Meles Zenawi

Meles Zenawi, as leader of the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) coalition, led rebel forces to overthrow the Derg regime. This ended the Ethiopian Civil War and installed Meles as president of the transitional government.

Meles, as prime minister, led Ethiopia in a two-year border war with Eritrea. The conflict resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and ended with a stalemate, followed by the Algiers Agreement in 2000 and the establishment of the UN peacekeeping mission UNMEE.

Meles implemented a series of economic reforms focused on agricultural development, infrastructure investment, and state-led industrialization. These policies contributed to sustained GDP growth averaging over 10% annually from 2004 to 2014, though critics noted limited political freedoms.

Meles's government held multi-party elections that were initially seen as promising but ended in controversy. Opposition parties claimed fraud, leading to protests and a violent crackdown that killed at least 193 people. The event damaged Ethiopia's democratic reputation.

Meles Zenawi died on August 20, 2012, in a Brussels hospital from an undisclosed illness. His death ended 21 years of rule and triggered a peaceful transition of power to Deputy Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, though the TPLF retained control.