Meles Zenawi quotes

Meles Zenawi was an Ethiopian statesman and former Prime Minister, widely recognized for his role in transforming Ethiopia’s political and economic landscape. His leadership brought significant reforms and promoted rapid development, though it was also marked by controversy over human rights. He played a pivotal role in both domestic policy and African regional affairs. Here are 14 of his quotes:

Africa's downfall has always been the cult of the personality. And their names always seem to begin with M. We've had Mobutu and Mengistu and I'm not going to add Meles to the list.

Meles Zenawi

It does surprise me that intelligent people in the 21st century could claim that if you respond to the terrorists with force, you spawn terrorism, but if you appease them, you somehow tame them. This argument, as I said, is very interesting, and very surprising.

Meles Zenawi

.. countries pretend their foreign policy is based on democratisation when this is clearly not the case. For all the challenges in Zimbabwe, for example, it is a bit of a stretch to say it is less democratic than some of the sheikhdoms of the Gulf. But none of the sheikdoms has a problem visiting Europe.

Meles Zenawi

I have never heard of any convincing reason as to why we should privatize land at this stage.

Meles Zenawi

I am proud to be an Ethiopian. I am proud to be a part of that history.

Meles Zenawi

We believe the problem between ourselves and Eritrea will have to be resolved through dialogue, but it takes two to tango.

Meles Zenawi

The most stupid mistake a counter-insurgency operation can make is alienating the population. If you alienate the population, you're finished.

Meles Zenawi

After Nigeria, we are the second biggest black African nation. We are the headquarters of the African Union. We are the only African country that has never been colonized. This is perhaps the last surviving African civilization.

Meles Zenawi

I am not worried that the Egyptians will suddenly invade Ethiopia. Nobody who has tried that has lived to tell the story.

Meles Zenawi

Of course everybody's thinking evolves over time.

Meles Zenawi

As a person, I have never been discourteous or nasty to anybody. I may have stood my ground a bit too directly, a bit too firmly, and I believe I have, over a number of years, learned to be a little less direct.

Meles Zenawi

I know more now than I did in the past about the process of democratization. I know more about the pitfalls.

Meles Zenawi