Unity for Democracy and Justice | |
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Chairperson | Birtukan Midekssa Yakob Haile-Mariam |
General Secretary | Andualem Aragie |
Standing Committee | National Executive Committee |
Deputy Chairpersons | Gizachew Shiferaw Hailu Araaya Negaso Gidada Siye Abraha Asrat Tasie |
Founder | Birtukan Midekssa |
Founded | 20 June 2008 |
Dissolved | May 2019 |
Merger of | Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice |
Headquarters | Addis Ababa |
Ideology | Liberalism |
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![]() | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations .(November 2009) |
The Unity for Democracy and Justice was an Ethiopian political party. It was founded by Birtukan Midekssa on 20 June 2008, based on the parties that constituted the Coalition for Unity and Democracy. [1] It was a major component in the eight-party Medrek coalition, the largest opposition coalition in the 2010 election. [2] In May 2019, the party merged with the Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice, bringing an end to the party.
The Unity for Democracy and Justice Party (UDJP), commonly known as Andenet (Amharic for Unity), is an Ethiopian national opposition political party established by former leaders and members of Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUD). Andenet is a short form of UDJP's Amharic name, Andenet ledemocracy ena lefitih. [3] It was formed by former CUD leaders and members advocating for free and fair Ethiopian elections in the then-upcoming 2010 elections. The UDJP was chaired and vice-chaired by Birtukan Midekssa and Yakob Haile-Mariam, respectively. Both were detained and sentenced to life in prison before they were controversially pardoned on 6 October 2008 and September 2007, respectively. [4] Their arrests were considered by Ethiopian political opposition parties as a Majority Government attempt to block fair and free election and democratic process.
UDJP was formed with 42 parliament members and the representatives of former CUD leaders and members on 17 June 2008. Support organizations abroad. Members representing woredas in Ethiopia were also in attendance. This meeting was supposed to be held at Imperial Hotel on 13 June 2008, but due to government problems, it was postponed. The meeting was later held in a tent in the compound of the party. After 6 hours of discussion, 60 permanent and 15 temporary central committee members were elected out of 105 nominated representatives. The same meeting elected the party's 18 executives (of which 6 are top executives): The chair was Midekssa. [5]
UDJP was formed on 17 June 2008. On 15 December 2009, the National Executive Committee of UDJ made the following assignments and reassignments of duties:
On the same day, the bylaws and manifesto that the party adopted from its predecessor, CUD, was reviewed and adopted. After three reviews by NEBE and the corresponding amendments and explanation by UDJP, the chairwoman obtained the registration certificate of the party. [6]
UDJP has support organizations on all continents. It has 34 offices in Ethiopian regions of Amhara, Oromia, Southern state, Afar, Harari and Addis Ababa.
This section needs additional citations for verification .(November 2009) |
Ahead of the 2015 election, Habtamu Ayalew, who served on the leadership team was detained and tortured from July 2014 to December 2015.
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