Several African leaders in Addis for Zenawi memorial

Several African leaders and high-level delegations from Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda, Somalia, Kenya, South Africa, South Sudan and Djibouti are also expected this morning in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, to attend the first memorial service of the late Ethiopian prime minister, Meles Zenawi.

Sudanese president Omar Hassan Al-Bashir was among the first to jet in on Monday.

The widow of the late premier and board chairperson of the Meles Zenawi Foundation (MZF), Azeb Mesfin, said that the occasion will be marked across the nation on Tuesday, with various events planned to commemorate the legacy of the former Ethiopian leader.

At the memorial service, African leaders will pay tribute to the late prime minister for his outstanding efforts at both national and continental level to maintain regional peace and security, as well as his lead role in environmental protection and climate change negotiations.

Zenawi, regarded as one of Ethiopia’s greatest leaders, died on 20 August 2012 after leading the country for over two decades.