By Jonathan Ambaye
Impunity Watch Reporter, Africa

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia– Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi finds himself in an unfamiliar and unwanted position. At a time where the African continent is becoming more and more synonymous with political corruption and human rights violations, Zenawi is slowly becoming one of the faces of this image. During President Obama’s speech in Ghana, he expresses his intolerance for African rulers who try and manipulate the political process. President Obama has made it clear that he will not support governments who perpetuate “strongmanship”.

Zenawi, once lauded by the Western World as a progressive and democratic African leader is now amongst the many African rulers President Obama was speaking of in his speech regarding political corruption. In 1991 Zenawi took reigns of the Ethiopian government after 17 years of a military dictatorship. Over the years he has relied on his reputation to sustain the support of the American government. However the worlds regard for him began to decline in 2005, during Ethiopia’s government elections.

In 2005 after allegedly “fixing” the election results for his bid to remain Prime Minister wide rage and protest by Ethiopians erupted. During these protests Ethiopian law enforcement, in an attempt to break up the protests, fired gun shots into the crowd killing 40 protesters. Subsequent protests occurred with similar responses by law enforcement. This incident marked the beginning of the altered view many countries such as Great Britain and the United states had of Zenawi role as a “Democratic” ruler.

In what some call an insincere attempt to restore his image as a progressive African ruler Zenawi will be heading an African Climate change summit. More importantly his image will rest on how he facilitates the government elections in 2010. Many are concerned that Zenawis political party, Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (“EPRDF) will again try and intimidate other parties participating in the election, which will only do more damage to his image.

For more information please see:

All Africa – Ethiopia: 2010 Election and Zenawis New Game – 24 September 2009

NY Times – Mr. Good Governance Goes Bad – 27 November 2005