The death toll from the COVID-19 pandemic across Africa is heading is gone past the 1,000 mark as of April 18, 2020. The casualties cut across age groups. From the death of a 6 year-old in Kenya, older patients in most instances and persons in the youth bracket.
Whiles each death is reported with a sombre mood and with condolences to affected families, some of the casualties have united a country in grief, in other cases united the continent and people beyond Africas borders.
From top politicians former presidents, prime ministers and lawmakers, to entertainment icons and top sportsmen, the virus has left in its wake prominent casualties who could hardly get the send-off they would have been accorded in normal times.
This article briefly profiles as many casualties as possible:
May 13: Eritrean freedom fighter, ex-diplomat dies in UK
Former Eritrean diplomat and freedom fighter has died in the UK after contracting coronavirus. The family of Afwerki Abraha confirmed his demise to the BBC. He had been in intensive care in London for a month, and did not have any underlying health issues.
Afwerki Abraha was a man who easily made the transition from a fighter to a professional and a loyal person, his colleague and senior diplomat Haile Menkerios told the BBC.
According to the BBC, after Eritrea gained independence from Ethiopia, Abraha became the first Eritrean diplomat to be posted to Ethiopia. He was a chemist by profession having received training in Russia.
From his ambassadorial role, he moved on to London, where he was officially based from 1996 until 2001. Along with his ailing wife Fatina Ahmedin, herself a former fighter, the couple opted to stay in the UK.
A relative told the BBC that the deceased was devoted to his wifes care for 20 years never leaving her alone.
Photo credit BBC
May 10: Somali envoy to Egypt, Arab League dies
The Somali government on Monday confirmed the death of its ambassador to Egypt, Abdikani Mohamed Waays. The Prime Minister and Ministry of Foreign Affairs celebrated the diplomat for his service to the nation. The confirmation was mute on cause of death.
A privately-owned portal, Garowe Online, disclosed that the ambassador had succumbed to COVID-19 in Kuwait after he was admitted to a health facility for a week. He tested positive for the virus at the facility, Garowes sources confirmed.
He doubled as Somalias envoy to the Arab League which is based in the Egyptian capital, Cairo. He had served in different portfolios before his last deployment. The diplomat is said to have been suffering from diabetes.
He joins a list of Somalis who have been lost to the virus; among them are Khalif Mumin Tohow, a regional state official who died in Mogadishu; ex-Prime Minister Nur Adde and music icon Ahmed Ismail Hussein both of whom died in the UK.
Somalia COVID-19 stats: May 11 at 7:00 GMT:
Confirmed cases = 1054
Number of deaths = 51
Recoveries = 118
May 2: Nigerien minister succumbs to virus
Coronavirus caused the death of Nigers minister of emp
