Ethiopian PM says this might be his last term

According to an interview with the Washington Post, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi says this might be his last term as the leader of the EPRDF ruling party of the government.

Meles Zenawi, who was the interim president of Ethiopia from 1991-1995, has also been leading his EPRDF-led government as PM for two terms. After overthrowing the Marxist dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam in 1991, this western backed Ethiopian government has been applauded for bringing democracy to the country. It has also been the first government to hold multi-party elections in the country’s long history. However the reputation of the ruling party has been harmed by various events, including the alleged genocide of the Anuak ethnic group in western Ethiopia. Yet after further investigation and according to what was reported in the New York Times, after jailing those responsible, most of these extra allegations seemed to be dropped since the violence was caused by ethnic disturbance. Ethnic Nuars and Anuak groups have historically been enemies and groups that are locally named “highlanders” were supposedly inflaming the clash during that incident.

Despite such controversies, the government has been supported by various western governments and the Prime Minister has received various international accolades for his role in solving conflicts and driving the development efforts in the impoverished country. Even though the government claims that some of the opposition parties are functioning in unconstitutional manner; the parliament has been very diverse, representing more than five opposition parties.

The number of political parties and the free elections showed how much the country has improved democratically. However, only America’s Carter Center applauded the fairness of the most recent elections while the European Union concluded there were too many “irregularities” to fulfill international standards. According to many opposition party members, it will be a big positive step for the country’s democratization if the prime minister steps down from office after his current term because of how past Ethiopian leaders & Emperors have historically clinged to power. Recently, this has never been done before in this country, where Ethiopian clans and ethnic groups often fought against each other to claim the next throne. But according to Washingtonpost, PM Zenawi stated he had served “enough” and he might step down after this term.

Even though the Prime minister said of his last term, he suggested that his party, if elected, will try to continue for more terms without him. Ethiopia held all its democratic elections under PM Meles Zenawi’s government and the country’s GDP has been growing nearly 10% a year, but the nation has also been struggling with militant groups in its southern borders.

The Prime Minister answered various questions to Washington Post, while being interviewed about the problems in southern Somalia.

(http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/14/AR2006121400820.html)

(http://www.sudantribune.com/spip.php?article18432)

(http://www.nytimes.com/2004/06/15/international/africa/15ethi.html?ei=5007&en=9ce263e032e6cc03&ex=1402632000&adxnnl=1&partner=USERLAND&adxnnlx=1101013327-q/ndiBTUKsCQ/xWGRSepwQ)

(http://www.businessinafrica.net/news/east_africa/401324.htm)