It is with great sorrow and shock that the IGAD family and myself learned of the untimely passing away of H.E. Ato Meles Zenawi the Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Chairman of IGAD.

I wish to convey IGAD’s condolences to his family, H.E. Ato Hailemariam Desalegn, Acting Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the IGAD Council of Ministers, to both Houses of Parliament to the Council of Ministers, to the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Front (EPRDF) and to the people of Ethiopia over this great loss not only to the country and the IGAD Region but also to the African Continent.

H.E. Ato Meles Zenawi was Chairman of IGAD for over 5 years and the IGAD Region great ly benefited from his wise leadership and guidance and his valuable contribution to the development of IGAD as a regiona l institution. During his Chairmanship IGAD has shined in the international arena due to his successful management of the volatile situation affecting our Region. He tirelessly worked for
peace in Somalia, Sudan, Rwanda, Liberia and Burundi. IGAD’s fraternity will sorely miss this great man with a focused vis ion and brilliant leadership. His vision of Regional Economic Integration and Infrastructure Development, including the Great Renaissance Dam were inspirational to all. We were greatly honored when His Excellency as the only chairperson to do so, came to the Secretariat to support and encourage the staff , personally.

We join all Ethiopians and the IGAD family in mourning H. E. Ato Meles Zenawi’s death and pray that the Almighty GOD gives strength to his bereaved fam ily and the whole country .to cope with these trying and diff icult times. May his soul rest in eternal peace.