Meles Zenawi is a well-known name all over the world. He was an inspiring leader who served country of Ethiopia from 1995 to 2012. Born on 9th May 1955 in Adwa in Northern Ethiopia, he was the third child out of the six children.
He was also known as Legesse. Born in the land full of poverty, hunger and famines, he was still blessed to visit one of the best junior schools in the country. In his early years, he went to Queen of Sheba Junior School then to the prestigious General Wingate High school with a full scholarship. He went ahead to study medicine at the Haile Selassie University.
In 1974, leaving his education he moved ahead to join other students and shape up Tigrayan National Organization. He opposed Derg, after the overthrow of the dictator military regime, he was elected as a president of the revolting Government and then as a Prime Minister.
He served as the Chairman of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front and Tigrayan Peoples’ Liberation Front. Before becoming Prime Minister in 1995, he served as the president of the transitional government of Ethiopia from 1991 to 1995.
Zenawi Family Profile
Zenawi Parents: Zenawi Asres and Adi Quala
Born in a family of six kids, Meles was the third child. Meles was born to an Ethopian father, Zenawi Asres and his mother Alemash Guebreluel hailed from Eritrea.
Zenawi Spouse: Azeb Mesfin
Meles Zenawi married Azeb Mesfin. She is the initiator of the Ethiopia’s National Initiative for Mental Health. In the year 2009, she was also appointed as the CEO of the the Endowment Fund for the Rehabilitation of Tigray. She was born in Wolqayt. The couple has three children.
Children of Meles Zenawi and Azeb Mesfin
Semhal Meles
Semhal is well known for her lavish and jet-setting lifestyle.
Marda Meles
Senay Meles
Zenawi Siblings
Not much information is available about Zenawi’s 5 siblings.
Meles Zenawi Family Net Worth
Meles Zenawi has a net worth of $3 Billion in the year 2012 at the time of his death. He is also rated as the top twenty richest men in Ethiopia.
Being a chairman of Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front as well as the head of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front in the eighties allowed the Ethiopians to see the kind of a leader Zenawi was.
One of the strongest leaders in the country, Zenawi retained the position for 17 years. As an individual, he enjoyed reading, swimming and tennis.A strong believer of an open party system, he introduced a multi-party system. He also held private press and took all possible steps to reduce the child mortality rates in the country.