Leaders of different African countries and officials of international organizations paid their respect to the late prime minister Meles Zenawi at the grand palace last Sunday.
“Meles Zenawi was a great leader, he was not only the leader of Ethiopia but he was also Africa’s leader. He was also a peacemaker who has contributed a great deal for peace and security of the region,” said Somaliland President Ahmed Mohamoud Silanyo . “On the behalf of the people and the government of Somaliland, I would like to offer my condolences to the people and government of Ethiopia.”
President Ahmed said Ethiopia is a good neighbour of Somaliland hence the two countries have a very close relationship, and it is hoped that the relationship will continue and grow even bigger. “We’ve learnt a lesson from Meles that it is a good thing to bring people together and to work for the development of the region as a whole”, he added.
South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit on his part said the loss of Meles is very sad not only for the people of Ethiopia but also for the people of South Sudan, the region and for the whole Africa as well. “He was a great leader and he will be missed by the African people”, the President added.
African Development Bank (AfDB) President Donald Kaberuka also said that it is not exaggeration to say that Meles was a transformation leader. He was a leader who devoted himself for his people and for Africa. The best way to acknowledge Meles is by continuing the work he did for Ethiopia and Africa. Donald further said “The African Development Bank is a sole partner of Ethiopia, I have worked closely with Meles on African and international issues and I will guarantee you that we will honor his legacy by showing what he has achieved.”
The Chief Executive Officer of The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Dr. Ibrahim Mayaki on his part said: “I am personally very sad because I lost a very intelligent boss for whom I had an immense pleasure to work for. So, his ideas will live with us and to make his ideas live will be our role. I can assure you that we will do our job in that regard”
Dr. Ibrahim added: “His intelligence helped NEPAD to bring about development in the region. He inspired us all in what we sensed as our main issues in our interaction internationally and at a critical moment of the integration of NEPAD into the African Union. He was fundamentally a key actor in facilitating the integration. We will miss his intelligence, passion and inclusive Africanity.” Meles was a key advocate of Africa’s interest at the G8 and G20 summit and his ideas were always received with a lot of attention, he added.
Representing UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon, Jeffrey Feltman, Under-Secretary-General for the United Nations in New york said: “On the behalf of the UN I would like to express my deepest condolences for the family of Meles Zenawi and also for the people and government of Ethiopia. The Prime Minister was a sole partner of the UN on behalf of peace and security and development in this region. We, in the UN vow to honour his legacy by continuing to work for the issues he stood for, for peace and security development in Ethiopia and the region.”
Leaders and delegates of countries like Kenya, Benin, Rwanda and Tanzania, Republic of Sudan and Burundi have also offered their condolences to the family of the late Prime Minister, the Ethiopian people and the government.
Source : allAfrica.com