The National Democratic Institute is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization working to support and strengthen democratic institutions worldwide through citizen participation, openness and accountability in government.

In an article for Voice of America, Scott Stearns reports on how the death of Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi will affect Ethiopia internally as well as the Horn of Africa at large. Meles is most known for playing an integral role in stabilizing relations between South Sudan and Sudan, particularly by providing peacekeepers in the troubled Abyeh area. Despite Zenawi’s legacy as a stabilizing force in a volatile region, many believe that certain conditions within Ethiopia will improve because of this political transition. Citing Chris Fomunyoh, NDI’s regional director for Central and West Africa, Stearns says that Meles “never found the balance between the growth of commerce and the expansion of civil liberties.” A spokeswoman from the State Department said that many in Washington hope Ethiopia’s new leaders will improve human rights.