People's Rally for Progress
Encyclopedia
The People's Rally for Progress ( or RPP), is a political party
in Djibouti
. It has dominated politics in the country since 1979, initially under the rule of President Hassan Gouled Aptidon
. Today it is led by President Ismail Omar Guelleh
and is in a coalition government with Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy
(FRUD) and other parties.
The RPP was founded in Dikhil
on March 4, 1979. It was declared the sole legal party in October 1981, retaining this status until multiparty politics was introduced in the September 1992 referendum
. At the party congress held on 19–20 March 1997, Gouled Aptidon was re-elected as RPP President and a 125-member Central Committee was elected. It contested the December 1997 parliamentary election
in alliance with the moderate faction of FRUD (which had signed a peace agreement with the government in December 1994), and this alliance won 79% of the vote, taking all 65 seats in the National Assembly
.
On February 4, 1999, President Gouled Aptidon announced that he would retire at the time of the next election, and an extraordinary congress of the RPP, chose Guelleh as its presidential candidate. As the joint candidate of the RPP and moderate wing of the Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy
(FRUD), Guelleh won the presidential election
held on April 9, 1999 with 74% of the vote, defeating his only challenger, the independent candidate Moussa Ahmed Idriss.
In the parliamentary election
held on 10 January 2003, the party was part of the Union for a Presidential Majority (Union pour la Majorité Présidentielle, UMP), that won 63% of the popular vote and all 65 seats.
The RPP opened its Eighth Ordinary Congress on March 4, 2004, coinciding with the party's 25th anniversary. At this congress, Guelleh was unanimously re-elected as RPP President by acclamation for another three year term, and the RPP Central Committee was expanded from 180 to 250 members. On March 4, 2007, the RPP held its Ninth Ordinary Congress; Guelleh was again re-elected as RPP President, and three women were added to the Political Bureau, expanding it to 17 members. It contested the February 2008 parliamentary election
together with its UMP coalition partners, and the UMP again won all 65 seats amidst an opposition boycott.
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 Djibouti
Djibouti
Djibouti , officially the Republic of Djibouti , is a country in the Horn of Africa. It is bordered by Eritrea in the north, Ethiopia in the west and south, and Somalia in the southeast. The remainder of the border is formed by the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden at the east...
. It has dominated politics in the country since 1979, initially under the rule of President Hassan Gouled Aptidon
Hassan Gouled Aptidon
Hassan Gouled Aptidon was the first President of Djibouti from 1977 to 1999.-Biography:...
. Today it is led by President Ismail Omar Guelleh
Ismail Omar Guelleh
Ismaïl Omar Guelleh is the President of Djibouti. He succeeded his uncle, Hassan Gouled Aptidon, in 1999. He is often referred to in the region by his initials 'IOG'....
and is in a coalition government with Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy
Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy
The Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy , is a political party in Djibouti. It is aligned with the interests of the Afar people who live in that country, although it has supporters residing outside of Djibouti....
(FRUD) and other parties.
The RPP was founded in Dikhil
Dikhil
Dikhil is a town in the western Dikhil Region of Djibouti. Lying east of Lake Abbe, it is located on the paved highway that runs east from Djibouti City. The town is home to a population of around 12,043 people.-History:...
on March 4, 1979. It was declared the sole legal party in October 1981, retaining this status until multiparty politics was introduced in the September 1992 referendum
Djiboutian constitutional referendum, 1992
An constitutional referendum was held in Djibouti on 4 September 1992. The new constitution would restore multi-party democracy for the first time since independence. A second question asked voters whether the number of political parties should be limited to four. Both were approved by over 97.9%...
. At the party congress held on 19–20 March 1997, Gouled Aptidon was re-elected as RPP President and a 125-member Central Committee was elected. It contested the December 1997 parliamentary election
Djiboutian parliamentary election, 1997
Parliamentary elections were held in Djibouti on 19 December 1997. The Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy, which had boycotted the last election, ran joint candidates with the ruling People's Rally for Progress. Together, they won all 65 seats in the National Assembly, with the PRP...
in alliance with the moderate faction of FRUD (which had signed a peace agreement with the government in December 1994), and this alliance won 79% of the vote, taking all 65 seats in the National Assembly
National Assembly of Djibouti
The National Assembly is the unicameral legislative branch of the government of Djibouti.-Overview:It consists of 65 members – 30 Somali and 30 Afar – elected to serve five-year terms in multi-seat constituencies...
.
On February 4, 1999, President Gouled Aptidon announced that he would retire at the time of the next election, and an extraordinary congress of the RPP, chose Guelleh as its presidential candidate. As the joint candidate of the RPP and moderate wing of the Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy
Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy
The Front for the Restoration of Unity and Democracy , is a political party in Djibouti. It is aligned with the interests of the Afar people who live in that country, although it has supporters residing outside of Djibouti....
(FRUD), Guelleh won the presidential election
Djiboutian presidential election, 1999
Presidential elections were held in Djibouti on 9 April 1999. Following the retirement of Hassan Gouled Aptidon, who had served as President since independence in 1977, his nephew Ismail Omar Guelleh won the nomination of the ruling People's Rally for Progress...
held on April 9, 1999 with 74% of the vote, defeating his only challenger, the independent candidate Moussa Ahmed Idriss.
In the parliamentary election
Djiboutian parliamentary election, 2003
The 2003 Djiboutian parliamentary election took place in Djibouti on the 10 January 2003 to elect the National Assembly of Djibouti. The ruling coalition of President Ismail Omar Guelleh won all 65 seats in the election defeating an opposition coalition....
held on 10 January 2003, the party was part of the Union for a Presidential Majority (Union pour la Majorité Présidentielle, UMP), that won 63% of the popular vote and all 65 seats.
The RPP opened its Eighth Ordinary Congress on March 4, 2004, coinciding with the party's 25th anniversary. At this congress, Guelleh was unanimously re-elected as RPP President by acclamation for another three year term, and the RPP Central Committee was expanded from 180 to 250 members. On March 4, 2007, the RPP held its Ninth Ordinary Congress; Guelleh was again re-elected as RPP President, and three women were added to the Political Bureau, expanding it to 17 members. It contested the February 2008 parliamentary election
Djiboutian parliamentary election, 2008
A parliamentary election was held in Djibouti on 8 February 2008. There were 65 candidates running for the 65 seats in the National Assembly, with all of the candidates coming from the ruling coalition, the Union for the Presidential Majority...
together with its UMP coalition partners, and the UMP again won all 65 seats amidst an opposition boycott.