Meles Zenawi

Legesse ("Meles") Zenawi (b. May 8, 1955) is Prime Minister of Ethiopia. A native of Adowa in Tigray province, he was appointed to the office of Prime Minister on August 22, 1995, after his governing party swept parliamentary elections that were boycotted by the opposition. He had previously been transitional president of Ethiopia, from May 28, 1991 until August 22, 1995. Meles Zenawi came to power after leading the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) in a 17-year guerilla war against the government of Mengistu Haile Mariam that ended in May, 1991 with an EPRDF victory.

Related Topics:
May 8 - 1955 - Ethiopia - Adowa - Tigray - August 22 - 1995 - Boycott - May 28 - 1991 - Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front - Guerilla - War - Mengistu Haile Mariam - May

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On July 7, 2005, the board of the Yara International awarded the first African Green Revolution Yara Prize to Meles Zenawi for his contribution to improved food security and human nutrition in ways that also protect the environment. Yara is a Norwegian fertilizer producer (formerly Norsk Hydro), of which Zenawi's government is a big client.

Related Topics:
July 7 - 2005 - Yara International - Food security - Nutrition - Norwegian - Fertilizer - Norsk Hydro

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This has caused some embarassment within the Norwegian government, and Norwegian prime minister Kjell Magne Bondevik even refused to participate to the award ceremony. On that occasion, Kjetil Tronvoll, of the Norwegian Centre for Human Rights, stated that "There are between 10,000 and 30,000 political prisoners in the country This one is one of the worst in the class ." He also pointed out an estimate of 4,000 political opponents arrested after the last election, inadequate legal system, and torture in prisons.{{ref|norway}}

Related Topics:
Kjell Magne Bondevik - Torture - Prison

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Even if his opponents have such claims, the prime minister is generally highly appraised for introducing democracy and relatively transparent government. He deserves much of the credit for changing the oppressive governmental institutions of the formerly Communist country. People close to the prime minister say that he is one of the most well-read intellectuals of Africa, and among the most forward-looking leaders Ethiopia has ever had. But in a country of such diversity, it is very difficult for any leader to be be accepted by all in equal degrees. Because the prime minister was the leader of a liberation front that militarily defeated the former government, it is to be expected that those belonging to, or benefitting from the defeated government, might carry a grudge against the prime minister.

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