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| In March 2005, when Tony Blair released the Commission for Africa report he had sponsored as prime minister, it seemed he had gathered together a winning team: a popular icon of British society, Bob Geldof; his own rival, Gordon Brown; and the best that Africa could offer by way of leaders who wanted to join Africa to the modern world – among others, South Africa's finance minister, Trevor Manuel, and Ethiopia's prime minister, Meles Zenawi. | In March 2005, when Tony Blair released the Commission for Africa report he had sponsored as prime minister, it seemed he had gathered together a winning team: a popular icon of British society, Bob Geldof; his own rival, Gordon Brown; and the best that Africa could offer by way of leaders who wanted to join Africa to the modern world – among others, South Africa's finance minister, Trevor Manuel, and Ethiopia's prime minister, Meles Zenawi. |
| Meles, in particular, seemed like a younger counterpart to Nelson Mandela. Then only 50, he had been a rebel leader waging war against communist dictatorship, and was now a democrat leading Africa's oldest independent state forwards to a new age of development and modern political values. However, times change and the image of Meles at his death is a far more contradictory one. He has died aged 57 of undisclosed causes, after hospital treatment. | Meles, in particular, seemed like a younger counterpart to Nelson Mandela. Then only 50, he had been a rebel leader waging war against communist dictatorship, and was now a democrat leading Africa's oldest independent state forwards to a new age of development and modern political values. However, times change and the image of Meles at his death is a far more contradictory one. He has died aged 57 of undisclosed causes, after hospital treatment. |
| Ethiopia's May 2005 elections saw protests that led to the deaths of almost 200 people with 800 wounded. European Union observers declared the elections to have failed international standards, while the Carter Centre, the US-based organisation founded by former president Jimmy Carter, said they were fair notwithstanding irregularities and intimidation. The international community by and large accepted the outcome. | Ethiopia's May 2005 elections saw protests that led to the deaths of almost 200 people with 800 wounded. European Union observers declared the elections to have failed international standards, while the Carter Centre, the US-based organisation founded by former president Jimmy Carter, said they were fair notwithstanding irregularities and intimidation. The international community by and large accepted the outcome. |
| Although the 2010 elections were not marred by protests of the same scale, opposition parties saw them as flawed and said the relationship between Meles's party, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), and the army had created a one-party state – with opposition parties permitted only to give a semblance of democracy in order to court the west. | Although the 2010 elections were not marred by protests of the same scale, opposition parties saw them as flawed and said the relationship between Meles's party, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), and the army had created a one-party state – with opposition parties permitted only to give a semblance of democracy in order to court the west. |
| From 2006 to 2009, with US assistance, the Ethiopian army mounted an invasion of neighbouring Somalia with the aim of destroying the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), the ruling Islamic militia. Fighting in Mogadishu was fierce, with many accusations of indiscriminate Ethiopian armoured tactics. But the defeat of the ICU left a space for the even more radical Al-Shabaab group, leaving the US-backed Ethiopian intervention a strategic failure. | From 2006 to 2009, with US assistance, the Ethiopian army mounted an invasion of neighbouring Somalia with the aim of destroying the Islamic Courts Union (ICU), the ruling Islamic militia. Fighting in Mogadishu was fierce, with many accusations of indiscriminate Ethiopian armoured tactics. But the defeat of the ICU left a space for the even more radical Al-Shabaab group, leaving the US-backed Ethiopian intervention a strategic failure. |
| Meles was in the forefront of supporting the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad), one of the parallel engagements between the west and Africa alongside Blair's Commission for Africa, whereby democracy would be encouraged by African peer review, and helped by western largesse. | Meles was in the forefront of supporting the New Partnership for Africa's Development (Nepad), one of the parallel engagements between the west and Africa alongside Blair's Commission for Africa, whereby democracy would be encouraged by African peer review, and helped by western largesse. |
| Meles's most prominent recent international activity was in the environmental field. He took a lead on climate change in the African Union and worked, amid great criticism from fellow African presidents, to bring African policy in line with Europe – again to be rewarded by fast-track financing from Europe. | Meles's most prominent recent international activity was in the environmental field. He took a lead on climate change in the African Union and worked, amid great criticism from fellow African presidents, to bring African policy in line with Europe – again to be rewarded by fast-track financing from Europe. |
| Zenawi was born in Adwa, Tigray, in northern Ethiopia, the son of an Ethiopian father and Eritrean mother. In his 20s, he rebelled against the Stalinist dictatorship of Mengistu Haile Mariam while a medical student at the then Haile Selassie University, Addis Ababa, and in 1975 joined the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front. He became head of its leadership committee in 1979, and of its executive committee by 1983. | Zenawi was born in Adwa, Tigray, in northern Ethiopia, the son of an Ethiopian father and Eritrean mother. In his 20s, he rebelled against the Stalinist dictatorship of Mengistu Haile Mariam while a medical student at the then Haile Selassie University, Addis Ababa, and in 1975 joined the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front. He became head of its leadership committee in 1979, and of its executive committee by 1983. |
| In 1991, in alliance with the Eritrean People's Liberation Front, led by Isaias Afewerki, the rebel forces swept aside the armies of Mengistu, and Meles became president of Ethiopia. He also became chair of the EPRDF, and in 1993 agreed to what seemed an amicable agreement for Eritrea to leave Ethiopia as its own independent state. But years of tension and war between the two countries were to follow. The conflict was at its bloodiest from 1998 to 2000, but the settlement of the border dispute has only ever allowed an uneasy peace. | In 1991, in alliance with the Eritrean People's Liberation Front, led by Isaias Afewerki, the rebel forces swept aside the armies of Mengistu, and Meles became president of Ethiopia. He also became chair of the EPRDF, and in 1993 agreed to what seemed an amicable agreement for Eritrea to leave Ethiopia as its own independent state. But years of tension and war between the two countries were to follow. The conflict was at its bloodiest from 1998 to 2000, but the settlement of the border dispute has only ever allowed an uneasy peace. |
| Meles drove Ethiopia forward with a huge range of reforms and global links. He himself, throughout the early years, found time to devote himself to study, obtaining an MBA from the Open University in 1995 and an MSc in economics from Rotterdam in 2004 – both universities sending tutors to Ethiopia to educate not only Meles but a large number of the new ruling elite. | Meles drove Ethiopia forward with a huge range of reforms and global links. He himself, throughout the early years, found time to devote himself to study, obtaining an MBA from the Open University in 1995 and an MSc in economics from Rotterdam in 2004 – both universities sending tutors to Ethiopia to educate not only Meles but a large number of the new ruling elite. |
| At the first general elections of 1995, Meles became prime minister and the EPRDF the dominant political party. He and the party were re-elected every five years subsequently. Under their government, Ethiopia has seen a dramatic lowering of infant mortality and a huge growth in education – literacy rates rose from 50% in 1997 to 65% in 2002. There has been economic growth of up to 9% per year in most of the years of the new millennium. The country has seen a huge building and housing boom. Meanwhile, controversial land-ownership policies have facilitated the agri-industry. | At the first general elections of 1995, Meles became prime minister and the EPRDF the dominant political party. He and the party were re-elected every five years subsequently. Under their government, Ethiopia has seen a dramatic lowering of infant mortality and a huge growth in education – literacy rates rose from 50% in 1997 to 65% in 2002. There has been economic growth of up to 9% per year in most of the years of the new millennium. The country has seen a huge building and housing boom. Meanwhile, controversial land-ownership policies have facilitated the agri-industry. |
| The actual workings of the multi-party system have been controversial, with violence and accusations of fraud marring elections. Meles's foreign policy, while asserting Ethiopia's importance in the region and the world beyond, has had problematic consequences. | The actual workings of the multi-party system have been controversial, with violence and accusations of fraud marring elections. Meles's foreign policy, while asserting Ethiopia's importance in the region and the world beyond, has had problematic consequences. |
| Despite the controversies surrounding his policies, the positive elements in them were celebrated. Meles won the Norwegian Green Revolution prize, and awards for lifting much of Ethiopia out of poverty and hunger. Under his rule, Ethiopia doubled its food production. | Despite the controversies surrounding his policies, the positive elements in them were celebrated. Meles won the Norwegian Green Revolution prize, and awards for lifting much of Ethiopia out of poverty and hunger. Under his rule, Ethiopia doubled its food production. |
| Perhaps the iron man who is nevertheless "modern", who leaves a genuine developmental legacy while making life hard for his opposition, who seeks to please the west while cementing his country's own regional interests is a necessary step on the path of African growth. Meles was pragmatic when it came to contemplating the world around him and around Africa. | Perhaps the iron man who is nevertheless "modern", who leaves a genuine developmental legacy while making life hard for his opposition, who seeks to please the west while cementing his country's own regional interests is a necessary step on the path of African growth. Meles was pragmatic when it came to contemplating the world around him and around Africa. |
| The beautiful and grand new headquarters of the African Union, opened in Addis Ababa in 2012, was financed, designed and built by Africa's new friend, China. | The beautiful and grand new headquarters of the African Union, opened in Addis Ababa in 2012, was financed, designed and built by Africa's new friend, China. |
| Meles is survived by his wife, Azeb Mesfin, a son, Senay, and two daughters, Semhal and Marda. | Meles is survived by his wife, Azeb Mesfin, a son, Senay, and two daughters, Semhal and Marda. |
| • Meles Zenawi, rebel leader and politician, born 8 May 1955; died 20 August 2012 | • Meles Zenawi, rebel leader and politician, born 8 May 1955; died 20 August 2012 |
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