Gambela People's Democratic Movement
Encyclopedia
The Gambela Peoples’ Democratic Movement (GPDM, Yä-Gambella Həzbočč Demokrasiyawi Nəqnaqe; also known as Gambela People’s Democratic Movement or Gambella Peoples’ Unity Democratic Movement, GPUDM, Amharic: ጋምቤላ ሕዝቦች አንድነት ዴሞክራሲያዊ ንቅናቄ Gambälla Həzbočč Andinet Demokrasiyawi Nəqnaqe) is a political party
in the Gambela Region
of Ethiopia
. It is the regional ally of the ruling EPRDF coalition.
The GPDM was founded as the new regional EPRDF ally in 2003. Its predecessors were the Gambela People’s Liberation Movement (GPLM), which was in existence 1991–1998, and the Gambela People’s Democratic Front (GPDF), in existence 1998–2003.
regime of Ethiopia and the Sudan People's Liberation Army
(SPLA). The latter had a major base in Gambela and had committed numerous atrocities against the local inhabitants; however the GPLM was unable to mobilize more than a negligible portion of the population and never held any liberated area before the fall of the Derg in 1991. With the end of the Ethiopian Civil War
, Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front
(EPRDF) forces, accompanied by a small contingent of the GPLM, occupied Gambela and expelled the SPLA. Now in power, the GPLM removed the predominantly Nuer leadership that had dominated the province under the Derg, as well as settling old scores with its ethnic rival. In response, the Nuer organized the Gambela People's Democratic Unity Party (GPDUP), which was immediately recognised by the EPRDF.
Despite the GPLM's hold on power it was weakened by internal disputes, predominantly between Anuak from villages along the Upeno (or Baro River
), who known as "the Upeno boys", and those from villages along the Gilo River
. The first group, including Regional President Okello Ouman, were expelled from the GPLM before the 1995 General Election
. In response to this situation, the EPRDF ordered the remaining members of the GPLM and the GPDUP to merge into the GPDF in 1998.
, many leaders of this opposition party were detained. In 2003, the central government dissolved the GPDF and replaced it with the GPDM, a coalition of three newly founded ethnic-based parties. The three constituent parties were the Nuer People’s Democratic Organization for the Nuer and Opo
, the Anyua People’s Democratic Organization for the Anuak and Komo, and the Majanger People’s Democratic Organization for the Majangir
.
At the last legislative elections
, 15 May 2005, the party won all the 3 seats from Gambela. The Deputy Chairman of the legislature's Social Affairs Committee is a member of the GPDM. In the August 2005 Regional assembly elections, the party won 81 out of 82 seats in Gambela.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in the Gambela Region
Gambela Region
Gambela is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia. Previously known as "Region 12", its capital is Gambela. Lying between the Baro and Akobo Rivers, the western part of Gambela includes the Baro salient....
of Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. It is the regional ally of the ruling EPRDF coalition.
The GPDM was founded as the new regional EPRDF ally in 2003. Its predecessors were the Gambela People’s Liberation Movement (GPLM), which was in existence 1991–1998, and the Gambela People’s Democratic Front (GPDF), in existence 1998–2003.
Predecessors
The GPLM was founded in 1979 and was based in the Anuak ethnic group.This group launched a guerrilla war against both the DergDerg
The Derg or Dergue was a Communist military junta that came to power in Ethiopia following the ousting of Haile Selassie I. Derg, which means "committee" or "council" in Ge'ez, is the short name of the Coordinating Committee of the Armed Forces, Police, and Territorial Army, a committee of...
regime of Ethiopia and the Sudan People's Liberation Army
Sudan People's Liberation Army
The Sudan People's Liberation Movement is a political party in South Sudan. It was initially founded as a rebel political movement with a military wing known as the Sudan People's Liberation Army estimated at 180,000 soldiers. The SPLM fought in the Second Sudanese Civil War against the Sudanese...
(SPLA). The latter had a major base in Gambela and had committed numerous atrocities against the local inhabitants; however the GPLM was unable to mobilize more than a negligible portion of the population and never held any liberated area before the fall of the Derg in 1991. With the end of the Ethiopian Civil War
Ethiopian Civil War
The Ethiopian Civil War began on September 12, 1974 when the Marxist Derg staged a coup d'état against Emperor Haile Selassie, and lasted until the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front , a coalition of rebel groups, overthrew the government in 1991. The war overlapped other Cold War...
, Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front
Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front
The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front is the ruling political coalition in Ethiopia. It is an alliance of four other groups: the Oromo Peoples' Democratic Organization , the Amhara National Democratic Movement , the South Ethiopian Peoples' Democratic Front The Ethiopian People's...
(EPRDF) forces, accompanied by a small contingent of the GPLM, occupied Gambela and expelled the SPLA. Now in power, the GPLM removed the predominantly Nuer leadership that had dominated the province under the Derg, as well as settling old scores with its ethnic rival. In response, the Nuer organized the Gambela People's Democratic Unity Party (GPDUP), which was immediately recognised by the EPRDF.
Despite the GPLM's hold on power it was weakened by internal disputes, predominantly between Anuak from villages along the Upeno (or Baro River
Baro River
The Baro River is a river in southwestern Ethiopia, which defines part of Ethiopia's border with South Sudan. From its source in the Ethiopian Highlands it flows west for to join the Pibor River...
), who known as "the Upeno boys", and those from villages along the Gilo River
Gilo River
The Gilo River is a river in the Gambela Region of southwestern Ethiopia. It is also known by a variety of names: the Gimira of Dizu call it the "Mene", while the Gemira of Chako call it "Owis", and Amhara and Oromo settlers in the early 20th century knew it by a third name, "Bako"...
. The first group, including Regional President Okello Ouman, were expelled from the GPLM before the 1995 General Election
Ethiopian general election, 1995
General elections were held in Ethiopia on 7 and 18 May 1995 for seats in its Council of People's Representatives; elections in the Afar, Somali, and Harari Regions were delayed until 28 June to assign experienced personnel who could solve possible conflicts and irregularities...
. In response to this situation, the EPRDF ordered the remaining members of the GPLM and the GPDUP to merge into the GPDF in 1998.
Formation of the GPDM
This led dissatified Anuak to found the Gambella People’s Democratic Congress. Prior to the 2000 electionsEthiopian general election, 2000
Ethiopia held general elections on 14 May and 31 August 2000, for seats in both its national and in several Regional government councils. although several opposition parties boycotted the election, 17 parties including the All-Amhara People's Organization, the Southern Ethiopia Peoples' Democratic...
, many leaders of this opposition party were detained. In 2003, the central government dissolved the GPDF and replaced it with the GPDM, a coalition of three newly founded ethnic-based parties. The three constituent parties were the Nuer People’s Democratic Organization for the Nuer and Opo
Shita
Shita is an ethnic group of South Sudan and Ethiopia. They speak Opuuo, a Nilo-Saharan language. Most members of this ethnic group are not Muslims....
, the Anyua People’s Democratic Organization for the Anuak and Komo, and the Majanger People’s Democratic Organization for the Majangir
Majangir
The Majang people, or Majangir, live in southwestern Ethiopia and speak a Nilo-Saharan language of the Surmic cluster. The 1998 census gave the total of the Majangir population as 15,341, but since they live scattered in the hills in dispersed settlements , their actual total number is undoubtedly...
.
Election results
At the last legislative elections, 23 May 2010, the party won all the 3 seats from Gambela. In the 2010 Regional assembly elections held on the same day, the party won all 156 seats in the Gambela legislature. As of 2010, Omod Ubong, president of the regional government of Gambela, is the GPDM's chairman.At the last legislative elections
Ethiopian general elections, 2005
Ethiopia held general elections on May 15, 2005, for seats in both its national and in four regional government councils. Under pressure from the international community, Prime Minister Meles Zenawi promised that this election would be proof that more democracy would come in this multi-ethnic...
, 15 May 2005, the party won all the 3 seats from Gambela. The Deputy Chairman of the legislature's Social Affairs Committee is a member of the GPDM. In the August 2005 Regional assembly elections, the party won 81 out of 82 seats in Gambela.