Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi’s Vanishing Act
A cartoonist depicts Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. (Cartoonist Unknown)
Meles Zenawi, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, hasn’t been seen in public since late June.
Ethiopians started wondering when Zenawi was a no-show at a meeting of the African Union in Addis Ababa in July.
Official word from the Ethiopian government has ranged from ‘he’s fine, doing well,’ to more recently, ‘he’s under treatment and is recovering well’.
But from what no one knows.
Nor do they know where he’s being treated. Zenawi has been a fixture in Ethiopian politics since he helped overthrow General Mengistu Haile Mariam in 1991.
He was president for five years and since 1995 has served as Ethiopia’s Prime Minister.
Under his leadership, Ethiopia has seen strong economic growth but critics, and there are many, say Zenawi doesn’t respect human rights or a free press.
The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. Will you support The World with a gift today? Donations made between now and Dec. 31 will be matched 1:1. Thanks for investing in our work!