By Joshua Norman | CBS
This is an installment in the CBS WorldWatch series, “The world’s enduring dictators,” inspired by events in Tunisia and Egypt, in which CBSNews.com takes a look at the men who continue to rule their lands unimpeded by law. See a complete explanation of the series and a list of others profiled here.
Meles Zenawi, Ethiopia
Length of rule: 16 years. Zenawi helped lead the rebel movement that overthrew a brutal military dictatorship in 1991, and in 1995 was elected prime minister, a post he still holds. After heavily disputed elections in 2005 that featured his ruling party announcing victory in a close election before the votes were counted, Zenawi’s Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front and a small coalition of affiliated parties won 99.6 percent of all parliamentary seats in May elections this year which “fell short of international commitments,” Amnesty International writes.
Feature page: The world’s enduring dictators
Most despotic acts: While Eritrea was officially blamed for starting its infamous war with Ethiopia from 1998 to 2000, Zenawi did little to prevent the escalation of what many described as a pointless conflict that left at least 70,000 dead on both sides and cost two of the world’s poorest countries hundreds of millions of dollars. Zenawi has centralized control of many state functions within his political party, and while that has led to impressive economic growth, it has also spawned numerous reports of politically motivated killings, mass repression of freedoms and torture by state security services, which is saying nothing of the exclusion of non-party members from government services. After the disputed 2005 elections, security forces killed 200 protesters. Many claimed there was a clear victory for opposition politicians in 2005, but the ruling party said it won before results were announced, and it has maintained power since.
Outlook for change: In 2009, Zenawi indicated he was ready to step down, but his party “convinced” him to stay on to ease any potential transition. As many as 200 people in the political opposition have been arrested in recent months, apparently in reaction to the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. Zenawi has faced several insurrections and secessionist movements within Ethiopia in his time as ruler, but it is unclear whether he will step down willingly or be forced to step down any time soon. That said, dissatisfaction with the Zenawi regime must exist as, yet again, swaths of Ethiopia are facing a critical food shortage.
Ethiopia stats:
Population: 90,873,739; Oromo 34.5 percent, Amara 26.9 percent, Somalie 6.2 percent, Tigraway 6.1 percent, Sidama 4 percent, Guragie 2.5 percent, Welaita 2.3 percent, Hadiya 1.7 percent, Affar 1.7 percent, Gamo 1.5 percent, Gedeo 1.3 percent, other 11.3 percent; Median Age is 17.
Constitution and the Rule of Law: Federal republic; Everyday law based on civil law.
Economic Indicators: Overall GDP is $84 billion (world rank is 77); Per capita GDP is $1,000 (world rank is 214); unemployment rate is not available.
Press freedom index world rank: 139
7 thoughts on “Ethiopia’s dictator clings to power: CBS”
Le Ethiopia hagerachen enemutelat alebelezia nestanet ayegegnem.
Lets die for our beloved Ethiopia, otherwise we couldn’t get our Freedom.
WHAT EVER YOU BELEAVE PRAY FOR ETHIOPIA.
Meles was in power for 20 years … not 16 years. He was the president of the transitional government and at that time the president had all the executive power and now his the pm and the pm has the executive power. 20 years!!! 20 years!!! That is how long he clung to power
Melles is the western powers boy, they love him to death and they will fight to keep in him in power come what may. The most condescending part of this so called report is that they claim under melles Ethiopia showed “impressive” economic growth, what an insult to the people of Ethiopia.
All of us should bombard CBS with appreciation and thank you notes for taking their time unusually to expose this Monster to American public whose tax money has been life line for Meles existence.Doing so will also help other news media to take interest to this issue
This blood sucker will go sooner or later…all we need to do is organize and pressure his sorry ass day in, day out.
We are certain that the Woyane regime will be eliminated either by popular uprising or by armed struggle. But it would be much better if we Ethiopians and Eritreans create a coalition front and start armed struggle against the Woyane and Shabia (PFDJ). The people who can lead the coalition front could be like former members of the ELF (Jebha), EPPF, Tinsae etc.. This would have shortened our struggle against the two evil tyrant regimes.
Joshua Norman of CBS,appear to have been tricked by the Melese Zenawi’s subtlity.Ifit had not been so he could have, out of the many available evidences, presented hard core facts that Melese did not and will not heed to the opinion of his party members.Many Ethiopians know very well within weyane party is not a democratic party. They gather together in meetings only to approve what their boss and his secret clique have privately reached.
Melese told Ethiopians well ahead of the election he is leaving office; but at the time he made this disclosure he knew he will not be leaving. His lie served at least two pupose; it gave false hope to the Ethiopian people, and it gave the needed time to prepare for the task.
The fact is Melese is a compulsive lier,long ago in his grooming days by his handlers, he lied to his contacts EPRP was a party out to promote what he called Amhara domination. Last week in his televised conference with the Ethiopian business community he pointed out need to work together between the government and the business community.Then, He told his listeners, though he didn’t say it verbatum, inorder to promote honesty and integrity in business the government will be enforcing the law against violaters.But the most astonishing statement that came out of his mouth was this. He said Correcting bad business practice ought to be the duty of both parties-the government and the business community. He goes on the “business community also has responsibility to sniff any wrongs done by government officials”.
In light of the above statement we might ask are we to believe that the weyane govermnet has a history of being accountable for the people or is he making this statement because he senses his bottom is about to hit the ground or was this statement out of place made to amuse the citizens.?To me it is just one of his lies stacked up in his card that in appropriately used.