Tewelde Tesfagabir

Tewelde Tesfagabir is a journalist with VOA Horn of Africa's Tigrigna Service. With more than 20 years of experience hosting, writing and editing for radio programs and for digital products in Tigrigna, Tewelde has a deep understanding of the political and cultural challenges facing Eritrea, Ethiopia and the larger Horn of Africa region.

Prior to joining VOA, Tewelde was a correspondent and editor for Ethiopian State Radio in Addis Ababa. He is one of the few VOA journalists who was able to visit his native Eritrea and interview President Isaias Afewerki. Tewelde is known for interviews on varying subjects including politics, economic development, human rights, press freedom, the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean that has affected the lives of many Eritreans and Ethiopian refugees, and other social issues.

Tewelde holds a Bachelor of Arts in English literature and journalism from the University of Asmara, Eritrea, and a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration from Walden University. His published dissertation focuses on indigenous and independent food sustainability in Africa.