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Ethiopia

Uncomfortable Truths

"The request of the Oromo people is this: Do not expand Addis into Oromia," said the Burayu
resident, who asked that his name not be disclosed. “

"Ethiopians on Edge as Infrastructure Plan Stirs Protests) 142
Fortin, Jacey, The New York Times, (December 2015)

*****
Meles Zenawi

“ Meles Zenawi Asres..born Legesse Zenawi Asres; was an Ethiopian politician who was
President of Ethiopia and consecutively served as 8th Prime Minister of Ethiopia. He was the

founder of federalism of modern Ethiopia.
***
After leading the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front to victory in the Ethiopian
Civil War, he served as President of the Transitional Government of Ethiopia from 1991 to 1995,
[3] then as the 8th Prime Minister of Ethiopia from 1995 to his death in 2012.[4] From 1989, he

was the chairman of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), and the head of the EPRDF
since its formation in 1991.

In 1975, he left Haile Selassie I University to join the TPLF and fight against the Derg (the
Mengistu Haile Mariam-led military dictatorship in Ethiopia). After the overthrow of the Derg's
military government, he became president of the transitional government and later prime

minister. During his tenure, Ethiopia became one of Africa's fastest-growing economies
***
Political leaders, states and institutions offered their thoughts on Meles following his death

 Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon praised Meles' "exceptional leadership"
 Prime Minister David Cameron called Meles "an inspirational spokesman for Africa

 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.
***
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.