Addis Ababa University (AAU), School of Political Science and International Relations held a program to memorize the great political science scholar and internationally influential Professor Kassahun Berhanu in the presence of his family and friends in the historic Ras Mekonnen Hall on April 28, 2022.
Solomon Mebre (PhD), Head of School of Political Science and International Relations, in his message said that Professor Kassahun made significant contributions to national and international affairs and held several senior positions in local and international research organizations.
“Professor Kassahun has left his mark on Addis Ababa University’s overall progress, and hence he will always be remembered by his classmates, colleagues, and students for his outstanding work ethics,” Dr. Solomon said.
Fekade Terefe (PhD), from AAU, in his address on Professor Kassahun’s brief biography, said, “During his lifetime, Professor Kassahun privately published more than five books and published more than 40 articles in leading international reputable research journals.”
According to Dr. Fekade, the focuses of the late Professor Kassahun’s research works were basically on public settlement, political economy, civil society and government relations, political parties and parliaments.
Prof. Kassahun was a scholar who worked extensively to raise awareness on various political and social issues by appearing in the national and international media, Dr. Fekade added.
The late Professor Kassahun’s wife, Elizabeth Gebreab, said, when he was alive, they had a wonderful, happy and joyful life together. However, nothing else is able to make up the loss of her home following the death of her husband, she added.
She further stated, “In addition to the knowledge he shared with me, I often asked him to write the stories, jokes and sayings that he told me during his spare time because they were entertaining and educational, but I regret that he did not write them because of his workload.”
Mr. Haileleul Olana, the late Professor Kassahun’s brother, noted that Kassahun’s book on Humera settlement is important for the solution of today’s Ethiopia and that Kassahun could have provided useful and constructive ideas and directions for the future of Ethiopia if he were alive.
Yacob Arsano (PhD), closest colleague of Kassahun, expressed his sadness for the sudden death of Professor Kassahun, who was part of a task force set up by the Ministry of Education to make Addis Ababa University an independent and autonomous institution.
Professor Merara Gudina, one of Professor Kassahun’s best work colleagues, lamented that Kassahun was a scholar who had spent most of his life in the academic world and had written and taught on the country’s fundamental problems, especially democratic issues, conflict resolution and population settlement as well as development issues.
Source: Addis Ababa University