United Ethiopian Democratic Forces
Encyclopedia
The United Ethiopian Democratic Forces is a coalition of several existing political parties of Ethiopia
which combined to compete for seats in the Ethiopian General Elections
held on May 15, 2005.
The main constituent parties are the Oromo National Congress, Ethiopian Social Democratic Federal Party
, Southern Ethiopia People's Democratic Coalition, All-Amhara People's Organization
and the Ethiopian Democratic Unity Party
. Other parties that joined to create the UEDF include: Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front
), All-Ethiopia Socialist Movement
(MEISON), Ethiopian Democratic Union - Tehadiso, Ethiopian National United Front, Ethiopian People Federal Democratic Unity Party (HIBREHIZB), Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party
, Gambela People's United Democratic Front, Oromo People's Liberation Organization (OPLO - IBSO), and Tigrean Alliance for Democracy.
In July 2008, the UEDF joined the Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement
, the Somali Democratic Alliance Forces, and the Union of Tigrians for Democracy and Sovereignty (also known as Arena) to found the Ethiopian Democratic Unity Front or simply Medrek
, a new coalition of opposition parties and activists.
held on 15 May 2005, the UEDF gained 52 seats in the Council of People's Representatives (CFR), consisting of 40 from the Oromia Region
and 12 from the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region (SNNPR).
In the August 2005 Regional assembly elections, the party won 105 out of 537 seats in the assembly of the Oromia Region, 1 of the 36 seats in the Harari Region
, and 37 of the 348 seats in the assembly of the SNNPR.
In October the UEDF briefly supported the other major opposition party, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy
, in a refusal to participate in the CPR until several demands were met. However, at the last moment, party chairman Dr. Merera Gudina
and vice-chair Beyene Petros
both announced the UEDF would participate, after which a vote of the party's central committee on 24 October 2005 expelled both of them. The current acting party leaders are vice chairman Girma Shumie and Secretary-General Dereje Kebede, and the party Whip
is Geberu Mariam Uturu, who represents a district in the Mirab (West) Shewa Zone
of Oromia.
of using intimidation to force 14,000 of its candidates for local seats in the 15 May 2008 by-elections
, three days before that election Beyenne Petros announced that the UEDF would boycott the
election.
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...
which combined to compete for seats in the Ethiopian General 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...
held on May 15, 2005.
The main constituent parties are the Oromo National Congress, Ethiopian Social Democratic Federal Party
Ethiopian Social Democratic Federal Party
The Ethiopian Social Democratic Party is a political party in Ethiopia. the leaders of the ESDP are chairman Dr. Beyene Petros, vice chairman Mulu Meja, and secretary Alema Koira....
, Southern Ethiopia People's Democratic Coalition, All-Amhara People's Organization
All-Amhara People's Organization
The All-Amhara People's Organization is an ethnic based political party in Ethiopia, whose leader was the late Asrat Woldeyes.At the last legislative elections, 15 May 2005, the party was part of the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces, that won 52 out of 527 seats in the Council of People's...
and the Ethiopian Democratic Unity Party
Ethiopian Democratic Unity Party
The Ethiopian Democratic Unity Party is a political party in Ethiopia.At the legislative elections held on 15 May 2005, the EDUP was part of the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces, that won 52 out of 527 seats in the Council of People's Representatives.- History :The Ethiopian Democratic Union or...
. Other parties that joined to create the UEDF include: Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front
Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front
The Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front or Afar Revolutionary Democratic Union Front The Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front or Afar Revolutionary Democratic Union Front The Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front or Afar Revolutionary Democratic Union Front (abbreviated ARDUF; ; also...
), All-Ethiopia Socialist Movement
All-Ethiopia Socialist Movement
The All-Ethiopia Socialist Movement was a Marxist-Leninist organization that played an active role in Ethiopian politics during the 1970s. Both it and the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party were enthusiastic supporters of the revolution that toppled Emperor Haile Selassie I...
(MEISON), Ethiopian Democratic Union - Tehadiso, Ethiopian National United Front, Ethiopian People Federal Democratic Unity Party (HIBREHIZB), Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party
Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party
Founded in April 1972, the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party was a prominent Marxist-Leninist organization in Ethiopia during the 1970s. It is also known as "Ihapa" from the acronym in Amharic...
, Gambela People's United Democratic Front, Oromo People's Liberation Organization (OPLO - IBSO), and Tigrean Alliance for Democracy.
In July 2008, the UEDF joined the Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement
Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement
The Oromo Federalist Democratic Movement is a political party in Ethiopia, created to further the interests of the Oromo people.At the last legislative elections, on 15 May 2005, the party won 11 seats, all from the Oromia Region. The party Whip is Mesfin Nemera Deriesa from the Mirab Welega Zone...
, the Somali Democratic Alliance Forces, and the Union of Tigrians for Democracy and Sovereignty (also known as Arena) to found the Ethiopian Democratic Unity Front or simply Medrek
Medrek
Medrek is an Ethiopian opposition political coalition founded in 2008 which contested the Ethiopian general election, 2010. In that election, Medrek won a single seat in the Council of People's Representatives, representing an electoral district in Addis Ababa. This was allegedly due to lack of...
, a new coalition of opposition parties and activists.
2005 Election results
In the 2005 parliamentary electionsEthiopian 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...
held on 15 May 2005, the UEDF gained 52 seats in the Council of People's Representatives (CFR), consisting of 40 from the Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
and 12 from the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region (SNNPR).
In the August 2005 Regional assembly elections, the party won 105 out of 537 seats in the assembly of the Oromia Region, 1 of the 36 seats in the Harari Region
Harari Region
Harari or officially, Harari People's National Regional State is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia, covering the homeland of the Harari people...
, and 37 of the 348 seats in the assembly of the SNNPR.
In October the UEDF briefly supported the other major opposition party, the Coalition for Unity and Democracy
Coalition for Unity and Democracy
The Coalition for Unity and Democracy is a coalition of four existing political parties of Ethiopia which combined to compete for seats in the Ethiopian General Elections held on May 15, 2005. Its leader is Dr...
, in a refusal to participate in the CPR until several demands were met. However, at the last moment, party chairman Dr. Merera Gudina
Merera Gudina
Dr. Merera Gudina is a professor and politician in Ethiopia. He is the leader of the Oromo People's Congress , a political party based on the Oromo people which is opposed to the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front....
and vice-chair Beyene Petros
Beyene Petros
Professor Beyene Petros Lodamo is a professor at Addis Ababa University and a member of the Ethiopian House of People's Representatives, representing an electoral district in Badawacho of Hadiya Zone....
both announced the UEDF would participate, after which a vote of the party's central committee on 24 October 2005 expelled both of them. The current acting party leaders are vice chairman Girma Shumie and Secretary-General Dereje Kebede, and the party Whip
Whip (politics)
A whip is an official in a political party whose primary purpose is to ensure party discipline in a legislature. Whips are a party's "enforcers", who typically offer inducements and threaten punishments for party members to ensure that they vote according to the official party policy...
is Geberu Mariam Uturu, who represents a district in the Mirab (West) Shewa Zone
Mirab Shewa Zone
Mirab Shewa is one of the 12 zones of the Oromia Region in Ethiopia. This zone takes its name from the kingdom or former province of Shewa...
of Oromia.
2008 by-election results
Accusing the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic FrontEthiopian 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...
of using intimidation to force 14,000 of its candidates for local seats in the 15 May 2008 by-elections
Ethiopian by-elections, 2008
Ethiopia held nation-wide elections for local offices in the kebele and woreda assemblies on 13 and 20 April 2008. By-elections were also held for seats in the Addis Ababa City Council, and in the national and regional parliaments that were vacant due to the Coalition for Unity and Democracy’s ...
, three days before that election Beyenne Petros announced that the UEDF would boycott the
election.