18/04/2009

The Ethiopian Ambassador to London was in no party mood during the recent G20 summit, attended by Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi is particularly annoyed with his country’s Ambassador to the UK, Berhanu Kebede, following the demonstrations against his coming to London for the G20 summit. According to some reports the PM almost insulted the Ambassador, so the latter is now pondering on his future. In fact, another meeting in London a few days previously between the Minister for Government Communication Bereket Simon and Ethiopian government supporters had already been disrupted by members of the opposition. The Ethiopian authorities then made extensive arrangements for a substantial pro-Meles Zenawi demonstration to celebrate his presence at the summit.

What actually took place on the day was precisely the opposite. Some tens of Ethiopian opponents spoke out against Meles Zenawi and were shown on CNN, the BBC and other channels wanting sensational pictures. Zenawi was so furious that at the last minute he cancelled the press conference he had scheduled in London. Berhanu Kebede was no doubt severely ticked off for the “disastrous failure” of media coverage of Meles Zenawi’s presence at the summit. He could now well be wondering whether he consequently risks being recalled to Addis Ababa and what he would do in that case. Honour was upheld in Ethiopia, however: the State-controlled media presented the G20 meeting as a resounding success for Meles Zenawi. They even went so far as to claim that the summit had decided to attribute several hundred million dollars to Ethiopia. Which would not seem to be the case!