Death and state funeral of Meles Zenawi

Meles Zenawi, who led Ethiopia as Prime Minister since 1995 and the chairman of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) since 1988, died on 20 August 2012 from undisclosed illness. Meles has been absent to public throughout a month and did not attend African Union summit in Addis Ababa. It was also speculated that he has been in poor health condition and expected to recover before the Ethiopian New Year on 11 September 2012.

His state funeral took place on 2 September with high-profile political figures around the world including 20 African leaders and US senior officials such as US Ambassador Susan Rice.