A
new constitution was approved in 1994, providing for a parliamentary system. The president served as ceremonial head of state, with the prime minister as head of government and chief executive. The EPRDF handily won the
1995 elections, and Meles was sworn in as prime minister when the new Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia was formally inaugurated on 21 August 1995.
First term (1995–2000) Meles was appointed as
Prime Minister after the 1995 general election, and was chairman of the
Tigray People's Liberation Front. Under his government, Meles encouraged privatization of government companies, farms, lands, and investments which reversed the previous Derg communist rule.
Ethnic federalism since 1995. The radiant star insignia indicates equality between nations and nationalities of Ethiopia Meles' government implemented
ethnic based federalism as a response to what he considered to be the "old imperial rule of
Amhara people". Meanwhile, the
Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), while drafting the constitution counted Amharas and
Tigrayans dominated the imperial rule likewise. Reasons posited the aim of ethnic federalism empowers all ethnic groups in Ethiopia to share their cultures and languages, and ethnic-based liberation front preferred to join the July Convention of Nationalities in 1991. Critic always commented this system brings to divisions, which on other hands, Meles argues it gives several interests, equitable distribution and wealth to them. He added that the system provides recourse to fight poverty, peasants must choice their own decisions in their own languages. Meles views emphasized an economic growth claiming "if you think it is threat, it will be; if you think it a benefit, then it will be. Ethnicity will become less an issue as the economy grows and Ethiopia's process of assimilation does its job." His government criticized for decentralizing of language system. Critics concerned that this policy would fracture
Ethiopian national identity.
Regions of Ethiopia have their official state language. For example,
Afaan Oromo is the official language of
Oromia Region,
Afar for Afar Region,
Harari for
Harari Region.
Amharic is official working language to Amhara,
Benishangul-Gumuz,
Gambela, and
Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region.
Freedom of religion Meles' government allowed freedom of religion formally in 1991. Previous issues including Orthodox Church dominance prior 1974, seizure of church by the Derg regime, state sponsored persecution against non-Orthodox Christians, second-class citizenship accorded to Ethiopian Muslims, and land owning issues by non-Orthodox population almost resolved. However, most analysis stated that there was sporadic clashes since equality and rights granted by
national or
new religions.
Freedom of press Prior to federalism, both the Haile Selassie and Derg government limited
media rights. During Meles' administration, however, politically inflicted media organization became decelerated, while entertainment surging in opposite. It was believed that FM radio stations were licensed under regional governments, community organizations and private companies. The government licensed seven regional state television transmission agencies, but there are not private broadcasters in the country.
Equity and growth Meles government advocated "pro-poor" domestic policy. According to World Bank's East African leadership, the Ethiopian government ranked first to share GDP for "pro-poor" sectors. It also created regional development to Amhara Development Association, Tigray Development Association, Oromia Development Association and many others. Meles government worked the country to economically grow steadily since he took an office. During the last seven years, Ethiopia's GDP growth had shown 9 percent of rate. The country also topped to the category "policies of social inclusion and equity" in domain of "economic management", while Ethiopia was successful scoring "structural policies" and "public sector management and institutions". Gross primary enrollment rate which was initially poor, went 93% in 2004 from 72% in 1990, raising literacy rate from 50% in 1997 to 65% in 2002. Opposition parties contested those growth rate, stating double-digit inflation comes from a result of ruling party government economic failure. Ethiopia became the fastest growing countries in Africa.
Second term (2000–2005) In
2000 general election, Meles reelected as prime minister, with opposition parties like
United Ethiopian Democratic Forces (UEDF) shared parliament seats. According to Ethiopian
Human Rights Council, local UN staff, diplomatic missions, political parties, domestic non-governmental organizations, both general and regional elections were free and fair in most areas. However, there was misconduct in the
Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region, particularly in the
Hadiya Zone.
School expansions Ethiopia has expanded schools partially since 1990 without regional coverage. Meles rearranged school expanding scheme with million of Ethiopian birr; while his policy focussing around agricultural sector, the jobs in urban areas became declined, resulting in opposition from students and urban residents as well. In 1991, 27% of Ethiopian children attended school. The growth enrollment doubled to 77% and reached 85% in November 2006. As of 2005, there were 13,500 elementary schools and 550 secondary schools. Secondary schools were aided by satellite program called "School-Net". Under his leadership, many universities and colleges unprecedentedly expanded and constructed. Those higher institutions include
Adama University,
Jimma University,
Mekelle University, and newly built
Debub University. Other are Awassa College and
Bahir Dar University. It also implemented various departments and faculties. and the new Wolaita Soddo University started taking in students in February 2007.
Land and agriculture Ethiopia frequently suffered from
droughts throughout its history. Under his office, major droughts occurred in 1999/2000, 2002/2003 and 2009/2010. Meles government encouraged collectivist land reforms and redistribution at local levels. However, the constitution deemed has shortcomings. Article 40, section 3 states that, "The right to own rural and urban land as well as natural resources belongs to only to the state and the people." The farmers use uncertain transfer rights whilst using lands. Since 2008, the government announced "empty" land leasing to foreign investors. This outlook considered by some holders "
land grabbing" with a risk of losing their plots. The EPRDF once convinced that land should not be privatized, farmers would pay their land after drought. His government believed privatization should be implemented potentially, but not presently.
Third term (2005–2010) : parliament composition. Image only shows parties with more than 10 seats. The group "others" includes parties under 10 seats. Red : EPRDF Green : CUD Purple : UEDF Dark blue : SPDP Orange : OFDM Light blue : Others The EPRDF faced an unprecedented challenge from opposition groups like the
Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD), UEDF, and the
Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement in the
2005 election. It was one of the most controversial elections in Ethiopian history, and the opposition accused the EPRDF of electoral fraud. Demonstrations broke out in Addis Ababa and protesters were massacred by government forces—763 people were killed and over 10,000 were imprisoned. In spite of the
2005 Ethiopian general election violence, the Administrator of
USAID recognized an EPRDF electoral victory and accused European Union election observers who were critical of the outcome of doing a "bad job" and of "favoring opposition groups".
Fourth term (2010–2012) The TPLF administration strongly regards gender equality; Meles' wife and First Lady
Azeb Mesfin was forefront advocator in women rights. Meles government encouraged all-encompassing women participations, organized forums to discuss backward issues in national television. Discussions include concerning tangential issues, HIV transmission, premature marriage, job opportunities and more. Various organizations emerged for example the
Ethiopian Women Lawyers Association (EWLA),
Kembatti Mentti Gezzima-tope and
Network of Ethiopian Women's Associations.
2012 journalist verbal attack On 18 May 2012, Meles attended to Food Security 2012 G8 Summit in Washington D.C to discuss agricultural transformation in Africa to deal with unification of farmers and private sectors. Abebe Gelaw, a Washington-based Ethiopian journalist disrupted the conference by yelling at the podium against Meles with words: Meles Zenawi is a dictator! Meles Zenawi is a dictator! Free
Eskinder Nega! Free political prisoners! You are a dictator. You are committing crimes against humanity. Food is nothing without freedom! Meles has committed crimes against humanity! We need freedom! Freedom! Freedom! Abebe was escorted by guards and detained. Abebe noted in his latest speech, "I voiced the anger, frustration and aspiration of the Ethiopian people in front of world leaders...Some are calling me a hero, others says I deserve honours. While I appreciate all the outpour of support, this is not about me. It is not about my heroism but the truth that must be told with utmost clarity. It is about our country, people, and the freedom and dignity we deserve."
Foreign affairs Vladimir Putin on 3 December 2001Meles moved to have Ethiopia gain a larger share of the
Nile River water. Part of this entailed using Ethiopia's
hydropower prospects as leverage in exporting power to
Egypt, amongst others. He had also aided the
Sudan People's Liberation Army/Movement prior to independence of
South Sudan as the rebels fought the government in
Khartoum. Since the
war on terrorism, Meles sought to consolidate hegemony of Ethiopia in East Africa, including his mediation efforts with
Sudan and South Sudan, as well as stabilizing
Somalia towards the end of the mandate of the
Transitional Federal Government. Though he had controversially sent troops to fight against the
Islamic Courts Union, he had been praised for working towards a stable situation along with the
African Union since 2009. in
New Delhi on 6 November 2007
William Hague on 23 February 2012
Eritrea welcomes President
Daniel arap Moi of Kenya and Meles Zenawi to the Oval Office, December 2002 Meles Zenawi and President of Eritrea
Isaias Afwerki were on good terms, as Eritrean forces helped TPLF overthrow the
Derg. As the TPLF came to power in Ethiopia, it had occurred simultaneously with the EPLF's rise to power in Eritrea. After the 30 years of war between the two countries, the people of both countries enjoyed the fruit of peace, but not for long. In 1998, the Ethiopian government
waged war with Eritrea on basis of border conflicts. The war comes to end in 2000. During the war, between 70,000 and 98,217 people were killed and 650,000 displaced. The Algiers Agreement was a
peace agreement between the governments of Eritrea and Ethiopia signed on 12 December 2000, at
Algiers,
Algeria, which was supposed to be final and binding. Nevertheless, Meles Zenawi refused to pull back Ethiopian forces for Eritrean territory, leading to a no-war-no-peace situation in the region. Ethiopian forces reside in the sovereign lands of Eritrea, around the town Badme despite the EEBC Border ruling granting
Badme to Eritrea. Eritreans feel Meles Zenawi and the
TPLF have betrayed them and he is responsible for the loss of lives, relationships, and mutually benefiting opportunities of the two countries.
Somalia Meles declared war on the ICU unprovoked in order to curry favor with the West. In 2006, the
Islamic Courts Union assumed control of much of the southern part of Somalia and promptly imposed
Shari'a law. The Transitional Federal Government sought to reestablish its authority, and, with the assistance of
Ethiopian troops,
African Union peacekeepers and air support by the United States, managed to drive out the rival ICU. On 8 January 2007, as the
Battle of Ras Kamboni raged, TFG President and founder
Abdullahi Yusuf Ahmed, a former colonel in the
Somali Army, entered Mogadishu for the first time since being elected to office. The Somali government then relocated to
Villa Somalia in the capital from its interim location in
Baidoa. This marked the first time since the fall of the
Siad Barre regime in 1991 that the federal government controlled most of the country. In October 2011, a
coordinated multinational operation began against Al-Shabaab in southern Somalia, with the Ethiopian military eventually joining the mission the following month. According to
Ramtane Lamamra, the AU Commissioner for Peace and Security, the additional Ethiopian and AU troop reinforcements are expected to help the Somali authorities gradually expand their territorial control.
Climate change in Heiligendamm in 2007 (Meles at elevated row fourth from left) Meles played an important role in developing the African Union's position on climate change since 2009 On 3 September 2009, Meles made a speech to the Africa Partnership Forum, where he said: We will never accept any global deal that does not limit global warming to the minimum unavoidable level, no matter what levels of compensation and assistance are promised to us... While we will reason with everyone to achieve our objective, we will not rubber-stamp an agreement by the powers that be as the best we could get for the moment. We will use our numbers to delegitimize any agreement that is not consistent with our minimal position. If needs be we are prepared to walk out of any negotiations that threaten to be another rape of our continent. ==Illness and death==