AfricaWorld Man of the Year 2015

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AFRICAWORLD MAN OF THE YEAR 2015

Hailemariam Desalegn is 2015 AfricaWorld Man of the Year

Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn attend a press conference at the chancellery in Berlin

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t is remarkable how Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn has sustained economic progress in Ethiopia after the sudden death of his predecessor in 2012.

Moments after the Ethiopian

By Ukachukwu Okorie

Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn was re-elected as prime minister last October for a second term in an election the ruling coalition took all seats in parliament, President Mulatu Teshome said, promising economic growth of about 11 percent for the next five years “We successfully completed the implementation of the growth and transformation plan…we will continue to deliver the sustainable, rapid, double-digit economic growth, which was registered in recent years.” AfricaWorld News,

With his Kenyan counterpart Uhuru Kenyatta in Nairobi

having looked at nominations across the world decided to award Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn as our 2015 MAN OF THE YEAR. In arriving at this decision, we looked at certain

Hailemariam Desalegn is 2015 AfricaWorld Man of the Year cont. P4

Meles Zenawi Footprints on the Sands of Time cont. p2

Footprints on the Sands of Time Dec. 2015

Meles Zenawi - Footprints on the Sands of Time

ByUkachukwu Okorie

GREATNESS Africans usually say that “Great tree chooses where to grow and we find it there, so it is with the greatness in men.”

Mario Puzo in the western flick The Godfather added, “Great men are not born great, they grow great . . .”

Depending on how you see personalities and the actions that define their greatness. Puzo's thought is arguable with the writings of the renowned English playwright William Shakespeare in Twelfth Night, which said, “Be not afraid of greatness.

Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and others have greatness thrust upon them.”

Is Meles Zenawi the father of modern Ethiopia or a Great leader in this 21st century, and are his footprints on the sands of time?

NATIVITY AND THE MAN Meles Zenawi was born in the town of Adwa, Tigrai, in northern Ethiopia, to an Ethiopian father and a mother from Adi Quala, Eritrea. He completed from grade 1 to grade 8 in just 5 years. He was

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awarded a scholarship to complete his high school studies in Addis Ababa, the capital at the General Wingate High school. Upon completing his high school in great distinction, he enrolled to study medicine at Addis Ababa University medical faculty for two years before interrupting his studies in 1975 to join the Tigrai People's Liberation Front (TPLF). If we can go down memory lane or inquire from those who have rudimentary knowledge and experience of Ethiopia, we can begin to understand the difficult task taken by Meles Zenawi in wrestling for over two decades to reconcile Ethiopia's too many problems after the fall of communism and Mengistu.

And before he was called to the great beyond, he still generated balanced and economic growth.

LEADERSHIP Michael Street put it succinctly in his tribute article titled - Ethiopia ahead of the curve: the green legacy of Meles Zenawi - "it is surely better now to concentrate on Meles' positive achievements rather than dwell on negatives from the past. His legacy will be decided by what happens next."

In 2012 when he was snatched away by death in a Belgian hospital at 57, Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi left behind a country indelibly shaped by his career and life. It is worthy to note that Meles

Zenawi took a historically pivotal Ethiopia, at an important geographical crossroads of Africa, and created the modern state that we celebrate today.

The descriptions of Meles Zenawi by those who have come in contact with him have often gone beyond a d m i r a t i o n . We c a n describe Meles perspective in Brandon Sanderson's remark that “The mark of a great man is one who knows when to set aside the important things in order to accomplish the vital ones.”

I can comfortably say that the late prime minister, who was a former guerrilla leader, evolved while in office. It can be recalled that Meles Zenawi took power after the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) marched to Addis Ababa on May 20, 1991, and ousted Mengistu Haile Mariam, the communist leader.

E X A M P L A RY A N D INSPIRATIONAL According to Ray Suarez and I do agree "African leaders take advantage of strategic location of their countries, or the big challenges their country would pose if instability were to occur, and rather than create an opportunity, they would rather use that position to try to carve out a personal advantage for themselves.” Life after the exit of Meles Zenawi has shown that he is a man ahead of his time as those who have worked with or close to him showered encomiums. Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf described iconic Meles as an "intellectual leader for the continent"

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while David Cameron, the British prime minister called him "an inspirational spokesman for Africa." Meles is a 'primus inter pares' when compared to his contemporaries due to his foresight and leadership.

He is also an outspoken leader whose intellectual rigor was next to none during his time in-charge.

It was reported that Meles declared that he would consider his government a success if Ethiopians were able to eat three meals a day in his first media chat in Addis Ababa, in reply to a question about his goals.

Hence his national policies were framed around the conquest of poverty, of which he dealt a decisive blow through robust policies.

LEGACY He oversaw significant economic growth before his death in Brussels on August 20, 2012.

Ethiopia's GDP grew from 3.8% in the '90s to 10% in 2010, and his successor has been wonderful in following his policies especially on increased agricultural output.

Although critics argue about the boom, which they attribute to foreign investment and the leasing of land to China and India, but it takes strong and wise leadership to turn over a devastated economy, and that is what Meles Zenawi did.

The progress Ethiopia has made today must be credited to the visionary leadership of the Great Meles Zenawi as he touched virtually all strata that make a modern State.

Now Ethiopia have a modern system of land and

Footprints on the Sands of Time Dec. 2015

business ownership rights, road and rail networks, hydro-electric projects ongoing to bring power to places that never had it, and he initiated policies to end the cyclical famines in a country that rain often become luxury. Legesse Zenawi as he was called at birth before changing it to Meles in honour of his comrade (Meles Tekle) who was executed by the Mengistu Haile Mariam regime, encouraged gender participation in public life especially politics. Women were appointed in top positions in government circle while enabling environment created for all regions to be represented. His reformation gave rise to multi-party political system in Ethiopia, the introduction of private press and low child mortality rates.

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PAN-AFRICAN AND CLIMATE CHAMPION Meles was pivotal in developing the African Union's position on climate change since 2009 as he was appointed Chair of the African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) on 31 August 2009. The Meles Zenawi led group had been inaugurated on the backdrop of February 4, 2009 decision at the 12th African Union Assembly of Heads of States to build a common Africa position on climate change in preparations for COP15. As a matter of his articulation and pan-Africanism, the AU trusted his initiative for their arguments at various negotiation talks ahead of Copenhagen 2015. Meles Zenawi was said to have made a memorable statement on September 3, 2009 to the Africa

Partnership Forum. He said: "We will never accept any global deal that does not limit global warming to the minimum unavoidable level, no matter what levels of compensation and assistance are promised to us‌ While we will reason with everyone to achieve our objective, we will not rubber stamp an agreement by the powers that be as the best we could get for the moment. We will use our numbers to delegitimize any agreement that is not consistent with our minimal position. If needs be we are prepared to walk out of any negotiations that threaten to be another rape of our continent."

HE CAME, SAW AND CONQUERED Mesfin Haile is the widow of Meles Zenawi and they

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have 3 kids, Semhal, Marda and Senay Meles.

What are great leaders remembered for that Meles Zenawi did not do?

Fearlessly he led; with courage like a lion in its prime, he secured beyond his territory; like a leader, he took bold decisions no matter whose ox is gored; and like a dedicated farmer, he sowed in view of a bountiful harvest.

O Death, where is thy sting? Ethiopia must endure for his dream lives.

Truly, Meles Zenawi left his footprints on the sands of time.

Ukachukwu Okorie AfricaWorld editor-inchief

MAN OF THE YEAR

qualities that distinguished him as a global leader and the impact on the people of Ethiopia. But who is

the U.S respectively. After returning from Finland, Hailemariam joined the country's Arba Minch Water

Dec. 2015

adviser to Meles Zenawi, was appointed as the government's chief whip in parliament. In 2010, he became Deputy Prime Minister to Meles, taking charge of Foreign Affairs.

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has personally bolstered the peace process in the old and new Sudan since he came to power in 2012. In 2013, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn visited Sudan and South Sudan as part of the efforts to coordinate and facilitate face-to-face entente between the presidents of the two countries. The motive was to encourage the two countries to complete consultations on outstanding issues like the status of Abyei and the implementation of the Addis Ababa Agreement particularly on the details of the 14 miles Temporary Security Zone Arrangement.

As IGAD chairperson, Hailemariam Desalegn and President Uhuru Kenyatta have led talks between former Vice President Riek Machar and the government of President Salva Kiir to sign a peace agreement over the South Sudan conflict.

I N T E R N AT I O N A L SECURITY ALLY Despite the criticism of the ruling party within and Leading the Ethiopian team in a bilateral talks with outside Ethiopia since the the US President Barack Obama and his team time of late Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn?

Technology Institute and Meles Zenawi, the progress BACKGROUND served 13 years in different recorded by the government In the Ethiopian tradition, positions, including as of Hailemariam have been the Prime Minister is known registrar, vice dean, and dean tremendous. Ethiopia, an b y h i s f i r s t n a m e , of the institute. ally of the Hailemariam meaning 'the We s t , i s power of Saint Mary'. l o n g Hailemariam Desalegn, a considered Protestant, and the first to a bulwark lead Ethiopia, where against Orthodox traditions are the volatility in spiritual path of many the Horn of Christians. It is also worthy Africa. Its to note that, in a country reputation dominated by major ethnic as a key groups, Hailemariam diplomatic Desalegn hail from the player is minority Wolayta people in strengthen GLOBAL CHAMPION the Southern Nations, ed due to It is important to inform that In India during the recent India – Africa Summit Nationalities and Peoples i t s Ethiopia received the SouthRegion. The Ethiopian c h a i r m a n s h i p o f t h e South Award 2015 for leader was born in 1965 in PARTISAN POLITICS I n t e r g o v e r n m e n t a l achieving the Millennium the Boloso Sore district of Just few years as member of Authority on Development, D e v e l o p m e n t G o a l o f E t h i o p i a . I n 1 9 8 8 , t h e r u l i n g p a r t y , mediating in the peace talks halving poverty. Prime Hailemariam earned a Hailemariam Desalegn was b e t w e e n bachelor's degree in civil first appointed as vice Sudan and engineering from Addis president of the country's S o u t h Ababa University. He also southern region and later a Sudan on studied for double master president of the region. He one hand d e g r e e s i n s a n i t a t i o n improved the southern a n d t h e e n g i n e e r i n g a n d region economically and as w a r r i n g organizational leadership such ethnic stability was parties in Ethiopian Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn from Tampere University of e n s u r e d . H e c a m e t o new South with Djibouti President, Ismaïl Omar Guelleh.

Technology in Finland and limelight at the national Sudan on Azusa Pacific University in political scene in 2006 and as a n o t h e r Minister Hailemariam hand. Strategically, Ethiopia Desalegn, who received the is key to the stability of the award at the South-South Horn of Africa as soldiers A w a r d G a l a E v e n t , remain integral to the u n d e r l i n e d E t h i o p i a ' s ongoing fight against Al- commitment to the spirit of Shabaab in Somalia. The South-South Cooperation. country formally joined the “Ethiopia was inspired by AU peace-keeping force the successful development experience of countries of there in late January 2014. the Global South and in the same spirit it was ready to AFRICAN STATESMAN As IGAD Chair, he has facilitated the South Sudan Peace Process.

Prime Minister Hailemariam share its experiences with He sits with Presidents Kenyatta (Kenya) and Salva Kiir (South Sudan) others”, he said after

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MAN OF THE YEAR

receiving the honour for Africa's oldest State.

D E P E N D A B L E PARTNER The administration of Hailemariam Desalegn has continue to move Ethiopia ahead in other sectors apart from regional security and international diplomacy. He

construction of the 550kilometer (340-mile) line to transport diesel, gasoline and jet fuel from port access in Djibouti to central Ethiopia. The joint project construction is scheduled for completion in two years.

VISIONARY Ethiopia, whose 1984 f a m i n e triggered a major global fundraising effort, has experienced near-doubled i g i t economic With Shinzo Abe, prime minister of Japan growth and has embarked on bilateral h u g e i n f r a s t r u c t u r e and internal projects which i n v e s t m e n t u n d e r h i s has helped position Ethiopia leadership, positioning it at the pinnacle of direct among the elite in Africa. f o r e i g n i n v e s t m e n t Although Ethiopia enjoys destination in Africa. one of Africa's highest P r i m e M i n i s t e r economic growth rates, its Hailemariam led Ethiopia to economy is state driven. partner Kenya in the However, Governmentambitious USD24.5bn owned companies are Lamu Port Southern Sudan- ambitious with projects like E t h i o p i a T r a n s p o r t the Ethiopian Electric Power ( L A P S S E T ) C o r r i d o r Corporation construction of which includes a railway, t h e G r a n d E t h i o p i a n highways, and an oil Renaissance Dam, set to be pipeline which will provide Africa's largest hydropower his landlocked country and project. The Ethio Telecom South Sudan with a new e x p o r t pathway and r e d u c e K e n y a ' s dependence on the heavily congested p o r t o f With Xi Jinping, president of China Mombasa. and Communist Party chief P r i m e Minister Hailemariam has is working to unveil a 4G partnered Ethiopia with mobile phone network in D j i b o u t i t o s i g n a n Addis Ababa while the Sugar agreement for a $1.55 billion Corporation is building 10 f u e l p i p e l i n e w i t h new factories by the end of developers Mining, Oil & the GTP, with an eye to G a s S e r v i c e s a n d becoming a high-flyer in the Blackstone Group LP- global sugar trade. backed Black Rhino Group.

Both countries which are in T h e g o v e r n m e n t h a d the Horn of Africa signed planned to join the World framework agreements in Trade Organisation in 2015 S e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 5 f o r but may delay the decision as

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Dec. 2015

it would be expected to liberalise its telecoms and banking sectors.

The Hailemariam government welcomed its first sovereign credit ratings from global agencies in 2014 a B1 from Moody's and B ratings from both Fitch and Standard & Poor's, which opened the door to international capital markets and foreign direct investment.

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city and was opened on 20 September 2015. The second service began on 9 November 2015 for westeast line and total length of both lines is 32 kilometres, with 32 stations. The trains are expected to be able to reach maximum speeds of 70 km/h (43 mph).

FAMILY MAN The year 2015 was remarkable for Ethiopia and Prime Minister Hailemariam as a global and African leader of immeasurable value. Hence, A f r i c a Wo r l d decided to etch his name on our hall of fame as 2015 MAN OF THE YEAR. Prime Minister Hailemariam With Vladimir Putin, president of Russia Desalegn is married to H o w e v e r, t h e f o r e i g n investment capital comes Roman Tesfaye who was from China, which has Born in Wolaita, Southern committed hundreds of Ethiopia. Like her darling millions of dollars in loans husband, Ms. Roman holds and grants to assist the double master degrees in g o v e r n m e n t - o w n e d Economics and Leadership. corporations' ambitious She served as economic initiatives, as well as other advisor of South Region's capital intensive projects administration and a former like roads, bridges and high level official in Ethiopian Women Affairs railways.

Ministry and Ethiopian Human Rights Commission.

PACESETTER A remarkable achievement She works for African Union is in the rail transport system (AU). Prime Minister which currently consists of Hailemariam Desalegn and service between Dire Dawa his beautiful wife Roman and Djibouti on the meter- Tesfaye have a daughter g a u g e . T h e r a i l w a y name Johanna Hailemariam. continues to the capital city of Addis Ababa.

The Addis Ababa Light Rail which is the first in Sub-sahara Africa, is a 17-kilometre line running from the city centre to industrial areas in the Obamas and the Desalegn south of the

AfricaWorld Tourism

Dec. 2015

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The Lalibela wonder

Why is this not one of the new wonders of the world? I will never know but it should be. It is a medieval settlement that lies perched in the midst of an extensive rock church complex. There are 11 incredible rock-hewn monolithic churches which were built by King Lalibela back in the late 12th or early 13th century. The structures are noted for their artistic splendor and each of the buildings has distinctive architectural designs. The churches are actually dug into the ground. Truly, this masterpiece is breathtaking. This needs to feature on every tourist wish-list because it is fantastic.

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AfricaWorld Tourism

Dec. 2015

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Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam Project, Benishangul-Gumuz, Ethiopia

The Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), formerly known as the Millennium Dam, is under construction in the Benishangul-Gumuz region of Ethiopia, on the Blue Nile River, which is located about 40km east of Sudan. The project is owned by Ethiopian Electric Power Corporation (EEPCO).

Construction of the Grand Renaissance Dam started in April 2011 after the ETB80bn ($4.7bn) engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract was awarded to Salini Costruttori.

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