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state television as members of the secessionist Oromo Liberation Front (OLF). The government also
regularly publicises threats by the Ogaden National Liberation Front, a Somali separatist group in the east,
which has murdered foreigners and Ethiopians exploring for oil in that area.
Mr Meles is understandably worried by events in the wider region. Ethiopia’s relations with Eritrea, his
mother’s birthplace, remain lousy. He accuses it of backing jihadists bent on hurting Ethiopia. He also
accuses Eritrea of egging on Oromo rebels in the south and Somali separatists in the Ogaden region.
“Eritrea is hellbent on destabilising Ethiopia,” he says. “It does not care who it sleeps with.”
And he remains edgy about the continuing strife in Somalia. In late 2006, with American encouragement,
he sent his army there to topple an Islamist government that had declared a holy war on Ethiopia. Earlier
this year he withdrew his troops after it became apparent they could not impose peace. But now the
jihadists are gaining ground there again, bringing in al-Qaeda types—just what Mr Meles wanted to
prevent.
So Mr Meles is up against it, at home and abroad, but apparently relishing the challenges. A general
election is due next year. He had previously hinted he might step down after it. More recently, he has
sounded less sure, dismissing such speculation as “boring”. Some say he may leave his prime ministerial
post but stay on to chair his ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front. He seems likely, in
whatever guise, to call the shots—with decreasing dissent.
Copyright © 2009 The Economist Newspaper and The Economist Group. All rights reserved.
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