Azeb Mesfin, First Lady of Ethiopia (wife of Prime Minister)

Azeb Mesfin, First Lady of Ethiopia

Azeb Mesfin is an Ethiopian women’s right activist, businesswoman, member of parliament, and a political spouse. She is also the vice-president of Organisation of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS and founder and patron of Ethiopia’s National Initiative for Mental Health. In early 2009, she was appointed deputy head of the Endowment Fund for the Rehabilitation of Tigray by its CEO Abadi Zemu.

Azeb is the wife of Ethiopian prime minister Meles Zenawi and the mother of three children, Semhal, Marda and Senay Meles. She was elected in 2005 to the House of Peoples Representatives (the lower House of the Ethiopian Parliament) representing her home woreda of Wolqayt, and serves as chair of its Social Affairs Standing Committee. Her role has at times been controversial, with some members of Ethiopia’s diaspora alleging that, during the period in which she was an executive at the parastatal Mega Corporation, she was involved in “the impropriety of mingling public, private and party-owned businesses.”

However Azeb is also known for her aggressive work to teach rural Ethiopians about the issues of HIV/AIDS and advocating for more women’s rights. In January 2007, she was given the “Legacy of a Dream” award for her leadership and during an awards ceremony commemorating the life of the famous civil rights activist and leader Dr. Martin Luther King.

Her appearance at a special ceremony to honor the First Ladies of Africa for their efforts against the spread of HIV/AIDS held by Georgetown University of Washington DC on January 15, 2007 was met by protests of exiled Ethiopians.” The University was awarding it’s “John Thompson Legacy of a Dream Award” to the Organization of African First Ladies Against HIV/AIDS for its leadership and service toward the ideals of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Azeb Mesfin was to accept the award on behalf of the organization along with the first ladies of Zambia and Rwanda. She started the organization “Ethiopian Coalition of Women against HIV/AIDS” and continues to work closely with community leaders to ensure the rights of women,fight harmful traditional practices and HIV/AIDS. She said the award she received is not just for her organization but for the entire Ethiopian women declaring “the award is the result of the relentless struggle waged by Ethiopian women.