View source for Meles Zenawi

{{Short description|Prime Minister of Ethiopia from 1995 to 2012}}
{{Hatnote|In this [[Ethiopian name]], the name Zenawi Asres is a [[patronymic]], and the person should be referred to by the [[given name]], Meles.}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| birth_name          = Legesse Zenawi Asres
| native_name         = {{nobold|መለስ ዜናዊ}}
| native_name_lang    = ti
| image               = Meles Zenawi - World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2012.jpg
| office              = [[Prime Minister of Ethiopia]]
| president           = [[Negasso Gidada]]<br />[[Girma Wolde-Giorgis]]
| term_start          = 23 August 1995
| term_end            = 20 August 2012<br>({{age in years and days|1995|8|23|2012|8|20}})
| predecessor         = [[Tamirat Layne]]
| successor           = [[Hailemariam Desalegn]]
| office1             = Interim [[President of Ethiopia]]
| primeminister1      = [[Tesfaye Dinka]]<br />[[Tamirat Layne]]
| term_start1         = 28 May 1991
| term_end1           = 22 August 1995<br>({{age in years and days|1991|5|28|1995|8|22}})
| predecessor1        = [[Tesfaye Gebre Kidan]] {{small|(Acting)}}
| successor1          = [[Negasso Gidada]]
| office2             = Member of the<br />[[House of Peoples' Representatives]]
| term_start2         = 19 May 1995
| term_end2           = 20 August 2012<br>({{age in years and days|1995|5|19|2012|8|20}})
| constituency2       = [[Adwa]]
| office3             = 1st Chairman of the [[Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front]]
| term_start3         = 8 May 1988
| term_end3           = 20 August 2012<br>({{age in years and days|1988|5|8|2012|8|20}})
| predecessor3        = ''Party established''
| successor3          = Hailemariam Desalegn
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1955|5|8|df=y}}
| birth_place         = [[Adwa]], [[Tigray Province]], [[Ethiopian Empire]]
| death_date          = {{death date and age|2012|8|20|1955|5|9|df=y}}
| death_place         = [[Brussels]], [[Belgium]]<ref>{{cite news |title=Ethiopian PM Meles Zenawi dies after illness |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19328356 |work=BBC News |date=21 August 2012 |access-date=21 August 2012}}</ref>
| party               = [[Tigray People's Liberation Front]]
| death_cause         = 
| otherparty          = [[Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front]]<br />[[Marxist–Leninist League of Tigray]]
| spouse              = [[Azeb Mesfin]]
| children            = 3
| allegiance          = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Tigray Region.svg}} [[Tigray People's Liberation Front|TPLF]] (1975&ndash;1991)<br> {{flag|Ethiopia}} (1991&ndash;2012)
| battles             = [[Ethiopian Civil War]]<br>[[Insurgency in Ogaden]]<br>[[Eritrean–Ethiopian War]]<br>[[Somali Civil War (2006–2009)]]
| caption             = Meles in 2012
| name                = Meles Zenawi
| serviceyears        = 
| alma_mater          = [[Open University]] (MBA) <br>[[Erasmus University Rotterdam]] (MSc)
}}
'''Meles Zenawi Asres''' ([[Tigrigna language|Tigrigna]] and {{Langx|am|መለስ ዜናዊ ኣስረስ}}; {{IPA|am|mɛllɛs zenawi asrɛs|pron}} {{audio|Meles Zenawi Asres.ogg|listen}}), born '''Legesse Zenawi Asres''' (8 May 1955 – 20 August 2012)<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2012/aug/21/meles-zenawi-dropout-prime-minister |title=How Meles Zenawi went from medical school dropout to Prime Minister 746 km from poly to medical college of bahirdar |work=The Guardian|date=27 August 2012 |access-date=28 August 2012 |location=London}}</ref> was an Ethiopian politician and former rebel militant commander who served as [[president of Ethiopia]] from 1991 to 1995 and as [[Prime Minister of Ethiopia|prime minister]] from 1995 until his death in 2012.

Born in [[Adwa]] to an Ethiopian father and an Eritrean mother, Meles became actively involved in politics after changing his original first name from Legesse to Meles, adopted following the execution of fellow university student Meles Takele by the [[Derg]] government in 1975. In that year, he left [[Addis Ababa University|Haile Selassie I University]] to join the [[Tigray People's Liberation Front]] (TPLF) and fight against the Derg (the [[Mengistu Haile Mariam]]-led [[military dictatorship]] in Ethiopia). In 1989, he became the chairman of the TPLF, and the head of the [[Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front]] (EPRDF) after its formation in 1988.

After leading the EPRDF to victory in the [[Ethiopian Civil War]], he served as president of the [[Transitional Government of Ethiopia]] from 1991 to 1995,<ref name="reuters.com">{{cite news| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ethiopia-meles-idUSBRE87K04K20120827 |work=Reuters |title=Ethiopians mourn strongman ruler Meles, dead at 57|date=25 August 2012}}</ref> then as the [[Heads of government of Ethiopia|2nd]] prime minister of Ethiopia from 1995 to his death in 2012.<ref name="tadesse1">{{cite web|last=TADESSE|first=KIRUBEL|title=Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi Dead at 57|url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/ethiopian-prime-minister-meles-zenawi-dead-57-17046465|publisher=ABC News|access-date=26 August 2012}}</ref> [[Premiership of Meles Zenawi|Meles Zenawi's administration]] brought Ethiopia to [[ethnic federalism]]; he expressed his [[populist]] view that [[List of ethnic groups in Ethiopia|ethnic groups]] should share their own languages, culture and lands. An [[1993 Eritrean independence referendum|Eritrean referendum]] was held during his four-year presidency, which resulted in Eritrean secession from Ethiopia in 1993, but the two countries entered into a [[Eritrean–Ethiopian War|war]] owing to the [[Eritrean–Ethiopian border conflict|territorial dispute]] from 1998 to 2000, during which 98,217 people were killed. In the [[2005 Ethiopian general election|2005 general election]], Meles's party EPRDF won and he remained as prime minister, while opposition parties strongly complained that the election was "stolen" and unfair. Shortly during and after the election, disastrous [[2005 Ethiopian general election violence|riots and protests]] sparked across [[Addis Ababa]], in which 193 people were killed by [[police brutality]].<ref>Abbink, J. (2006). [https://academic.oup.com/afraf/article-abstract/105/419/173/15028 Discomfiture of democracy? The 2005 election crisis in Ethiopia and its aftermath.] African affairs, 105(419), 173-199.</ref>

During [[Premiership of Meles Zenawi|his tenure]], Ethiopia became one of Africa's fastest-growing economies.<ref name="nytimes.com">{{cite news|date=29 August 2012|title=Meles Zenawi, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Dies at 57|first=Jeffrey |last=Gettleman|newspaper=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/22/world/africa/meles-zenawi-ethiopian-leader-dies-at-57.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FZenawi%2C%20Meles&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=7&pgtype=collection}}</ref><ref name="britannica.com">{{cite encyclopedia|title=Meles Zenawi|encyclopedia=britannica|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Meles-Zenawi|date=16 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=7 November 2012|title=After Meles Zenawi: Implications for Ethiopia's Development|url=http://www.meleszenawi.com/after-meles-zenawi-implications-for-ethiopias-development/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116093109/http://www.meleszenawi.com/after-meles-zenawi-implications-for-ethiopias-development/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=16 November 2012|website=meleszenawi.com}}</ref> Meles undertook major reforms to the country, including land reforms attempt to reduce serious droughts, school expansions, and agricultural interests. Meanwhile, his government described by many human rights groups and analysis as authoritarian, marked by perpetual [[Cult of personality|personality cult]], suppressing civil liberties by initiating government crackdowns, arresting political opponents and fueling ethnic clashes.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Allo |first=Awol |title=Ethiopia’s Meles Zenawi: Legacies, memories, histories |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2014/9/5/ethiopias-meles-zenawi-legacies-memories-histories|date=5 September 2014 |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Uncategorised |date=2012-05-21 |title=How Meles Zenawi rules Ethiopia - By Richard Dowden |url=https://africanarguments.org/2012/05/how-meles-rules-ethiopia-by-richard-dowden/ |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=African Arguments |language=en-GB}}</ref>  "Zenawism" refers to his principles and policies of ethnic federalism, especially those the TPLF advocated, and is the subject of academic study.<ref>{{cite web |last=Messele |first=Bereket Eshetu |date=2020-10-10 |title=Splitting Southern Nations region into four can promote peace |url=https://www.ethiopia-insight.com/2020/10/10/splitting-southern-nations-region-into-four-can-promote-peace/ |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=Ethiopia Insight |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Ethiopia's Ethnic Federalism: Part of the Problem or Part of the Solution |url=https://verfassungsblog.de/ethiopias-ethnic-federalism-part-of-the-problem-or-part-of-the-solution/ |access-date=2022-03-23 |journal=Verfassungsblog: On Matters Constitutional |year=2019 |doi=10.17176/20190211-220709-0 |language=de-DE |last1=Fessha |first1=Yonatan }}</ref> He died in [[Brussels]], Belgium, on 20 August 2012 from an undisclosed illness.

==Early life and education==
{{Expand section|date=June 2013}}
Meles was born in [[Adwa]] in northern Ethiopia, to Zenawi Asres, a [[Tigrayan]] from Adwa and Alemash Ghebreluel, an [[Demographics of Eritrea|Eritrean]] from [[Adi Quala]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|title= Profile: Ethiopian leader Meles Zenawi| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4545711.stm|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051231052602/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4545711.stm|archive-date=31 December 2005 |date=10 August 2005|access-date=6 February 2011|first=Uduak|last=Amimo}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ezega.com/news/NewsDetails?Page=news&NewsID=3378|title=Revisiting the Life of the Late Meles Zenawi: Part One|website=Ezega.com}}</ref> He was the third of six children. His first name at birth was Legesse (thus Legesse Zenawi, [[Ge'ez alphabet|Ge'ez]]: ለገሰ ዜናዊ ''legesse zēnāwī''). He eventually became better known by his [[Noms de guerre|nom de guerre]] ''Meles'', which he adopted in honor of university student and fellow [[Tigrayans|Tigrayan]] Meles Tekle who was executed by the Derg government in 1975.<ref>{{cite web|first=Ivo |last=Romein |url=http://home.planet.nl/~romei017/ethiopianet-peoples-section-tigrayans.htm |title=Nom de guerre Meles |publisher=Home.planet.nl |access-date=13 November 2011}}</ref> He received primary education at Queen of Sheba Junior High School in Adwa.<ref name=":2">{{cite web |url=http://www.ethioembassy.org.uk/facts%20about%20ethiopia/biography%20ato%20meles%20zenawi.htm |title=Biography Ato Meles Zenawi |access-date=21 November 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060925015629/http://www.ethioembassy.org.uk/Facts%20About%20Ethiopia/Biography%20Ato%20Meles%20Zenawi.htm |archive-date=25 September 2006}}</ref> Because he started school at age 11 or 12 it took him 5 years to complete the regular 8-year program as he was able to skip grades. He then joined the prestigious General Wingate High school in [[Addis Ababa]] on full scholarship and completed high school in 1972. Upon graduating with honors from General Wingate, he was awarded the Haile Selassie I Prize, a selective award given only to the most outstanding students.<ref name="Nilefall.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.nilefall.com/people.html |title=Meles given the Haile Selassie I Prize Trust |publisher=Nilefall.com |access-date=13 November 2011}}</ref><ref name="issafrica.org">{{cite web|url=https://issafrica.org/index.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160203163049/http://www.issafrica.org/index.php?link_id=14&slink_id=5200&link_type=12&slink_type=12&tmpl_id=3|url-status=dead|title=Events|archive-date=3 February 2016|website=ISS Africa}}</ref> In 1975, Meles left the university to join the [[Tigray People's Liberation Front]].

Meles Zenawi was an Ethiopian [[Oriental Orthodox|Orthodox Christian]].

== Early political career ==
=== Ethiopian Civil War (1974–1991) ===
Meles was first with the Tigrayan National Organization (TNO), the forerunner of the [[Tigray People's Liberation Front]] (TPLF). Aregawi Berhe, a former member of the TPLF, notes that historians John Young and Jenny Hammond "vaguely indicated" Meles as a founder of the TPLF in their books. Aregawi insists that both he and Sebhat Nega joined the Front "months" after it was founded.<ref>''A Political history of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (1975–1991)'' (Los Angeles: Tsehai, 2009), p. 62.</ref> While a member of the TPLF, Meles established the [[Marxist-Leninist League of Tigray]] (MLLT).
[[File:Ethiopia 2005-06 Henoch and Sarah.44.jpg|thumb|Meles (far right) sitting next to [[Bereket Simon]] in a 1970s political meeting]]
The TPLF was one of the armed groups struggling against the Derg, the junta which led Ethiopia from 1974 to 1991. Meles was elected member of the leadership committee in 1979 and chairman of the executive committee of TPLF in 1983. He was the chairperson of both the TPLF and the EPRDF. After the EPRDF assumed power at the end of the [[Ethiopian Civil War]] in 1991. He was president of the Transitional Government of Ethiopia during which he paved the way for Eritrea to [[1993 Eritrean independence referendum|secede from the country]].<ref name=":0" />

==President of Ethiopia (1991–1995)==

=== Domestic affairs ===
Meles stated that EPRDF's victory was a triumph for the thousands of TPLF-fighters who were killed, for the millions of Ethiopians who were victims of the country's biggest famine during the Derg regime, when some estimates put up to 1.5 million deaths of Ethiopians from famine and the Red Terror. Accordingly, he maintained that the big support it received from peasants and rural areas helped EPRDF maintain peace and stability. Foreign support was diverse; the [[Arab League]], as well as Western nations, supported the EPRDF rebels against the communist [[Soviet Union|Soviet]]-supported government (although the TPLF was at the time [[Marxism|Marxist]]) at the height of the Cold War.

"What the implications of this will be in terms of relations between Ethiopia and the European Union, we will have to wait and see but I don't think you will be surprised if Ethiopia were to insist that it should not be patronised."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thinkexist.com/quotes/meles_zenawi/|title=Meles Zenawi quotes|author=ThinkExist.com Quotations|website=Thinkexist.com|access-date=13 November 2011}}</ref>

The United States did not facilitated peace talks between different rebel groups including EPRDF and the Derg to bring an end to the civil war which lasted for nearly 17 years and reach some kind of political settlement in 1991.<ref name="www1.umn.edu">{{cite web|url=http://www1.umn.edu/humanrts/ins/ethiopia_amharas_93.html |title=Ethiopia: Status of Amharas|date=6 April 1993|website=1.umn.edu|access-date=7 July 2022}}</ref> The talks did not bear any fruit as EPRDF's force were moving to the capital and Mengistu fled the country. The United States agreed to support the EPRDF which would have, nevertheless, seized power without anyone's support. Many angry demonstrators in Addis Ababa reacted to this by protesting against [[Herman Jay Cohen|Herman Cohen]], the U.S. State Department's chief of African affairs who attended a conference that demonstrators viewed as legitimizing the EPRDF.

In July 1991, the Convention of Nationalities was held. It was the first Ethiopian multinational convention where delegates of various nations and organizations were given fair and equal representation and observed by various international organizations including the United Nations, [[Organization of African Unity]], [[European Economic Community]], and the [[United States]] and the [[United Kingdom]].

=== Eritrean-Ethiopian relations ===
Although Meles and his administration claimed they preferred a united but federal state that included the Eritrean state, since Meles' TPLF fought together with EPLF, Meles did not have a choice but to leave the decision to [[Eritrea]]n leadership in the hope that the [[1993 Eritrean independence referendum|independence referendum]] would vote against secession, according to ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine's 1991 analysis.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,973133-3,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930044534/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,973133-3,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 September 2007|title=TIME magazine 1991 June 10|last=Beyer|first=Lisa|date=10 June 1991|magazine=Time|access-date=13 November 2011}}</ref> The Eritreans were given the choice for independence or to stay in the union. They voted for independence on 24 May 1993, [[Isaias Afewerki]] became the leader of Eritrea. Meles was in [[Asmara]], Eritrea as the keynote speaker. Many{{who|date=August 2012}} in the Meles administration, as well as opposition parties, were angry over the decision to grant Eritrea its independence.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kilner |first=Derek |url=http://voanews.com/english/2008-02-20-voa32.cfm |title=VOA News - UN Troops in Eritrea Move to Capital |date= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080225140553/http://voanews.com/english/2008-02-20-voa32.cfm |accessdate=2022-08-06|archive-date=25 February 2008 }}</ref>

Despite working together<ref name="aljaz" /> against the Derg regime, Meles and Isaias positive relationship turned sour after Meles succumbed to U.S. pressure to hold an election within a year, but Afewerki abandoned his original promise to create a transitional government in the early 1990s.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,973133-3,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930044534/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,973133-3,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=30 September 2007|title=Ethiopia: Rebels Take Charge|last=Beyer|first=Lisa|date=10 June 1991|magazine=Time|access-date=21 November 2009}}</ref> The [[Eritrean-Ethiopian War]] began in May 1998 following the Eritrean troops invasion of Badme and parts of Sheraro woredas.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/from_our_own_correspondent/756845.stm|title=Ethiopian troops celebrate(2000)|date=20 May 2000|access-date=13 November 2011|work=BBC News}}</ref> Following the invasion Ethiopia demanded that the Eritrean troops leave the invaded areas completely. However, the Eritrean government refused to pull out. Then the Ethiopians responded with huge counter - offensive measures which subsequently lead to the capture of the disputed Badme area and most parts of western Eritrea, and Ethiopian President Negaso Gidada gave a victory speech and a peace treaty was signed a few weeks later. According to the peace treaty Ethiopia then pulled out of the Eritrean Territory.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/monitoring/media_reports/767936.stm|title=Negaso Gidada victory speech|date=28 May 2000|access-date=13 November 2011|work=BBC News}}</ref> Though Ethiopian troops controlled [[Badme]],<ref name="Eritrea broke law in border war">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4548754.stm|title=Africa {{pipe}} Eritrea broke law in border war|date=21 December 2005|access-date=22 August 2012|work=BBC News}}</ref> after the Boundary Commission, established in the [[Algiers Agreement (2000)]], ruled that Badme belonged to Eritrea, Ethiopia continued to maintain a presence of its soldiers in the town.<ref name="aljazdead">{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/08/201282144342545378.html|title=Ethiopian leader Meles Zenawi dies – Africa|publisher=Al Jazeera|access-date=22 August 2012}}</ref>

== Prime Minister of Ethiopia (1995–2012) ==
{{Main|Premiership of Meles Zenawi}}
A [[Constitution of Ethiopia|new constitution]] was approved in 1994, providing for a parliamentary system. The president served as ceremonial head of state, with the prime minister as head of government and chief executive. The EPRDF handily won the [[1995 Ethiopian general election|1995 elections]], and Meles was sworn in as prime minister when the new Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia was formally inaugurated on 21 August 1995.

=== First term (1995–2000)===
Meles was appointed as [[Prime Minister of Ethiopia|Prime Minister]] after the 1995 general election, and was chairman of the [[Tigray People's Liberation Front]]. Under his government, Meles encouraged privatization of government companies, farms, lands, and investments which reversed the previous Derg communist rule.

====Ethnic federalism====
{{main|Ethnic discrimination in Ethiopia}}
{{see also|Ethnic federalism#Ethiopia}}
[[File:Flag of Ethiopia.svg|thumb|[[Flag of Ethiopia]] since 1995. The radiant star insignia indicates equality between nations and nationalities of Ethiopia]]
Meles' government implemented [[Federalism in Ethiopia|ethnic based federalism]] as a response to what he considered to be the "old imperial rule of [[Amhara people]]". Meanwhile, the [[Oromo Liberation Front]] (OLF), while drafting the constitution counted Amharas and [[Tigrayans]] dominated the imperial rule likewise.{{clarify|clarification needed|date=May 2024}} Reasons posited the aim of ethnic federalism empowers all ethnic groups in Ethiopia to share their cultures and languages, and ethnic-based liberation front preferred to join the July Convention of Nationalities in 1991. Critic always commented this system brings to divisions, which on other hands, Meles argues it gives several interests, equitable distribution and wealth to them. He added that the system provides recourse to fight poverty, peasants must choice their own decisions in their own languages. Meles views emphasized an economic growth claiming "if you think it is threat, it will be; if you think it a benefit, then it will be. Ethnicity will become less an issue as the economy grows and Ethiopia's process of assimilation does its job."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/33/008.html|title=Ethnicity will become less an issue|publisher=Hartford-hwp.com|access-date=13 November 2011}}</ref>

His government criticized for decentralizing of language system. Critics concerned that this policy would fracture [[Ethiopian nationalism|Ethiopian national identity]]. [[Regions of Ethiopia]] have their official state language. For example, [[Afaan Oromo]] is the official language of [[Oromia Region]], [[Afar language|Afar]] for Afar Region, [[Harari language|Harari]] for [[Harari Region]]. [[Amharic]] is official working language to Amhara, [[Benishangul-Gumuz]], [[Gambela Region|Gambela]], and [[Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ethiopia.gov.et/snnp-regional-state|title=SNNP Regional State - Ethiopia|website=Ethiopia.gov.et|language=en-US|access-date=2018-01-21}}</ref>

====Freedom of religion====
{{Pie chart
|thumb = right
|caption = Religion in Ethiopia (2016 estimate)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/ethiopia/#:~:text=Religions,%2C%20Catholic%200.7%25%2C%20traditional%20.|title = Ethiopia - the World Factbook| date=2 August 2022 }}</ref>
|label1 = [[Ethiopian Orthodox Church|Ethiopian Orthodox]]
|value1 = 43.8
|color1 = Orchid
|label2 = [[Islam in Ethiopia|Muslim]]
|value2 = 31.3
|color2 = Green
|label3 = [[Protestant]]
|value3 = 22.8
|color3 = DodgerBlue
|label4 = [[Catholic Church in Ethiopia|Catholic]]
|value4 = 0.7
|color4 = GreenYellow
|label5 = [[Traditional African religion|Traditional faiths]]
|value5 = 0.6
|color5 = Yellow
|label6 = Other
|value6 = 0.8
|color6 = Red
}}
Meles' government allowed freedom of religion formally in 1991. Previous issues including Orthodox Church dominance prior 1974, seizure of church by the Derg regime, state sponsored persecution against non-Orthodox Christians, second-class citizenship accorded to Ethiopian Muslims, and land owning issues by non-Orthodox population almost resolved. However, most analysis stated that there was sporadic clashes since equality and rights granted by [[state religion|national]] or [[new religions]].<ref name="UNHRC Religion">{{cite web|url=http://www.unhcr.org/refworld/country,,USDOS,,ETH,,4cf2d09dc,0.html|title=2010 Report on International Religious Freedom – Ethiopia|date=17 November 2010|publisher=United Nations Human Rights Committee|access-date=21 August 2012}}</ref>

====Freedom of press====
[[File:Journalist training in Ethiopia (5762518059).jpg|thumb|Journalists training in 2005]] 
Prior to federalism, both the Haile Selassie and Derg government limited [[freedom of press|media rights]]. During Meles' administration, however, politically inflicted media organization became decelerated, while entertainment surging in opposite. It was believed{{clarify|Believed by whom?|date=December 2022}} that FM radio stations were licensed under regional governments, community organizations and private companies. The government licensed seven regional state television transmission agencies, but there are not private broadcasters in the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.monstersandcritics.com/africa/article_1096746.php/Ethiopia_licenses_first_private_commercial_radio_operators|title=government grants licences to two domestic private commercial FM radio operators|publisher=News.monstersandcritics.com|access-date=13 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071204094051/http://news.monstersandcritics.com/africa/article_1096746.php/Ethiopia_licenses_first_private_commercial_radio_operators|archive-date=4 December 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/3770689.stm|title=Ethiopia legalises private radio|last=Adow|first=Mohammed|date=2 June 2004|access-date=13 November 2011|publisher=BBC News}}</ref>

====Equity and growth====
Meles government advocated "pro-poor" domestic policy. According to World Bank's East African leadership, the Ethiopian government ranked first to share GDP for "pro-poor" sectors.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.addisfortune.com/INTERVIEW-World%20Bank%20%20Modestly%20Satisfied.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070404181210/http://www.addisfortune.com/INTERVIEW-World%20Bank%20%20Modestly%20Satisfied.htm|url-status=usurped|title=Ethiopian government's rank in Africa on spending policies|archive-date=4 April 2007|access-date=7 July 2022}}</ref> It also created regional development to Amhara Development Association,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ada.org.et/|title=Amhara Development Association|publisher=Ada.org.et|access-date=13 November 2011}}</ref> Tigray Development Association,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tdaint.org/|title=Tigrai Development Association|publisher=Tdaint.org|access-date=13 November 2011}}</ref> Oromia Development Association and many others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.oda.org.et/|title=Oromia Development Association|date=21 January 2010|publisher=Oda.org.et|access-date=13 November 2011}}</ref> 
Meles government worked the country to economically grow steadily since he took an office. During the last seven years, Ethiopia's GDP growth had shown 9 percent of rate. The country also topped to the category "policies of social inclusion and equity" in domain of "economic management", while Ethiopia was successful scoring "structural policies" and "public sector management and institutions". Gross primary enrollment rate which was initially poor, went 93% in 2004 from 72% in 1990, raising literacy rate from 50% in 1997 to 65% in 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinafrica.net/news/east_africa/401324.htm|title=Ethiopia's GPD increasing|website=Businessinafrica.net|access-date=13 November 2011|archive-date=23 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723033730/http://www.businessinafrica.net/news/east_africa/401324.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> Opposition parties contested those growth rate, stating double-digit inflation comes from a result of ruling party government economic failure.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200706040936.html|title=Ethiopia: Opposition MPs Poke Fun At Gov't 'Economic Growth' Claim|last=Abiye|first=Yonas|date=4 June 2007|website=AllAfrica.com}}</ref>
Ethiopia became the fastest growing countries in Africa.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200705140003.html|title=Africa: Continent Records Highest Growth in Two Decades|date=14 May 2007|website=AllAfrica.com}}</ref>

===Second term (2000–2005)===
[[File:Meles Zenawi.jpg|thumb|190px|Meles in 2002 photographed by Helene C. Stikkel]]
In [[2000 Ethiopian general election|2000 general election]], Meles reelected as prime minister, with opposition parties like [[United Ethiopian Democratic Forces]] (UEDF) shared parliament seats. According to Ethiopian [[Human Rights Council]], local UN staff, diplomatic missions, political parties, domestic non-governmental organizations, both general and regional elections were free and fair in most areas. However, there was misconduct in the [[Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region]], particularly in the [[Hadiya Zone]].<ref>[https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2001/af/8372.htm "Ethiopia: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices"], Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, US State Department . Retrieved 9 July 2009.</ref>

====School expansions====
Ethiopia has expanded schools partially since 1990 without regional coverage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eprdforgans.org/EPRDF_doc/Articles/News/From_Dec/Dire_S.htm|title=Over 16mln birr secondary school built in Diredawa town|date=7 June 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070407180213/http://eprdforgans.org/EPRDF_doc/Articles/News/From_Dec/Dire_S.htm|archive-date=7 April 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ucbp-ethiopia.com/e547/index_eng.html|title=Focus On Higher Education|publisher=Ucbp-ethiopia.com|access-date=13 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723014706/http://www.ucbp-ethiopia.com/e547/index_eng.html|archive-date=23 July 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> Meles rearranged school expanding scheme with million of Ethiopian birr; while his policy focussing around agricultural sector, the jobs in urban areas became declined, resulting in opposition from students and urban residents as well.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eprdforgans.org/EPRDF_doc/Articles/News/finewsfo/Tigaccess_educ.htm|title=Over 19,000 children get access to education in North Western Tigray|date=18 November 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070408151051/http://eprdforgans.org/EPRDF_doc/Articles/News/finewsfo/Tigaccess_educ.htm|archive-date=8 April 2007}}</ref> In 1991, 27% of Ethiopian children attended school. The growth enrollment doubled to 77% and reached 85% in November 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessinafrica.net/news/east_africa/401324.htm|title=Ethiopia is showing "good" economic progress|publisher=Businessinafrica.net|access-date=13 November 2011|archive-date=23 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110723033730/http://www.businessinafrica.net/news/east_africa/401324.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> As of 2005, there were 13,500 elementary schools and 550 secondary schools. Secondary schools were aided by satellite program called "School-Net".<ref name="autogenerated3">{{cite web|url=http://www.ethioembassy.org.uk/Notices/Are%20you%20interested%20in%20helping%20Ethiopia's%20education%20programme.htm#Progress_so_far|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927115736/http://www.ethioembassy.org.uk/Notices/Are%20you%20interested%20in%20helping%20Ethiopia%27s%20education%20programme.htm|url-status=dead|title=Educational improvements|archive-date=27 September 2007|access-date=7 July 2022}}</ref>
[[File:Laboratory for High School Science, Addis Ababa.jpg|thumb|High school laboratory in Addis Ababa]]
Under his leadership, many universities and colleges unprecedentedly expanded and constructed. Those higher institutions include [[Adama University]], [[Jimma University]], [[Mekelle University]], and newly built [[Debub University]]. Other are Awassa College and [[Bahir Dar University]].<ref name="autogenerated3" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ethiopiafirst.com/news/2000/news665.html|title=other new colleges|publisher=Ethiopiafirst.com|access-date=13 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001123633/http://www.ethiopiafirst.com/news/2000/news665.html|archive-date=1 October 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref> It also implemented various departments and faculties.<ref>[http://www.ena.gov.et/EnglishNews/2007/May/13May07/25264.htm Wollega University expanding] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070707121604/http://www.ena.gov.et/EnglishNews/2007/May/13May07/25264.htm|date=7 July 2007}}</ref> and the new Wolaita Soddo University started taking in students in February 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waltainfo.com/EnNews/2007/Feb/12Feb07/24505.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20071007234850/http://www.waltainfo.com/EnNews/2007/Feb/12Feb07/24505.htm|url-status=dead|title=New university and facilities|archive-date=7 October 2007|access-date=7 July 2022}}</ref><ref>[http://www.erta.gov.et/textnews/engnews/2007EngNewsr/Febreuary/Week%202/New%20Univercity%2014-02-2007.htm Woliata Soddo U] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071213015307/http://www.erta.gov.et/textnews/engnews/2007EngNewsr/Febreuary/Week%202/New%20Univercity%2014-02-2007.htm|date=13 December 2007}}</ref>

====Land and agriculture====
[[File:Oxen threshing in Tigray, Ethiopia.jpg|thumb|Oxen threshing in Tigray Region]]
Ethiopia frequently suffered from [[Famines in Ethiopia|droughts throughout its history]]. Under his office, major droughts occurred in 1999/2000,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/710467.stm|title=Urgent plea for famine aid|date=12 April 2000|work=BBC News|access-date=12 May 2010}}</ref> 2002/2003<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/reports/international/ethiopia_20031118.shtml|title=Radio 4 – Today Programme International Report|publisher=BBC|access-date=13 November 2011}}</ref> and 2009/2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/8321043.stm|title=Lasting legacy of Ethiopia's famine|last=Woolridge|first=Mike|date=23 October 2009|work=BBC News|access-date=12 May 2010}}</ref>

Meles government encouraged collectivist land reforms and redistribution at local levels. However, the constitution deemed has shortcomings. Article 40, section 3 states that, "The right to own rural and urban land as well as natural resources belongs to only to the state and the people."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Hornet/Ethiopian_Constitution.html|title=Ethiopian Constitution|publisher=Africa.upenn.edu|access-date=13 November 2011}}</ref> The farmers use uncertain transfer rights whilst using lands. Since 2008, the government announced "empty" land leasing to foreign investors. This outlook considered by some holders "[[land grabbing]]" with a risk of losing their plots.

The EPRDF once convinced that land should not be privatized, farmers would pay their land after drought. His government believed privatization should be implemented potentially, but not presently.

===Third term (2005–2010)===
[[File:Ethiopian general elections 2005.jpg|thumb|[[2005 Ethiopian general election|Ethiopian general election, 2005]]: parliament composition. Image only shows parties with more than 10 seats. The group "others" includes parties under 10 seats.
Red : EPRDF
Green : CUD
Purple : UEDF
Dark blue : SPDP
Orange : OFDM
Light blue : Others]]
The EPRDF faced an unprecedented challenge from opposition groups like the [[Coalition for Unity and Democracy]] (CUD), UEDF, and the [[Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement]] in the [[2005 Ethiopian general election|2005 election]]. It was one of the most controversial elections in Ethiopian history, and the opposition accused the EPRDF of electoral fraud.<ref>[http://www.electionsethiopia.org/Election%20Results.html Election results with detailed map of Ethiopia] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110907214829/http://www.electionsethiopia.org/Election%20Results.html|date=7 September 2011}}</ref> Demonstrations broke out in Addis Ababa and protesters were massacred by government forces—763 people were killed and over 10,000 were imprisoned.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abbaymedia.com/pdf/list_of_people_shot.pdf|title=Inquiry on post-election Violence : List of the names of civilians killed by police|access-date=13 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120824003038/http://www.abbaymedia.com/pdf/list_of_people_shot.pdf|archive-date=24 August 2012|url-status=usurped}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/6064638.stm|title=Ethiopian protesters 'massacred'|date=19 October 2006|work=BBC News}}</ref>

In spite of the [[2005 Ethiopian general election violence]], the Administrator of [[USAID]] recognized an EPRDF electoral victory and accused European Union election observers who were critical of the outcome of doing a "bad job" and of "favoring opposition groups".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.addisfortune.com/INTERVIEW-With%20USAID%20Director.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20071110004729/http://www.addisfortune.com/INTERVIEW-With%20USAID%20Director.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=10 November 2007|title=US official says European observers did a bad job and "went overboard"}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.addisfortune.com/INTERVIEW-With%20USAID%20Director.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20071110004729/http://www.addisfortune.com/INTERVIEW-With%20USAID%20Director.htm|url-status=usurped|archive-date=10 November 2007|title=USAID says opposition lost the election}}</ref>

===Fourth term (2010–2012)===
The TPLF administration strongly regards gender equality; Meles' wife and First Lady [[Azeb Mesfin]] was forefront advocator in women rights. Meles government encouraged all-encompassing women participations, organized forums to discuss backward issues in national television. Discussions include concerning tangential issues, HIV transmission, premature marriage, job opportunities and more. Various organizations emerged for example the [[Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association]] (EWLA), [[KMG Ethiopia|Kembatti Mentti Gezzima-tope]] and [[Network of Ethiopian Women's Associations]].

====2012 journalist verbal attack====
On 18 May 2012, Meles attended to Food Security 2012 G8 Summit in Washington D.C to discuss agricultural transformation in Africa to deal with unification of farmers and private sectors. Abebe Gelaw, a Washington-based Ethiopian journalist disrupted the conference by yelling at the podium against Meles with words:
<blockquote>
Meles Zenawi is a dictator! Meles Zenawi is a dictator! Free [[Eskinder Nega]]! Free political prisoners! You are a dictator. You are committing crimes against humanity. Food is nothing without freedom! Meles has committed crimes against humanity! We need freedom! Freedom! Freedom!<ref>{{cite web |last=ECADF |date=2012-05-28 |title=Abebe Gellaw: The Man Who Cried "Freedom!" |url=https://ecadforum.com/2012/05/28/the-man-who-cried-freedom/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120531022558/http://ecadforum.com/2012/05/28/the-man-who-cried-freedom/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=31 May 2012 |access-date=2022-03-22 |language=en-US}}</ref>
</blockquote>
Abebe was escorted by guards and detained. Abebe noted in his latest speech, "I voiced the anger, frustration and aspiration of the Ethiopian people in front of world leaders...Some are calling me a hero, others says I deserve honours. While I appreciate all the outpour of support, this is not about me. It is not about my heroism but the truth that must be told with utmost clarity. It is about our country, people, and the freedom and dignity we deserve."<ref>{{cite web |title=Journalists as Political Citizens: Throwing Shoes and Words {{!}} Sampsonia Way Magazine |url=https://www.sampsoniaway.org/fearless-ink/2012/06/01/journalists-as-political-citizens-throwing-shoes-and-words/ |access-date=2022-03-22 |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Foreign affairs ===
{{POV section|date=December 2021}}
{{Main|Foreign policy of the Meles Zenawi administration}}
[[File:Vladimir Putin 3 December 2001-2.jpg|thumb|Meles with [[President of Russia|Russian President]] [[Vladimir Putin]] on 3 December 2001]]Meles moved to have Ethiopia gain a larger share of the [[Nile|Nile River]] water. Part of this entailed using Ethiopia's [[hydropower]] prospects as leverage in exporting power to [[Egypt]], amongst others. He had also aided the [[Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement]] prior to independence of [[South Sudan]] as the rebels fought the government in [[Khartoum]]. Since the [[War on terror|War on Terrorism]], Meles sought to consolidate hegemony of Ethiopia in East Africa, including his mediation efforts with [[Sudan]] and South Sudan, as well as stabilizing [[Somalia]] towards the end of the mandate of the [[Transitional Federal Government]]. Though he had controversially sent troops to fight against the [[Islamic Courts Union]], he had been praised for working towards a stable situation along with the [[African Union]] since 2009.<ref name="aljaz">{{cite web|url=http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/08/2012821115259626668.html |title=Meles: The titan who changed Africa – Opinion |publisher=Al Jazeera |access-date=22 August 2012}}</ref>
[[File:The Prime Minister of Ethopia, Mr. Meles Zenawi, calling on the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on November 06, 2007.jpg|thumb|Meles with Indian prime minister [[Manmohan Singh]] in [[New Delhi]] on 6 November 2007]]
[[File:Foreign Secretary with Prime Minister of Ethiopia (6777730484).jpg|thumb|Meles with [[Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs|British Foreign Secretary]] [[William Hague]] on 23 February 2012]]

====Eritrea====
[[File:George W. Bush - Daniel arap Moi - Meles Zenawi.jpg|thumb|President [[George W. Bush]] welcomes President [[Daniel arap Moi]] of Kenya and Meles Zenawi to the Oval Office, December 2002]]
Meles Zenawi and President of Eritrea [[Isaias Afwerki]] were on good terms, as Eritrean forces helped TPLF overthrow the [[Derg]]. As the TPLF came to power in Ethiopia, it had occurred simultaneously with the EPLF's rise to power in Eritrea. After the 30 years of war between the two countries, the people of both countries enjoyed the fruit of peace, but not for long. In 1998, the Ethiopian government [[Eritrean–Ethiopian War|waged war with Eritrea]] on basis of border conflicts. The war comes to end in 2000. During the war, between 70,000 and 98,217 people were killed and 650,000 displaced. The Algiers Agreement was a [[Algiers Agreement (2000)|peace agreement]] between the governments of Eritrea and Ethiopia signed on 12 December 2000, at [[Algiers]], [[Algeria]], which was supposed to be final and binding. Nevertheless, Meles Zenawi refused to pull back Ethiopian forces for Eritrean territory, leading to a no-war-no-peace situation in the region. Ethiopian forces reside in the sovereign lands of Eritrea, around the town Badme despite the EEBC Border ruling granting [[Badme]] to Eritrea. Eritreans feel Meles Zenawi and the [[TPLF]] have betrayed them and he is responsible for the loss of lives, relationships, and mutually benefiting opportunities of the two countries.

====Somalia====
Meles declared war on the ICU unprovoked in order to curry favor with the West. In 2006, the [[Islamic Courts Union]] assumed control of much of the southern part of Somalia and promptly imposed [[Shari'a|Shari'a law]]. The Transitional Federal Government sought to reestablish its authority, and, with the assistance of [[Ethiopian National Defense Force|Ethiopian troops]], [[African Union]] peacekeepers and air support by the United States, managed to drive out the rival ICU.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.globalpolicy.org/component/content/article/153/26334.html |title=Ethiopian Invasion of Somalia |publisher=Globalpolicy.org |date=14 August 2007 |access-date=27 June 2010}}</ref> On 8 January 2007, as the [[2007 Battle of Ras Kamboni|Battle of Ras Kamboni]] raged, TFG President and founder [[Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed]], a former colonel in the [[Somali Army]], entered Mogadishu for the first time since being elected to office. The Somali government then relocated to [[Villa Somalia]] in the capital from its interim location in [[Baidoa]]. This marked the first time since the fall of the [[Siad Barre]] regime in 1991 that the federal government controlled most of the country.<ref name="Gosppsdott">{{cite web|last=Online |first=Garowe |url=http://www.garoweonline.com/english/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=558:somalia-president-parliament-speaker-dispute-over-tfg-term&catid=55:somalia&Itemid=79 |title=Somalia President, Parliament Speaker dispute over TFG term |publisher=Garoweonline.com |date=12 January 2011 |access-date=12 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514131640/http://www.garoweonline.com/english/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=558%3Asomalia-president-parliament-speaker-dispute-over-tfg-term&catid=55%3Asomalia&Itemid=79 |archive-date=14 May 2011 }}</ref>

In October 2011, a [[Operation Linda Nchi|coordinated multinational operation]] began against Al-Shabaab in southern Somalia, with the Ethiopian military eventually joining the mission the following month.<ref name="Eatbsaois">{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-11-25/ethiopia-agrees-to-back-somalia-army-operations-igad-says.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120729154359/http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-11-25/ethiopia-agrees-to-back-somalia-army-operations-igad-says.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=29 July 2012 |title=Ethiopia Agrees to Back Somalia Military Operations, IGAD Says |work=Bloomberg BusinessWeek |date=1 December 2011 |access-date=22 August 2012 }}</ref> According to [[Ramtane Lamamra]], the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, the additional Ethiopian and AU troop reinforcements are expected to help the Somali authorities gradually expand their territorial control.<ref name="Xauosetmposnm">{{cite news|title=AU official says Ethiopian troops may pull out of Somalia next month|url=http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-07/17/c_123420243.htm|access-date=23 August 2012|date=17 July 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001205708/http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-07/17/c_123420243.htm|archive-date=1 October 2013}}</ref>

====Climate change====
[[File:Heiligendamm G8 2007 008.jpg|thumb|At the [[33rd G8 summit]] in Heiligendamm in 2007 (Meles at elevated row fourth from left)]]
Meles played an important role in developing the African Union's position on climate change since 2009<ref name="aljaz"/> and was a 'friend of the Chair' at the 15th Conference of the Parties ([[COP15]]) to the [[United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change]] (UNFCCC).{{original research inline|date=August 2012}}
[[File:Meles Zenawi - World Economic Forum on Africa 2012.jpg|thumb|Meles Zenawi, a panelist at [[World Economic Forum]] on Africa 2012.]]
On 31 August 2009, Meles was appointed Chair of the African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC). The group had been established following 4 February 2009 decision at the 12th [[African Union|AU]] Assembly of Heads of States to build a common Africa position on climate change in preparations for COP15.{{Citation needed|date=August 2012}}[[File:G8 summit in L'Aquila, family photo.jpg|thumb|Meles attending the [[35th G8 summit|G-8 Summit]] in 2009|alt=|left]]Prior to Meles' appointment, but in light of the AU's decision and the [[Algiers Declaration on the African Common Platform to Copenhagen]], on 19 May 2009 the Africa Group made a submission to the [[UNFCCC]] that included demands for US$67 billion per year in finance for adaptation funding and US$200 billion per year for mitigation and set targets in terms of reductions of emissions by developed countries not by reference to temperature.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://unfccc.int/documentation/documents/advanced_search/items/3594.php?rec=j&priref=600005245#beg |title=Africa Group submission |publisher=Unfccc.int |access-date=13 November 2011}}</ref>

On 3 September 2009, Meles made a speech to the Africa Partnership Forum, where he said:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uneca.org/apf/remarks-meles.asp |title=Meles Zenawi speech to Africa Partnership Forum |publisher=Uneca.org |date=3 September 2009 |access-date=13 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927092253/http://www.uneca.org/apf/remarks-meles.asp |archive-date=27 September 2011}}</ref>
<blockquote>
We will never accept any global deal that does not limit global warming to the minimum unavoidable level, no matter what levels of compensation and assistance are promised to us... While we will reason with everyone to achieve our objective, we will not rubber-stamp an agreement by the powers that be as the best we could get for the moment. We will use our numbers to delegitimize any agreement that is not consistent with our minimal position. If needs be we are prepared to walk out of any negotiations that threaten to be another rape of our continent.
</blockquote>

==Illness and death==
{{Main|Death and state funeral of Meles Zenawi}}
[[File:ET-Addis Abeba, photo (8).JPG|thumb|State funeral of Meles Zenawi procession in [[Addis Ababa]] street]]
[[File:ET-Harar Ethiopia (57).JPG|thumb|Live broadcast of the funeral in [[Harar]] via public space television]]
In July 2012, questions arose concerning Meles' health when he did not attend [[African Union]] summit meetings in Addis Ababa.<ref name="voa2012-07-16">{{Cite news | url=https://www.voanews.com/a/ethiopia_meles_ill_misses_african_union_nepad_meetings/1406203.html | title=Ethiopia's Meles Ill, Misses AU Meetings | date=16 July 2012 | access-date=17 July 2012 | publisher=[[Voice of America]]}}</ref><ref name="davison2012-07-16">{{Cite news | first=William | last=Davison | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-07-16/ethiopia-says-meles-is-ill-amid-african-union-summit-absence-1-.html | title=Ethiopia Says Meles Is Ill Amid African Union Summit Absence | date=16 July 2012 | access-date=17 July 2012 | publisher=[[Bloomberg L.P.]] }}</ref> Opposition groups{{which|date=August 2012}} claimed that Meles may have already died on 16 July while undergoing treatment in [[Belgium]]; however, Deputy Prime Minister [[Hailemariam Desalegn]] attributed Meles' absence to a minor illness.<ref name="davison2012-07-16" /> A press conference, during which the government planned to clarify Meles' health status, was scheduled for 18 July but postponed until later in the week. While the government acknowledged that Meles had been hospitalised, it stated that his condition was not serious.<ref name="bbc2012-07-18">{{Cite news | title=Ethiopian leader Meles Zenawi 'in hospital' | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-18882674 |work=BBC News | date=18 July 2012 | access-date=18 July 2012}}</ref> There were further rumours of his death when he was not seen in public after the 2012 [[G20 summit]]<ref name="mourn"/> and at the time of the death of the head of the [[Ethiopian Orthodox Church]], [[Abune Paulos]].

On 20 August, Meles Zenawi died after contracting an infection in Belgium.<ref name="tadesse1"/><ref name="aljaz"/><ref name="mourn"/><ref name="BBC death">{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19328356 | title=Ethiopian PM Meles Zenawi dies after illness |publisher=BBC | date=21 August 2012 | access-date=21 August 2012}}</ref><ref name="E PM Dies">{{cite news | url=https://news.yahoo.com/ethiopian-prime-minister-meles-zenawi-dead-57-051529618.html | title=Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi dead at 57 | publisher=Yahoo News | agency=Associated Press | date=21 August 2012 | access-date=21 August 2012 | author=Tadesse, Kirubel}}</ref>

Minister of Information [[Bereket Simon]] announced on state television:<ref name="aljaz"/>  
<blockquote>
It's a sad day for Ethiopia. The man who led our country for the past 21 years and brought economic and democratic changes, has died. We have lost our respected leader. Meles has been receiving treatment abroad. He was getting better and we were expecting him to return to Addis Ababa. But he developed a sudden infection and died around 11:40pm last night. His body will be returned to Ethiopia soon. We have set up a committee to organise his funeral. More information will be released about that soon. As per Ethiopian law, Hailemariam Desalegn has now taken over the leadership. He will also be in charge of the Ethiopian military and all other government institutions. I would like to stress, nothing in Ethiopia will change. The government will continue. Our policies and institutions will continue. Nothing will change in Ethiopia. Desalegn will be confirmed by parliament.</blockquote>

After his body was repatriated two days later, thousands of mourners congregated on streets from the airport to Meles' former residence to pay their last respects as his coffin, draped in the [[flag of Ethiopia]], was accompanied by a military band. The event was attended by political, military, and religious leaders, as well as diplomats and his wife, Azeb Mesfin. The body [[lay in state|lie in state]]. A declaration of [[national mourning]] was also issued.<ref name="mourn" /> There were also fears of a [[power vacuum]] after his death, as well as a possible detriment to [[Foreign relations of Ethiopia|Eritrea-Ethiopian relations]].<ref>[http://www.aljazeera.com/video/africa/2012/08/2012828141932646858.html Power vacuum fears engulf Ethiopia – Africa]. Al Jazeera.</ref>

Meles's funeral took place in [[Addis Ababa]] on 2 September 2012 in a religious ceremony attended by at least 20 African presidents and thousands of Ethiopians gathered in [[Meskel Square]].<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-19454253 "Thousands of Ethiopians attend Meles Zenawi burial"], "BBC News" (2 September 2012).</ref>

===Reactions===
Political leaders, states, and institutions offered their thoughts on Meles following his death.<ref name="mourn">[http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/08/201282254457572954.html Ethiopians mourn leader's death – Africa]. Al Jazeera.</ref>
*Olympic gold medalist and Ethiopian national [[Haile Gebrselassie]] praised Meles' achievements.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130414180239/http://www.ectv.org/2012/08/haile-gebrselassie-on-the-death-of-meles-zenawi/ Haile GebrSelassie on the Death of Meles Zenawi]. Ectv.org (21 August 2012).</ref>
*Contemporary [[United Nations]] Secretary-General [[Ban Ki-moon]] praised Meles' "exceptional leadership".<ref name="AJ mourning"/>
*[[Israel]] Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]]'s office issued a statement that read: "[Netanyahu] presented his condolences to the Ethiopian people. Meles was loved in his country. He was also a true friend of Israel. During his mandate, Ethiopia became one of Israel's closest friends."<ref name="AJ mourning">{{cite web | url=http://www.aljazeera.com/news/africa/2012/08/201282254457572954.html | title=Ethiopians mourn leader's death | publisher=Al Jazeera | date=22 August 2012 | access-date=22 August 2012}}</ref>
*[[United Kingdom]] Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] called Meles "an inspirational spokesman for Africa."<ref name="AJ mourning"/>
*[[United States]] President [[Barack Obama]] released the statement: "It was with sadness that I learned of the passing of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia. Prime Minister Meles deserves recognition for his lifelong contribution to Ethiopia's development, particularly his unyielding commitment to Ethiopia's poor. I met with Prime Minister Meles at the G-8 Summit in May and recall my personal admiration for his desire to lift millions of Ethiopians out of poverty through his drive for food security. I am also grateful for Prime Minister Meles's service for peace and security in Africa, his contributions to the African Union, and his voice for Africa on the world stage. On behalf of the American people, I offer my condolences to Prime Minister Meles' family and to the people of Ethiopia on this untimely loss and confirm the U.S. Government's commitment to our partnership with Ethiopia. Going forward, we encourage the Government of Ethiopia to enhance its support for development, democracy, regional stability and security, human rights, and prosperity for its people."<ref name="Statement by the Pres.">{{cite web | url=https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/the-press-office/2012/08/21/statement-president-death-prime-minister-meles-zenawi-ethiopia | title=statement by the president-death of prime minister meles zenawi of ethiopia | date=21 August 2012 | via=[[NARA|National Archives]] | work=[[whitehouse.gov]] | access-date=21 August 2012}}</ref>
*[[South Korea]]n President [[Lee Myung-bak]] released this statement: "The passing of Prime Minister Meles is being mourned across the globe. We all have just lost a great leader of Ethiopia and a preeminent advocate for Africa and the developing world. [...] I pray for the repose of a truly bright mind who lived an intense and moving life – my close friend."<ref name="Yonhap News">{{cite web | url=http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2012/09/02/60/0301000000AEN20120902002000315F.HTML | title=Full text of Lee's statement on death of Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi | publisher=Yonhap News | date=2 September 2012 | access-date=2 September 2012}}</ref>

Western NGOs Amnesty International called for the new administration to end Meles' "ever-increasing repression" and [[Human Rights Watch]] similarly added that the next administration should repeal the 2009 anti-terrorism law.<ref name="mourn"/> As ''[[The New York Times]]'' asked about a gap between the United States of America's strategic and ideological goals in relation to its support for Meles' government, it quoted HRW researcher Leslie Lefkow as saying: "There is an opportunity here. If donors are shrewd, they will use the opportunity that this presents to push a much stronger and bolder human rights stance and need for reform." Author [[Dan Connell]], who had interviewed Meles in June, said that "he seemed focused [then] on wrapping up a number of major projects as if he were aware the end was near. Meles knew his days were numbered."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/22/world/africa/zenawi-exemplified-conflict-between-american-interests-and-ideals.html|title=Zenawi Exemplified Conflict Between American Interests and Ideals|first=Jeffrey|last=Gettleman|date=21 August 2012|work=The New York Times}}</ref> The [[Committee to Protect Journalists]] cited and criticised the secrecy around Meles' death.<ref>[http://cpj.org/blog/2012/08/in-meles-death-as-in-life-a-penchant-for-secrecy-c.php In Meles' death, as in life, a penchant for secrecy, control – Blog – Committee to Protect Journalists]. Cpj.org.</ref> ''[[The Washington Post]]'' said that the "circumstances of his death remained laced with intrigue".<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/meles-zenawi-ethiopian-leader-dies-abroad/2012/08/21/f637bf62-e7b2-11e1-936a-b801f1abab19_story.html Ethiopian leader Meles Zenawi dies at 57]. The Washington Post.</ref>

Regional groups responded with the [[Ogaden National Liberation Front]] saying it hoped his death "may usher [in] a new era of stability and peace" and [[Al-Shabaab (militant group)|Al Shabaab]] that it was celebrating the "uplifting news".<ref name="mourn"/>

==Personal life==
{{Expand section|date=June 2013}}
Meles acquired an [[Master of Business Administration|MBA]] from the [[Open University]] of the United Kingdom in 1995 and an [[Master of Science|MSc]] degree in Economics from the [[Erasmus University Rotterdam]] of the Netherlands in 2004.<ref name="Commission for Africa">{{cite web|url=http://www.commissionforafrica.org/english/commissioners/bios/zenawi.html|title=Commission for Africa|access-date=4 February 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090709104205/http://www.commissionforafrica.org/english/commissioners/bios/zenawi.html|archive-date=9 July 2009}}</ref> In July 2002, he received an [[honorary doctoral degree]] in political science from the [[Hannam University]] in South Korea.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ethioembassy.org.uk/news/press%20releases/July%20-%2002/19-July-02.htm|title=Honorary doctoral degree|publisher=Ethioembassy.org.uk|date=19 July 2002|access-date=13 November 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928063641/http://www.ethioembassy.org.uk/news/press%20releases/July%20-%2002/19-July-02.htm|archive-date=28 September 2011}}</ref> Meles was married to [[Azeb Mesfin]], a former rebel fighter in the TPLF and, {{as of|lc=y|1=2013}}, a Member of Parliament.<ref name="hopr">http://www.hopr.gov.et/c/document_library/get_file?p_l_id=11494&folderId=11516&name=DLFE-111.pdf {{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name="fortune2013-09-08">{{Cite news| title=Azeb Mesfin, MP and Widow of Meles Zenawi | url=http://addisfortune.net/articles/azeb-mesfin-mp-and-widow-of-meles-zenawi/ | newspaper=[[Addis Fortune]] | location=Addis Ababa | date=8 September 2013 | access-date=9 October 2013 }}</ref> Meles was the father of three children; Semhal, Marda and Senay Meles.

==Legacy==
===Economic prosperity of Ethiopia===
During Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's rule, Ethiopia prospered economically (with double-digit economic growth for his last 9 years). The high economic growth is continuing 7 years after his death, since his party [[Tigray People's Liberation Front]] and [[EPRDF]] continued to work with the same policies. [[Ethiopia]] even became the fastest-growing economy in [[Africa]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Apps |first=Peter |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2018/05/ethiopia-africa-fastest-growing-economy/ |title=World Economic Fourm, "Ethiopia is Africa's fastest-growing economy"}}</ref>

===Titles, awards and honors===
Prime Minister Meles received various international awards for setting up a good foundation for the development of Ethiopia. Even though Ethiopia remains one of the poorest countries in the world, the near double-digit annual economic growth rate recently is seen as the beginning of Ethiopia's long marathon struggle to eliminate poverty. Acknowledging the rapid GDP growth of the country, the UK newspaper ''[[The Economist]]'' said in December 2007 that "Ethiopia's economy has been growing at record speed in recent years."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/agenda/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10241592 |title=Ethiopia's economy growing at record speed |newspaper=The Economist |access-date=13 November 2011 |date=5 December 2007}}</ref> In 2008, the [[International Monetary Fund]] (IMF) described the speed of Ethiopia's economic growth in recent years as the "fastest for a non-oil exporting country in Sub-Saharan Africa",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imf.org/external/np/sec/pr/2008/pr08115.htm |title=Ethiopia has fastest growing economy for a "non-oil exporting country in Sub-Saharan Africa" |publisher=Imf.org |date=19 May 2008 |access-date=13 November 2011}}</ref> with Ethiopia ranked as the second-most attractive African country for investors.<ref>{{cite news|last=Apps |first=Peter |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/privateEquity/idUSLH9083320090218 |title=Nigeria, Ethiopia top Africa investment index |work=Reuters |access-date=13 November 2011 |date=18 February 2009}}</ref>

* Prime Minister Meles was awarded the Haile Selassie I Prize Trust, a highly selective award given only to the most outstanding graduating students.<ref name="Nilefall.com"/><ref name="issafrica.org"/>
* The [[Rwanda]] government awarded Meles Rwanda's National Liberation Medal, the "Uruti," in July 2009 for helping to liberate Rwanda and end the genocide in the country. Alongside two other African leaders, Meles was also given Rwanda's highest accolade, the "Umurinzi" medal, Rwanda's Campaign Against Genocide Medal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newtimes.co.rw/index.php?issue=13946&article=17166 |title=Meles, Yoweri and Nyerere given Rwanda's highest accolades for their contribution to the liberation struggle |publisher=Newtimes.co.rw |date=3 July 2009 |access-date=13 November 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.newtimes.co.rw/index.php?issue=13945&article=17153 |title=Museveni, Zenawi, Nyerere to receive national honours |website=Newtimes.co.rw |date=3 July 2009 |access-date=13 November 2011}}</ref>
* PM Meles Zenawi was allegedly awarded the World Peace Prize for his contributions to global peace and his effort to stabilize the Horn of Africa through cooperation with Inter-Governmental Authority for Development (IGAD).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200207/16/eng20020716_99777.shtml |title=World Peace Prize, Meles |work=People's Daily |date=16 July 2002 |access-date=13 November 2011}}</ref> However, the World Peace Council strongly denied that they have awarded this prize to Meles Zenawi: saying " WPC press bureau wishes to declare that no such award was given by our organization in the past or will be given"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://allafrica.com/stories/200207230538.html|title=Council denies giving peace award to Meles Zenawi|website=Allafrica.com|access-date=7 July 2022}}</ref>
* Tabor 100, an African American entrepreneur's organization, honored PM Meles for his contribution toward economic and social transformation in Africa with its prestigious Crystal Eagle International Leadership Award in April 2005.<ref>http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geutfDOFVFNxQAjLVXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTE4ZjZkc2JkBGNvbG8DZQRsA1dTMQRwb3MDMjUEc2VjA3NyBHZ0aWQDT09QNV8xMTk-/SIG=12qbke1dr/EXP=1163299395/**http://www.mfa.gov.et/Press_Section/publication.php?Pub_Page_Id=1596 {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> Tabor 100, a U.S.-based nongovernmental organization, calling Meles Zenawi "international leader of the year 2005", also honored the efforts of the Ethiopian government in general for its war on poverty and backwardness.<ref>http://www.ethpress.gov.et/Herald/articleDetail.asp?articleid=20902 {{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>
* PM Meles was awarded the Good Governance Award of the Global Coalition for Africa for leading Ethiopia along a democratic path during the challenging period of transition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2009053039468 |title=Good governance award |publisher=Saudigazette.com.sa |date=30 May 2009 |access-date=13 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716185637/http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2009053039468 |archive-date=16 July 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://sellassie.ourfamily.com/culture/links.html |title=Good Governance Award of the Global coalition for Africa |publisher=Sellassie.ourfamily.com |access-date=13 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827001449/http://sellassie.ourfamily.com/culture/links.html |archive-date=27 August 2011}}</ref> He was selected for the [[good governance]] award by the US-based [[Corporate Council on Africa]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-18043442.html |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20091014101946/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-18043442.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 October 2009 |title=Corporate Council on Africa for the good governance award |access-date=13 November 2011}}</ref>
* PM Meles received the [[Norway]]-based 2005 [[Yara Prize]] for Green Revolution for initiating a good foundation for economic progress in Ethiopia, particularly in the agricultural sector, where the poor country has doubled its food production. During the award ceremony held in the Norwegian capital of Oslo on 3 September, the director of the UN project for Africa said, "With our support, Ethiopia can lift itself from poverty and hunger. Under Prime Minister Meles the country has created the grassroots structure to enable this to happen."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.yara.com/en/sustaining_growth/societal_responsibility/green_rev_africa/yara_prize/2005_laurates.html|title=The Yara Prize Laureate 2005 - Yara|date=25 November 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071125040318/http://www.yara.com/en/sustaining_growth/societal_responsibility/green_rev_africa/yara_prize/2005_laurates.html|archive-date=25 November 2007}}</ref>
*Meles was given the Africa Political Leadership Award of 2008 by the US-based newspaper, ''Africa Times''. Previous winners of the award include [[Desmond Tutu]], [[Nelson Mandela]] and others.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://aigaforum.com/PM_Meles_Zenawi_Received_Africa_Leadership_Award.pdf |title=Africa Political Leadership Award given to Meles Zenawi |access-date=13 November 2011}}</ref>
*Ethiopia's military honored Prime Minister Meles for his leadership during the 1998–2000 war with its northern neighbour when Eritrea invaded Ethiopia in 1998.<ref name="Eritrea broke law in border war" /><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetimes.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=809084|title=Ethiopian army honours PM|website=Thetimes.co.za|access-date=7 July 2022}}</ref>
* Residents of the historic and ancient [[World Heritage Site|UNESCO]] town of [[Axum]] in Ethiopia honored Prime Minister Meles for his political and diplomatic leadership role in the return and re-erection of the [[Obelisk of Axum]] after a 68-year stay in Rome, Italy.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nazret.com/blog/index.php?title=ethiopia_axum_town_residents_award_meles&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 |title=Axum town residents award Meles Zenawi |publisher=Nazret.com |access-date=13 November 2011}}</ref>
*Meles received a Gold Order of Merit award from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) in February 2007. PM Meles was given the CAF organisation's highest award for his services in advancing the progress of African football. Ethiopia was one of the founding countries of the CAF (1957) and the organization, with the dedication of AU leaders like Meles, was celebrating the International Year of African Football in 2007.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/6378535.stm |title=Meles Zenawi receives merit award from CAF |work=BBC News |date=20 February 2007 |access-date=13 November 2011}}</ref>

===Positions===
* Meles was a co-chairperson of the Global Coalition for Africa (GCA.)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://gcacma.org/Organization.htm |title=Organization |publisher=Global Coalition for Africa |access-date=26 September 2024}}</ref> The Global Coalition for Africa brings together senior African policy makers and their partners to deepen dialogue and build consensus on Africa's priority development issues.
* Prime Minister Meles served as the Chairman of the [[Organization of African Unity]] (OAU, now the African Union – AU) from June 1995 to June 1996.
* In 2007, the [[African Union]] elected Meles to chair the executive committee of the NEPAD (the New Partnership for Africa's Development)
*  Meles was chosen to represent Africa at the [[G8]] Summit and the [[G20]] summit in London.<ref>{{cite web |author=Barney Jopson in Dar es Salaam |url=http://en.afrik.com/article15423.html |title=Ethiopian PM and IMF to represent Africa's voice at G20 summit |publisher=En.afrik.com |access-date=13 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090623031836/http://en.afrik.com/article15423.html |archive-date=23 June 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://nazret.com/blog/index.php?blog=15&title=ethiopia_meles_zenawi_g8_summit_in_pictu&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 |title=Ethiopia – Meles Zenawi G8 Summit in Pictures |publisher=Nazret.com |access-date=13 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501023447/http://nazret.com/blog/index.php?blog=15&title=ethiopia_meles_zenawi_g8_summit_in_pictu&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 |archive-date=1 May 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://nazret.com/blog/index.php?title=ethiopia_meles_zenawi_to_represent_afric&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1 |title=Ethiopia – Meles Zenawi to represent Africa on G20 Summit |publisher=Nazret.com |access-date=13 November 2011}}</ref>
* In February 2010, the UN named Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles as co-chair of the Advisory Group on Climate Change Financing, a new high-level U.N. advisory group on climate change financing.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jqJmnNVzfiUOeSlVG4f8nQMbwQYQD9DQRRH00|title=UN taps prime ministers to seek new climate money|website=Google.com|access-date=7 July 2022}}{{dead link|date=June 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

===Milestones===
Several social, economic, religious, and political developments and systems were established for the first time in Ethiopia under Meles' rule.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/200906280014.html|title=Ethiopia: Meles Zenawi Quitting; Isn't It a Joke?|first=Austin|last=Ejiet|date=28 June 2009|via=AllAfrica}}</ref>
* First regional referendum for peaceful Secession (Eritrea, 1991–)
* First Multi-party National election for opposition (2000, 2005, 2010)
* First institutionalized linguistic freedom at the local level (1994–)
* First ethnic-based federalism (since 1994)
* First private media outlets in Ethiopian history (since 1994)
* First consecutive double-digit GDP growth – [[International Monetary Fund]] (since 2006)
* First multi-party parliament with opposition MPs (since 2000)
* First unrestricted freedom of religion for evangelicals/Pentecostals (since 1994; a Pentecostal succeeded him in 2012)

===Foundation===
Meles was given the Green Revolution award and a financial prize of 200,000 dollars by the Norwegian Yara Foundation in September 2005 "in recognition of past accomplishments and encouragement to achieve economic development for the people of Ethiopia."

Meles donated his $200,000 financial award to a foundation called "Fre—Addis Ethiopia Women Fund" (Fre-Addis Ethiopia Yesetoch Merja Mahiber).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.freaddis.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44&Itemid=54 |title=Fre-Addis Ethiopia Women Fund |publisher=Freaddis.org |date=15 August 2011 |access-date=13 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726063446/http://www.freaddis.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44&Itemid=54 |archive-date=26 July 2011}}</ref> The Fre-Addis Ethiopia Women Fund has an objective "to empower girls through providing educational opportunities" and it currently supports 514 needy and orphan rural girls to pursue their education throughout the country.

On 6 April 2013, the [[Meles Zenawi Foundation]] was established to honor his legacy. It was inaugurated at 7th congress of [[African Union]] in [[Addis Ababa]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Inauguration of the Meles Zenawi Memorial Foundation {{!}} African Union |url=https://au.int/en/newsevents/20130406/inauguration-meles-zenawi-memorial-foundation |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=au.int}}</ref>

== Criticism ==
Meles Zenawi's tenure has been described by many human rights groups, political analysts, dissents and media as authoritarian marked by perpetual personality cult, suppressing civil liberties, initiating nationwide crackdowns and repression, jailing political opponents and fueling ethnic clashes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ethiopian leader dead – DW – 08/21/2012 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/ethiopias-authoritarian-ruler-dead-at-57/a-16181617 |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=dw.com |language=en}}</ref> While his leadership garnered considerable plaudit by some African leaders and the Western countries primarily for economic achievements, he was also attracted to criticism for human rights violations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-07-26 |title=Authoritarian radicals: How Meles and the ‘new breed’ changed Africa |url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/opinion/columnists/authoritarian-radicals-how-meles-and-the-new-breed-changed-africa--1311410 |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=The EastAfrican |language=en}}</ref> Most notably, [[Alex de Waal]] wrote in his 2013 book ''The Theory and Practice of Meles Zenawi'' that Meles was a convinced Marxist-Leninist with pragmatic approach who disdained liberal democracy in favor of abusing power. He noted "Along with his comrades in arms in the leadership of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), he had looked into the abyss of collective destruction, and his career was coloured by the knowledge that Ethiopia could still go over that precipice."<ref>{{Cite journal |last=de Waal |first=Alex |date=2013-01-01 |title=The theory and practice of Meles Zenawi |url=https://academic.oup.com/afraf/article/112/446/148/10408 |journal=African Affairs |volume=112 |issue=446 |pages=148–155 |doi=10.1093/afraf/ads081 |issn=0001-9909}}</ref>

Political academic and author [[Awol Allo]] described him as paradoxical figure embodying "brutal dictator and a politico-economic genius, both unified in one".<ref name=":1" />  Furthermore, Meles is regarded as the culprit of ethnically motivated violence and tensions. While leading as autocrats, the TPLF led government orchestrated ethnic marginalization among Oromo and Amhara people to consolidate power.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Conflict in Ethiopia {{!}} Global Conflict Tracker |url=https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/conflict-ethiopia |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=www.cfr.org |language=en}}</ref> According to [[Ethiopian nationalism|Ethiopian nationalist]], he is polarizing figure in modern history who grants autonomy for all ethnicity in Ethiopia, risking the development of Ethiopian state.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Downie |first=Richard |date=2012-08-21 |title=Assessing the Legacy of Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi |url=https://www.csis.org/analysis/assessing-legacy-ethiopian-prime-minister-meles-zenawi |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=The paradox of Meles Zenawi |url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/paradox-of-meles-zenawi/ |access-date=2025-03-26 |website=openDemocracy |language=en}}</ref>

==Bibliography==
*''The Eritrean Struggle: From Where to Where?'' (1980)
*''African Development: Dead Ends and New Beginnings'' (2006)
*''Agricultural Development-Led Industrialisation (ADLI) strategy''

==Media appearances==
* [http://www.themotherland.info Motherland (Film 2010)]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090217003454/http://www.teachers.tv/video/20409 Teachers TV (Interview)]
* [http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/80AA000E-7081-4D35-B0F4-25902CC79D04.htm Al Jazeera (Interview)]

==See also==
*[[Ethiopian Orthodox]]
*[[Azeb Mesfin]]
*[[Girma Wolde-Giorgis]]
*[[Haile Selassie]]
*[[Yohannes III]]
*[[Tokyo International Conference on African Development]] (TICAD-IV), 2008.
* Blanco Chivite, Manuel. ''Diario de Etiopía'', Madrid, Vosa Ediciones, 1992

==Quotations==
{{copy section to Wikiquote}}

* [https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/poverty-matters/2011/mar/07/ethiopia-controversial-dam-criticism-communities "They don't want to see a developed Africa. They want us to remain backward to serve their tourists as a museum"] - in response to critics of the hydro dam and other development projects
*[http://www.ethioforum.org/News/article/sid=185.html "I regret the deaths but these were not normal demonstrations. You don't see hand grenades thrown at normal demonstrations"]—on a post-election issue
*[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2002/jul/28/famine.ethiopia "Africa's downfall has always been the cult of the personality. And their names always seem to begin with M. We've had Mobutu and Mengistu and I'm not going to add Meles to the list."]—Dimbleby questioning Meles on his exposure to the people.
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20091015140627/http://mathaba.net/news/?x=391865 "We have taken measures and beefed up our defense capabilities around the border since December to prevent any miscalculation by the other side,"]}} post-Eritrean-Ethiopian war complications
*[https://www.theguardian.com/international/story/0,,2246188,00.html "..countries pretend their foreign policy is based on democratisation when this is clearly not the case. For all the challenges in Zimbabwe, for example, it is a bit of a stretch to say it is less democratic than some of the sheikhdoms of the Gulf. But none of the sheikdoms has a problem visiting Europe."]- Meles Zenawi's response about European sanctions and travel ban on Zimbabwe's Mugabe
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080129134606/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hjTDUUyTYw3ZaHKhggvwRdtOCCcw "If it is presumed that the Kenyans will democratise in order to eat the peanuts of development assistance from the European Union... it would be a big mistake"]- Meles Zenawi's reaction to European threat of sanctions on Kenya.
*[https://www.theguardian.com/international/story/0,,2246188,00.html "Democracy is the expression of a sovereign people. To impose it from outside is inherently undemocratic."]- Meles interviewed by [[The Guardian]]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070912184937/http://www.cnn.com/WORLD/africa/9806/09/eritrea.on/index.html "It's true we have our disagreements on border issues, we have disagreements on trade and related issues, but you don't go invading a country whenever you have a dispute on trade issues, ... We have more civilized mechanisms on resolving such problems."] – after Eritrea's attack on Mekele, Ethiopia
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070927004613/http://www.waltainfo.com/audiovideo/Jun/meles%5B5%5D.asx "America didn't give us any money because of Somalia intervention. This doesn't mean America hasn't given us food aid or money for HIV prevention before. It certainly has. But we aren't going to fight Somalia using Condoms."] – Meles's reply to MP Bulcha Demeksa's teasing question on whether America gave financial support to Ethiopia for the Somalia intervention.
*[https://www.boston.com/news/world/africa/articles/2005/11/10/ethiopia_to_charge_leaders_of_protest/ "This is not your run-of-the-mill demonstration. This is an Orange Revolution gone wrong"] – PM Meles accusing opposition parties of the violence.
*[http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/33/053.html "I have never heard of any convincing reason as to why we should privatize land at this stage."] Part of PM Meles' controversial reply to Dr. Abdul Mejid Hussien.
*[https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=1294988&page=2 "The violence has marred the image of Ethiopia,... The worst is clearly behind us and we do not expect any such violence in the near future."]—on post-election events
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20061206145125/http://www.waltainfo.com/ETV/Nov/Parliament4.asx "Even when we obey international laws after exhausting all peaceful means, some countries might not support our move to defend Ethiopia because of their own national interests or diplomatic rationale. So what do we do? Two choices: either we seat & welcome our enemies to invade our homes or we stand up for ourselves. I hope parliament chooses the second option...we don't need the blessing of other nations to defend our country."]—Meles speaking to parliament about Somali Islamic courts. (from amharic translation)
*[http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/33/008.html "I am proud to be an Ethiopian. I am proud to be a part of that history."]—Meles speaking to American intellectuals about Ethiopia and its history.
*[https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061101/ap_on_re_af/ethiopia_prime_minister "When they (Somali Jihadists) control the whole of Somalia it would be very naive to assume that they will mend their ways, cease to be terrorists and become very civilized and very tame pussycats."]—Interview with AP on Somali extremists.
*"As we respond to the assault of our enemy and defend our country, we must never break international laws. Crime can not be solved by more crime." – Meles Zenawi speaking to Parliament 23 November 2006.
*[http://www.sudantribune.com/article.php3?id_article=8616 "We believe the problem between ourselves and Eritrea will have to be resolved through dialogue, but it takes two to tango"]—on border dispute with Eritrea
*"The rest of the contextual factors have no relevance whatsoever to the investigative process. Indeed, they remind me of the famous Tina Turner song. 'What's love got to do with it?'"—Meles Zenawi's response to EU-EOM implying Mrs. Ana Gomez's alleged contradicting accusations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ethioembassy.org.uk/Facts%20About%20Ethiopia/Elections/Letter%20by%20Prime%20Minister%20Meles%20Zenawi%20to%20the%20Editor%20of%20the%20Ethiopian%20Herald.htm |title=Letter by Prime Minister Meles Zenawi to the Editor of the Ethiopian Herald |access-date=12 February 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927115653/http://www.ethioembassy.org.uk/facts%20about%20ethiopia/elections/letter%20by%20prime%20minister%20meles%20zenawi%20to%20the%20editor%20of%20the%20ethiopian%20herald.htm |archive-date=27 September 2007}}</ref>
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070626222401/http://www.ethiopiafirst.com/news/news509.html "So why don't you give them additional concessions?' We said, 'What concessions? Concessions from our sovereignty? That has never been done by any government in Ethiopia in 3,000 years.' That is the only thing of great value what we have inherited from our past, our unflinching determination to keep our...country independent even if we are dying of hunger."]—Response to EU's demands for Eritrea
*{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928041431/http://www.addisfortune.com/Interview-Meles%20Sees%20Sign%20of%20Age.htm "While they are entitled to their own opinion, this government and this country are incapable, unwilling, and unable to be run like some banana republic from Capitol Hill. It is very worrisome that some of these individuals appear to have entertained such views."]}}—In response to Rep. Donald Payne's pressure for Hailu Shawel & Co.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.durame.com/2011/09/meles-zenawis-biography.html Biography]
*[https://www.theguardian.com/profile/meles-zenawi Column archive] at ''[[The Guardian]]''
*{{C-SPAN|1003886}}
*{{IMDb name|1899155}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Meles Zenawi}}
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[[Category:Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front politicians]]
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