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Former President Thabo Mbeki has learnt with sadness, the passing away of Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi this morning and conveyed his deepest condolences to his family, the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia.

The former President described Prime Minister Zenawi as “an outstanding and committed African patriot and leader” who did his best to address Ethiopia’s and Africa’s developmental challenges.”

“Those of us who have had the privilege to spend time with our brother and leader will sorely miss his razor-sharp intellect which he deployed for the advancement of Ethiopia, the East African region and the continent as a whole.”

Former President Mbeki recalled the readiness with which Prime Minister Zenawi contributed a 4,200 Ethiopian peace-keeping force to Abyei, Sudan, under the auspecies of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). This was at the request of the African Union High Level Implementation Panel on Sudan (AUHIP) which former President Mbeki chairs.

Said Mr. Mbeki: “Throughout the life of the AUHIP, Ethiopia, through Prime Minister Zenawi, has been a critical component to the Panel’s success.

“He often found time in his busy schedule to think together with members of the Panel on how to realise the Panel’s mandate and to overcome various obstacles and challenges.

“We join millions of Africans from across the continent as we convey our deepest condolences to Prime Minister Zenawi’s family, the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia.”