This is an
installment in the WorldWatch series, “The
world’s enduring dictators,” inspired by events in Tunisia and Egypt, in
which CBSNews.com takes a look at the men who continue to rule their lands
unimpeded by law. See a complete explanation of the series and a list of others
profiled here.
MelesZenawi,
Ethiopia
Length
of rule: 16
years. Zenawi helped lead the rebel movement that
overthrew a brutal military dictatorship in 1991, and in 1995 was elected prime
minister, a post he still holds. After heavily disputed elections in 2005 that
featured his ruling party announcing victory in a close election before the
votes were counted, Zenawi’s Ethiopian People’s
Revolutionary Democratic Front and a small coalition of affiliated parties won
99.6 percent of all parliamentary seats in May elections this year which
“fell short of international commitments,” Amnesty International
writes.
Most
despotic acts:
While Eritrea was officially blamed for starting its infamous war with Ethiopia
from 1998 to 2000, Zenawidid little
to prevent the escalation of what many described as a pointless conflict
that left at least 70,000 dead on both sides and cost two of the world’s
poorest countries hundreds of millions of dollars. Zenawi
has centralized control of many state functions within his political party, and
while that has led to impressive economic growth, it has also spawned numerous
reports of politically motivated killings, mass repression of freedoms and
torture by state security services, which is saying nothing of the exclusion
of non-party members from government services. After the disputed 2005
elections, security
forces killed 200 protesters. Many claimed there was a clear victory for
opposition politicians in 2005, but the
ruling party said it won before results were announced, and it has
maintained power since.
Outlook
for change: In
2009, Zenawi indicated he was ready to step down, but
his party “convinced”
him to stay on to ease any potential transition. As many as 200
people in the political opposition have been arrested in recent months,
apparently in reaction to the uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt. Zenawi has faced several insurrections and secessionist
movements within Ethiopia in his time as ruler, but it is unclear whether he
will step down willingly or be forced to step down any time soon. That said,
dissatisfaction with the Zenawi regime must exist as, yet again, swaths
of Ethiopia are facing a critical food shortage.
