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Ethiopia

Uncomfortable Truths

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Some quotes from Meles Zenawi

"..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.

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"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 Rep.

Donald Payne's pressure for Hailu Shawel & Co. “
"Meles Zenawi." 121
Wikipedia
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The Premiership of Meles Zenawi

“ The premiership of Meles Zenawi began on August 1995 following the 1995 Ethiopian general
election and ended upon his death on 20 August 2012. Whilst serving as Prime Minister of
Ethiopia, Meles Zenawi concurrently served as the Leader of the Tigray People's Liberation

Front (TPLF) and Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF)
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The Meles government created an ethnic-based federalism, which came under attack by some
Ethiopians. Meles' TPLF party believed that there was no choice--this was the only solution to

the centuries-old oppression by centralist governments, and to domination of culture,
language, politics and economy by one ethnic group, namely the Amhara. On the other hand,
some parties like the OLF (Oromo Liberation Front), which was a partner in drafting the

constitution, see Amhara and Tigrayan domination of the country. The aim of the government
policy was to empower all ethnicities and develop their cultures and languages. Also it was

widely seen as a solution to the demand of governance preferred by the ethnic-based liberation
fronts and parties participating in the July Convention of Nationalities in 1991.
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Throughout its operation, the government and the Prime Minister have advocated "pro-poor"
domestic policies. According to World Bank's East African leadership, the Ethiopian

government ranks number one in Africa on spending as a share of GDP going to pro-poor
sectors.