• Azeb Mesfin,
  • Ethiopia,
  • featured,
  • Meles Zenawi,
  • News

    • On Meles Zenawi’s health | Is the Premier back in town?

    By on Tuesday, July 17, 2012 @ 12:31 am

    Ethiopian government confirmed PM Meles Zenawi’s illness and that he is out of the country.

    In a statement to Bloomberg news yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn confirmed PM Meles was receiving treatment.Meles Zenawi in the 1980s - when he was a senior member of the Tigrayan Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF)

    Hailemariam said that “there is no serious illness at all. It’s minor only. As any human being, he has to get medication and he’ll be coming back soon.”

    Earlier today an opposition group, formed this month in United States,  dubbed ‘Ethiopian National Transitional Council’, claimed that the Premier is dead in Belgium and urged the people for a regime change.

    The organization is founded and led by Feseha Eshetu (PhD) who used to run a prominent private educational institution in Ethiopia – Unity University, which he sold about two years ago. According to his interview with an opposition TV a few months ago, Feseha was disenchanted with the government after directives of the Ministry of Education hindered the growth of his college and the First Lady refused to support his project proposal for an Africa women university – apparently her support was pivotal as she was chair of the organization of African First Ladies at the time. Feseha has no history of political activism and is not clear if he has a peculiar agenda, except for borrowing his organization’s name from Libyan and Syrian revolutionaries and hoping to imitate them.

    The statement alleging Meles’s death is the first statement the organization made after its official formation about two weeks ago. It is not clear whether it is based on any suggestive evidence or an attempt to grab the moment and promote its name.

    On the other hand, a brief news posted on All-Africa dated July 15 indicated that:

    [Egyptian President] Morsi sent a cable of greetings to Ethiopian Prime Minster Meles Zenawi after the later had undergone a successful surgery in Germany.

    Though All-Africa attributed the news to Egypt State Information Service (ESIS), the news couldn’t be found on the latter’s website. However, based on past experience, it is probable the news was at least two days old when it was reported by ESIS and another day might have passed before All-Africa re-posted it.

    However, sources at the Ethiopian Foreign Ministry appeared unaware of the ‘cable of greetings’. They also indicated that it is unlikely that he would be the only leader to be informed of the details of the Premier’s condition and to send such a message.

    Thus, it is not clear if it is authentic or the Egyptian President’s office made it up, as part of the effort to prove the newly-elected president has regional acceptance despite the allegation that his Islamist background will complicate Egypt’s foreign relations. It is not unlikely that while the ‘surgery case’ was communicated to every foreign leader alike as an excuse for his non-appearance, the Egyptians might have made it look like as if Mursi received a special briefing on the matter.

    This blog’s attempt to probe about the Premier’s illness and whereabouts failed, except for repeated assurances that the Premier is in ‘a prefect situation given the circumstances’. The officials claimed that the Premier needed rest due to ‘exhaustion’, however, they were unable or unwilling to clarify the causes of the ‘exhaustion’ that led to about 21 days public disappearance. The officials were not forthcoming to questions on the whereabouts of the Premier, either.

    However, the Premier’s wife First Lady Azeb Mesfin has been attending meeting at the AU Hall and the parliament, on Sunday and Monday. Security officers whom several journalists identified as the Premier’s personal guards as well as personal aids of the premier were seen in town this weekend. This blogger interpreted this as a circumstantial evidence of that the Premier is in town.

    In light of the deputy PM’s statement today, an improvised interpretation would be that the Premier is a non-life threatening condition and taking a no-work vacation in a facility in a foreign country. That could explain why his wife and aids are in Addis.

    However, the lessons of the past three weeks suggest otherwise. That is the value the ruling party attaches to secrecy and its preference to stay one step ahead of everybody else in terms of information.

    Thus, as the government confirmed the Premier’s illness apparently after the critical stage of the treatment passed, it is probable that they would only confirm his return after the Premier fully recovered. Indeed, the fear of pressure for media appearance and a probable insistence by relatives, friends and foreign officials to meet him might force them not to disclose his presence in town.

    [Stay tuned for updates]

    *************

    Check the Meles Zenawi archive for related posts.

    Read: PM Meles Zenawi’s health: How critical could it be? (for a detailed discussion of the one-month old rumor on the Premier’s health)

    Daniel Berhane

    more recommended stories

    62 Reactions on this Article

    2. Pingback: Top 15 Highlights of year 2012 [Ethiopian & the Horn] « Danielberhane's Blog
    6. Pingback: EU confirms, Meles Zenawi passed away last Monday « Danielberhane's Blog

    7. Meles is the “father” of African dictators, for which we “Ethiopians” don’t well-wish!! His death is something for thousands of mothers whose sons have been slaughtered in their homes, whose daughters have been rapped in their presence!!, and for many other Ethiopians whom the guy and his servants maimed!! May Angel of Death visit him sooner, if you want bastard!!

    9. The illness of the PM and HIs whereabouts I see it as a test to the overall strength and comptetence of the organizational structure of the opposition including Eritrea. It proofs that they are none but ideal street boys who do have ties to no significant personalities. In other words it confirms how well discipled organization EPRDF is !!! Therefore, you so called oppsitions I wonder what you are opposing if you do not have better know how about your opponents than the my mother in Addis????????????????????????????????????

    10. kkkkk,
      I can see how low you are mr. wte!
      I know Meles is loved by almost every Ethiopian, Except few deviants like Erishabia puppets and toxic elements of the beated losers!
      Got it! Go and scratch your old wound! You are left with a web and web heroism coz you have seen how determined we are! Long live EPRDF and its leader Meles Zenawi!
      No to moron and toxic haters.

    12. Almost all the diaspora donot like Ethiopian good news.beacouse there major income source is beging from the white by projecting there weakness by ruling party.they are not ready to work and earn.we have already seen what they have done since in 1997 E.C election.they traded by poor Ethiopian child who live in ethiopia.Even any thing happend no more ethiopian people allow to ruled by diaspora ethiopian.Beacouse they search money only with out hard working in ethiopia through different means go out of ethiopia.There target is creating unstablity in ethiopia.They are not happy with ethiopian ‘s change .There are millions of meles even if one meles diaed.We will not allow come up with power again for the 1960’s generation. There hunger is power ,distrubance not change ,democracy & poverity eradication
      that is why atlest once stand with the side of government in democracy buliding and poverity eradication ,growth & civilization.This is the call for young generation to stand with the side of government untill the started devlopment progress

    15. How can you talk about Meles and use the word dignity at the same time. This is a man that suggested the Ethiopian diaspora in Libya should walk back the same way they came during the recent chaos caused by the Libyan revolution. Instead of comforting and suggesting solutions as to how this poor Ethiopians could come back to their country he was making jokes on state television while, I am sure, there families were watching and hoping.
      And in any country that hopes to be democratic there is no such thing as meaningless discussion when you are deciding on the lives of millions.

    17. Pingback: PM Meles Zenawi health: Media report Premier’s return « Danielberhane's Blog

    19. who the hell are u? Damn shit. Are u supposed to say Only Tigreans are of a ‘special breed’? what abut others? Still u are 1000 years back in mind. Go to hell,huh. But as Ethiopians, we appreciate our brave Prime Minister Meles! It is a real fact that he is striving to leap the country’s development. I and we all Love him, and wish him all the blessings and complete recovery.

    22. Diaspora is blind huh?
      If you could comprehend English I would have written more.
      Know this.
      If it wasn’t for the millions of dollars sent by Ethiopians in the Diaspora then it would have been more obvious to you what sort of damage TPLF is doing to Ethiopia.

    23. Well I hope Meles will be fine, but learn that Gun could not keep him alive. Being fair and being true to Ethiopian people, giving Ethiopian real freedom rather than talk freedom, and prepare for the country to be stable if he goes is what makes him a good leader. If he was fair there is no reason for hiding his health condition people will pray for him to get better or morn if he goes. If only one province worship the man because if he goes there may be danger of loosing the things they looted and there may not be free lunch for them then who cares and pray for him to comeback. He is a smart man who I wanted to fix the division he created the fear he brought up on all Ethiopians and no one else could fix it with out a lot of blood shade. I hope for him to get well fast, but know his life is not protected by gun nor any one who support him blindly. When GOD says it is enough then it will be done! Once more let me say he is brilliant, but using it to control to gain for himself and few around him so that makes him the worst smart leader. For those who support this man blindly or just because he is from Tigray they think they are done with out him… Remember if he treat you fair and equal with everyone then there would not be danger for your life. Yes, you may claim what did I do I am just doing what I am doing for survival then look back to JOSEPH story in the bible. When the father treat him more than all his kids his own brothers sold him. When someone gives you what you don’t deserve and do unjust thing to others if you keep quit and enjoy the unfair treatment you then are participant of squeezing others out of opportunity and life… Remember to stand up for fairness not to get more than others!
      Today Tigray People should rise and say we need fairness to all we need to love all others provinces the same! Meles come back to fix the chaos you created and use your smarts for fairness and equality. From son of Ethiopia!

    24. Thanks God that he is recovering and also thanks God that we Ethiopians are once more united. This fellow wroked himself to bed silently without complaining about a break, until recently. Meles, dearest son of Ethiopia has the vision, the strategy and commitment for the renissance of Ethiopia. I feel his approach is bread before “democracy” and I believe “democracy” is rather a relative concept. i also hope that there will be an Ethiopian democracy following prosperity of Ethiopia.

    26. I am so sorry for your thrush comment of Habtamu. dear poor fellow U are not good Ethiopian nor Tigreans.Ethiopians those who have doom idea like this poor fellow, Ps wake up from U’r sleeping & come together and get out of this vicious circle which up on us from those enemy of our mother land Ethiopia.

    27. Oh, this really to hear such garbage comments who made him special man. He used opportunity to speak a lot, don’t appreciate him beyond his scope. He is the most lazy leader of the world who think narrower. Every body can speak after chewing khat. Is not surprising lot if he passed away! rather than saying good bye have enjoy your long lasting miserable life in the hell!

    29. Pingback: CIA takes over as Ethiopian regime crumbles: analyst « News World Wide

    34. The only thing really break my heart is, if Meles die in foreign land. What kind of do I really envision for him? A kind of death like Gadaffi in the street of Addis where he sheded countless poor people in all streets of Ethiopia. Even that would be a graceful death. He deserve to die by cutting a piece of part from his body every year until he reduced into nothing so that he would feel all the mothers and all the fathers and families felt for thier loss. Then turn to his blood-line burn all his descedants and sprinkle it in Nile where so that it could be a bond. Even that still a death of grace. I wish him to be put in a live incinirator to melt out his hate for the poor Ethiopians!!

    35. It seems nothing to say something, at least we, positive attitude, Ethiopians all need to see our pm in his regular track and expecting him to hand over his Gilmore peacefully for the sake of our beloved country’s well being and ours……let leave behind curses of the 60’s and free the new generation to win his mind.
      Good citizens national vertue always rooted from their motherland womb not from their stomach
      am praying to see you again meles, because there are a number of Qs to be answered.may god be with u.

    37. i want to say Habtom are u from tigray?idon’t think so !!!!! tigrians never give such kind of dirty sugestion you want to separet the respected people of ethiopia which is a diverse ethinic group!!! shame on you! meles is the best leader in ethiopia and in africa too!!! God be with you we ethiopans pray for your health !!!!! death to abede gelebaw and to all enemies of ethiopia!!!! long live to meles zenawi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    38. Mr Blogger,
      Please don’t feed your readers with fairy tales.
      You have to also step in the shoes of people who are imprisoned and killed by the orders of this so called leader. Be balanced.

      Ethiopia PM Zenawi in ‘critical’ state in Brussels

      AFP – Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is in a Brussels clinic and is in a “critical” state, several diplomatic sources told AFP on Wednesday.

      “He is in a critical state,” said a diplomat who asked not to be named.

      http://www.france24.com/en/20120718-ethiopia-pm-zenawi-critical-state-brussels

    39. Let the healing power and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you ,God protect you from evil eyes and pretexts in what ever aspect where you are.We love you and pray for you to see you soon for the sake of your enemies with out knowledge,and for 70 millions who wish and want to see your voice. God be with you ,with your family and with all who pray to you. Our figure leader and man of reality .

    44. pm MELES ZENAWI IS A BRAVE AND A PERSON WHO GIVES HIS LIFE FOR HIS COUNTRY BUT MOST DIASPORA DIDN’T UNDERSTAND IT OR THEY BELIEVE THAT ETHIOPIAN PEOPLE ARE STILL IGNORANT AND THIS IS THE MOST SERIOUS ISSUE FOR US.SO PLEASE THINK OF IT WE ETHIOPIANS NEED PEOPLE WHO COME TO HIS COUNTRY AND FIGHT FOR ERADICATION OF POVERTY OTHERWISE YOU ARE NOT CONSIDER US AN ETHIOPIANS

    49. He is a brave man for us we who want Meles’s death, we know who want his death news. it is not wonder if he die , he is brave he perform enough to his land, he is not chip . we proud on Meles, look this African leaders even all are tell about him. May God Bless Meles

    51. we like Ethiopian prime minister b/c he is not talking he is true patriot , this witch doctors cursed him, they want the death of Meles and they want to see blood shed on our country but they sit on America. so May this all bad wishes are up on you.

      Meles zenawi is not only politician and leader he paid blood for his land what is your contribution ?

    52. most Ethiopian diaspora especialy are blind. Meles Zenawi is one person why not he sick? is he engel? he is like you a human being. but you can simply talk atleast he has many victory for his country. he doesn’t choose burger. so why you blame him always . for me Ethiopian diaspora stand for their life. they want blood shed

    53. I think you are conservative, in this situation we worry about PM health status but you have said that don’t worry about Meles whether he recovered or not. we are many ethnic why you said there are dozens of Tigreans? there are Amhara, oromo, welyta, gurage, harary, gambelaa………. a lot. don’t be nationalistic.

    56. every body should pray in all sects of religions for his immediate recovery to his full health and resume his official duty. All should mind he sacrificed everything when he went to jungle to battle the tyranny without lacking anything including chances to live very affluent and excessive life for him self.

    58. I do not have any thig to say, at this time, except to pray for my Charismatic leader P. M. Meles Zenawi, a leader who works and dreams for the betterment of Ethiopia, the Entair Region of Africa, and other countries in the World, to get well soon and his quick come back for duty.

      Meles is a determained Leader, who likes to show love of his country by working and transforming its Economy, Politics and social activities to a better level.

      though I know there are people who follow his steps of leadership, but I, personaly, want P. M. Meles to stay healthy and see what he dreamed for his country is coming true and is bearing fruits. for this, I and my entair family are praying, from our bottom of heart, to the well being of our Prime Minister Meles, the beloved son of Ethiopia, Africa and the world.

      Let my Almaighty God give him a healthy, long and peaceful life in his future, and enjoy what looks like life with his beloved family and friend after handng over his leadership.

      I, once again wish you to get well soon Dear Meles, Amen!!!!!

    60. Haftom,

      Thank you Sam. I am happy that people have began to appreciate we tigreans. We are indeed different breed. We can make a difference. Don’t worry about Meles. We wish him recovery. If he doesn’t make it, nothing to worry. There are dozens of good Tigreans to succeed him and complete his good beginning. Nothing to worry!

    61. Thank goodness he is fine. Sometimes the people don’t know what they have until it is gone. It is clear to the unbiased that not only has Meles Zenawi transformed Ethiopia, but is the driving force of the African economic and social ascension it enjoys today. Unfortunately, there are those with counter developmental agendas who would have others believe this deeply committed and articulate man is somehow an enemy of Ethiopia instead of the one man who is leading them to their place of dignity and equality in this world. I applaud him for the hard decisions he has made, but I understand that he must make them in order to progress and not bog everything down in some committee room. Each minute wasted in meaningless dialogue is another one suffered in hopelessness in a country without the tools to lift itself from poverty. God bless Meles Zenawi. Are these the acts of a tyrant? I beg to differ. History will be kinder to him than his present company.

    62. Good analysis. By the way, your recent articles has shown me that you are getting distracted by opposition group claims less and you seem to have regained your critical writing skills back. Coming back to the hot topic of this week, I would say Ethiopian people deserved more news on the whereabouts of their leader. We were hearing the status of the PM’s health from other “unreliable sources”. It leads to the proliferation of conspiracy theory and ambiguity.
      I believe he was critically ill and the response you got from a higher official just shows how unprepared they were. God forbid, just because I do not think his death is useful to Ethiopia, if he didn’t make it, we would have a wasted 20 years rather than the great leap Ethiopian democratic history would get if he hands over his position peacefully. Now that he is back from the brink, it is in his hands to make the right decision – Smooth over the power transfer, put a mark to his legacy.

    Comments are closed.

    Leave a Comment