CAIRO: Despite not being seen for two months, Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, who is suffering from and unknown illness, was reportedly assisting in continued peace negotiations between Sudan and South Sudan. African Union officials reported that Zenawi, despite being bedridden, is continuing to assist in efforts to mediate a peace deal between Khartoum and Juba on oil transit fees between the two countries. Ethiopia is largely seen as an unbiased broker by both Sudan and South Sudan and has been a host nation for number of post-secession negotiation meetings over a number of pending issues remaining from the 2005 comprehensive peace agreement that ended decades of bloody civil war. The Ethiopian government and Zenawi have been pushing and encouraging the two parties to narrow their differences and peacefully resolve their dispute. Sources inside the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa reportedly said the illness did not stop Zenawi from following up the Sudan peace talks and he has been in regular contact with the chief mediator for North-South Sudan peace talks, former South African president, Thabo Mbeki. Zenawi's absence has left many in the country speculating on whether he will return to power over Ethiopia. The secrecy behind his “disappearance” has led to media reports that he has died, is gravely ill, is on vacation and numerous other conspiracy theories. It remains to be known where the longtime prime minister really is at the present moment. Reports across East Africa continue to ask the question: “Where is Meles?" on a daily basis, even as government officials in Ethiopia try to play down his absence, saying the long-time leader is in good condition. Somaliland Press said, “Dictator Meles Zenawi has disappeared from public view for several weeks now. “He was last seen in public on June 19 at the G20 Summit in Mexico. His disappearing act has provided more grist for speculation and caused pained and grimaced official obfuscation," in a report questioning the rulers' whereabouts and whether he was able to return to his position as prime minister. Earlier this month, the Ethiopia government attempted to allay fears or worries that the 57-year-old PM was in poor health. They called the rumors of Meles Zenawi's health a “campaign of fabrication." In an interview with the state-run Ethiopian Television (ETV), information minister, Simon said Zenawi's health has improved during the past few days following treatment in Europe. “The Prime Minister's health is now in much better condition after his treatment" he said adding, “he is taking some rest." Simon's address on state television follows an a broadcast on exiled Ethiopian TV broadcaster ESAT on Monday, claiming Zenawi had died, citing reliable sources in the International Crises Group (ICG). However, ICG dismissed the claims, saying it has no direct knowledge of Zenawi's health condition. Simon said the latest reports are part of opposition “campaigns of fabrications." He said “those forces are fabricating speculations about the health of PM Meles to the extent of quoting international organizations like ICG, something the organization denied." The last time Zenawi appeared in public during the G20 summit in Mexico in June. Ethiopian activists continued their online calls for change in the country, with the hope the government will ease its decades long power hold over the country and its political future. “We definitely are hopeful that this recent episode concerning Meles [Zenawi] and his health will wake up the country that we are the future of Ethiopia," a student activist in Addis Ababa told Bikyamasr.com on Thursday morning. “This country has been led by a man who continues to oppress us all, Christians, Muslims and others, so it is time we take our own destiny in our hands," he added, asking not to be named due to the sensitive nature of referring to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi's health. But government officials have reported that Zenawi is currently in “good condition and recuperating" after he was reportedly gravely ill and on his deathbed. Newspapers who reported the PM's health controversy were met with massive crackdowns from the government, highlighting the struggle for freedom of speech in the country. Simon, a government spokesman, speaking to BBC News, declined to give specific details about Meles' whereabouts or what he is suffering from. Bereket had earlier been quoted as saying the prime minister, 57, was on holiday. Zenawi has ruled Ethiopia for more than two decades and many activists in the country have called for his ouster in order to push the country forward. Speculation began when he missed last month's African Union summit, held in the Ethiopian capital. The youth have been the most outspoken towards change in the country. “It will definitely be interesting to see how we all react," said one student activist, who asked not to be named due to the security crackdown on those speaking about the PM's health. The activist told Bikyamasr.com that “Ethiopia will be better when we are all, Christians and Muslims work together to build a country based not on one group dominating the other, but on the idea that we can have a solid country for all Ethiopians."
