A change is going to come

After 18 years in power, serious moves are afoot to renew the leadership of the ruling EPRDF

Change is coming to Ethiopia, says Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. It was time the country's political old guard stepped down, he told Africa Confidential in an interview on 3 May. Meles has submitted his resignation and the ruling party discussed it in February - but that does not make it inevitable. If there is a change, it would be more of personnel than policy, he suggested. The issue was not that the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front had ruled for 18 years but that 'the same people have been in positions of leadership throughout the period'. He included himself in 'the old leadership which was leading the EPRDF during the armed struggle and up to now'. When asked if he was expecting 'a collective transition', Meles replied, 'Yes, I think that the next crucial step needs to be taken,' implying that the older generation faced retirement.

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Meles Zenawi, Mengistu Haile Mariam, Azeb Mesfin, Seyoum Mesfin, Abay Tsehaye, Addisu Legesse, Tewodros Adhanom, Arkebe Oqubay, No consensus, Siye Abraha, Negasso Gidada, Gebru Asrat, Bulcha Demeksa, Beyene Petros, Merara Gudina, Birtukan Mideksa, Hailu Shawel, Ayele Chamiso, Lidetu Ayelew, Berhanu Nega, Africa Confidential, Medrek, Medrek, Ginbot 7

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