By Maj. Dawit Wolde Giorgis
It is with deep sorrow that I share with you the passing of one of Ethiopia’s most distinguished officers—Maj. Gen. Mesfin Gebre Kal. He was a man who reached the highest levels of both academic and military training, a battlefield-tested commander, a former Deputy Chief of Staff of the Ethiopian Army, and a legal scholar who earned his PhD at the King’s War College while in exile.
Maj. Gen. Mesfin came from a family of patriots. His father, Dejazmach Gebre Kal Debesai, was a war hero who fought alongside Ethiopian patriots during the Fascist Italian invasion—whose life I have chronicled in my book ክህደት በደም መሬት. Born in Eritrea, Maj. Gen. Mesfin defied the skeptics and served with loyalty, distinction, and unwavering dedication to Ethiopia until his last day.
He was among the earliest Ethiopian officers to be trained at the prestigious Sandhurst Military Academy in England—second only to Capt. Dereje H. Mariam, who later served briefly as Adjutant at the Military Academy—and alongside Col. Alemayehu Asfaw.
After graduating in 1957, Maj. Gen. Mesfin’s first posting was at the Harar Military Academy, where he taught Tactics, Map Reading, and Drill to the 1st and 2nd Courses for five years. He later returned to England for Advanced Military Commander’s Training and went on to serve honorably with the UN in Congo and in the UN Mediation Mission during the Indo-Pakistan War.
He rose rapidly through the ranks to Major General, becoming one of the key leaders in repelling and defeating Somali forces during the Ethio–Somali War. He was also chosen as Ethiopia’s Military Representative in the Committee for Peaceful Negotiations with the Eritrean Liberation Front, held in London on the eve of Eritrea’s declaration of independence.
In his later years, Maj. Gen. Mesfin had been preparing to visit his beloved homeland, but the global COVID-19 pandemic interrupted those plans. As his health declined due to heart problems, his long-awaited visit was overtaken by his untimely passing.
He is survived by his wife, W/ro Mulu, and their four children. On behalf of all who knew and served with him, we extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and comrades. His legacy as a soldier, scholar, and patriot will live on.
May his soul rest in eternal peace.
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