Ethiopian PM Zenawi dies

infection while recovering from the illness at a hospital abroad. In a statement read on state TV, Simon Bereket, information minister, said: “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.”
Zenawi had been in power since overthrowing Mengistu Haile Mariam’s military junta in 1991. He served as president from 1991 to 1995, when he became prime minister.
He was credited with Ethiopia’s economic boom in the past decade, with economic growth shooting from 3,8 percent in the 1990s to 10 per cent in 2010.
“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 Tuesday 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.”
State media said Hailemariam Desalegn, deputy prime minister, would be the acting prime minister. Bereket said: “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.”
Al Jazeera’s Peter Greste, reporting from Johannesburg in South Africa, said: “His death did not come as a surprise because Zenawi missed a couple of important public events.
Speculation that Zenawi was seriously ill grew after he failed to attend an African Union summit in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, last month. Ethiopia has played a key role in the fortunes of many of its neighbours, as well as host to the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa.
Diplomats in Addis Ababa had said he was being treated in Brussels for an undisclosed illness, while others said he was in Germany. Ethiopia’s government said last month that he was taking a break to recover from an unspecified condition.
Meanwhile, world leaders have started to pay their last respects to the late Ethiopian leader.
The African Union hailed Meles for his promotion of economic growth, as well as his role as peacemaker between Sudan and South Sudan and his support for the fight against Somalia’s Al-Qaeda-linked al-Shebaab insurgents.
“The death of Prime Minister Meles has robbed Africa of one of its greatest sons,” said AU commission chair Jean Ping’s office in a statement.
“He has played an important role in pioneering a new era of hope and growth in Africa, driven as he was by the vision of Ethiopia and Africa’s renaissance.”
South Sudan’s Information Minister Barnaba Marial Benjamin said Meles had been key in mediating the country’s post-secession rows with former civil war foe Sudan.
“He was one person who could say in black and white what the position of both countries was — and was respected by both,” Benjamin said.
Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki called Meles a “pragmatic and visionary” leader who helped stabilise his country, adding that his death was a “devastating loss”, while South African President Jacob Zuma lauded Meles as “a strong leader, not only for his country but on the African continent”.
Asuman Kiyingi, Uganda’s state minister for regional co-operation, said his country was “shocked and saddened” by Meles’ death.
“He has been so instrumental in finding solutions to African problems,” Kiyingi said, noting his support for African Union forces battling the al-Shebaab insurgents.
European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso said Meles “demonstrated his strong personal commitment over many years to improving the lives of not just his own but all African peoples, through his work on African unity, climate change, development and in promoting peace and stability.”
British Prime Minister David Cameron hailed Meles “as an inspirational spokesman for Africa on global issues” who had “provided leadership and vision on Somalia and Sudan”, while French President Francois Hollande praised his “contribution to diplomatic efforts to advance peace in the Horn of Africa.”
Ethiopian troops invaded Somalia for a second time last year — after a US-backed invasion in 2006 — and Ethiopia is supporting an AU force’s fight against the al-Shebaab.
In contrast to the praise from world leaders, rights groups have criticised Meles’ legacy, accusing his government of using anti-terrorism legislation to stifle peaceful dissent and freedom of expression. — Al Jazeera-AFP-Xinhua.