On 21 September 2012 Hailemariam Desalegn was sworn in as Ethiopia’s
prime minister. He was regarded as a compromise candidate and many
Ethiopians expected more political freedom. 100 days on, hope is fading.
A few days before Ethiopia's new prime minister, Hailemariam Desalegn,
was sworn in, the Ethiopian government pardoned 2,000 political
prisoners. Desalegn's inauguration coincided with the Orthodox New Year
which falls in September. At the same time the Ethiopian government
started negotiations in Kenya with the Ogaden National Liberation Front
(ONLF), a separatist group based in the eastern part of the country.
The 47-year-old engineer and father of three daughters, is considered moderate and affable, compared to Meles Zenawi, Desalegn's charismatic predecessor. Zenawi ruled the country with an increasingly iron fist following the bloody 2005 elections.
Swedish photo journalist Johan Persson was convicted of terrorist crimes but pardoned in 2012
The Ethiopian government classifies the armed wing of ONLF as
"terrorists". When the new prime minister hinted at the prospect of
peace talks with arch rival Eritrea, many Ethiopians believed they were
finally entering a new era of political sunshine.The 47-year-old engineer and father of three daughters, is considered moderate and affable, compared to Meles Zenawi, Desalegn's charismatic predecessor. Zenawi ruled the country with an increasingly iron fist following the bloody 2005 elections.