohannes, who joined the front in 1972. The pair have four children, Simon, the twins Zerai and Hanna, and Meaza. The pair fought in the independence struggle with Ethiopia, in which the EPLF gained de facto independence for Eritrea in 1991.

== The Eritrean War of Independence ==

Petros Solomon was a member of the Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF). From 1972...