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The Coalition for Unity and Democracy (Amharic: ቅንጅት ለአንድነት እና ዴሞክራሲ, commonly referred to by its English abbreviation CUD, or occasionally CDU; its Amharic abbreviation, used in Ethiopia, is Qinijit, in English writing often referred to as Kinijit^[1]) 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. Hailu Shawul. This page contains a list of heads of state of Ethiopia since 1974. ... Girma Wolde-Giorgis Lucha (born December 1924) is the President of Ethiopia. ... List of Heads of Government of Ethiopia (Dates in italics indicate de facto continuation of office) Affiliations:- See also Ethiopia Rulers and Heads of State of Ethiopia List of Presidents of Ethiopia Lists of office-holders ... Meles Zenawi (Geez መለስ ዜናዊ meles zÄ“nāwÄ«, b. ... The Parliament of Ethiopia consists of two chambers: The House of Federation (Upper Chamber) The House of Peoples Representatives (Lower Chamber) This politics-related article is a stub. ... The House of Federation (Amharic language የፌዴሬሽን ምክር ቤት Yefedereshn Mekir Bet) is the upper house of the bicamerial Parliament of Ethiopia of Ethiopia. ... The Federal Parliamentary Assembly of Ethiopia has two chambers. ... Politics of Ethiopia Categories: Election related stubs | Elections in Ethiopia ... Ethiopia held general elections on May 15, 2005, for seats in both its national and in four regional government councils. ... Indirect presidential elections will be held in Ethiopia in November 2007. ... Political parties in Ethiopia lists political parties in Ethiopia. ... Ethiopia is divided into 9 ethnically-based administrative regions (kililoch; singular - kilil): Afar Amhara Benishangul-Gumaz Gambela Hariai Oromia Somali Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region Tigray Additionally, there are two chartered cities (astedader akababiwach, singular - astedader akabibi): Addis Ababa Dire Dawa These administrative regions replaced the older system of... Below the regions, Ethiopia is divided into zones. ... Ethiopia was relatively isolated from major movements of world politics until the 1895 and 1935 Italian invasions. ... During the post-World War II era, Ethiopia received small amounts of economic development aid from such countries as the United States and Sweden. ... According to the U.S. Department of State’s human rights report for 2004 and similar sources, the Ethiopian government’s human rights record is poor. ... Information on politics by country is available for every country, including both de jure and de facto independent states, inhabited dependent territories, as well as areas of special sovereignty. ... Note: This article contains special characters. ... Political parties Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A political party is a political organization that seeks to attain political power within a government, usually by participating in electoral campaigns. ... Ethiopia held general elections on May 15, 2005, for seats in both its national and in four regional government councils. ... is the 135th day of the year (136th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Hailu Shawul (also spelled Shawel; Shawil) (born 1936) is an Ethiopian engineer and the chairman of the Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD). ...

2005 Ethiopian elections

The four parties that combined to form the CUD are: Ethiopian Democratic League, All Ethiopian Unity Party, United Ethiopian Democratic Party-Medhin Party and Rainbow Ethiopia: Movement for Democracy and Social Justice. At the legislative elections, 15 May 2005, the party won about 89%[but the ruling party did not accept] out of 527 seats in the House of People's Representatives, representing the Regions of Amhara, Oromia, and of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples (SNNPR), as well as in the chartered cities of Dire Dawa and Addis Ababa.^[2] The Ethiopian Democratic League is a political party in Ethiopia. ... The All Ethiopian Unity Party is a political party in Ethiopia. ... The United Ethiopian Democratic Party-Medhin Party is a political party in Ethiopia. ... A legislature is a governmental deliberative body with the power to adopt laws. ... Ethiopia held general elections on May 15, 2005, for seats in both its national and in four regional government councils. ... The Federal Parliamentary Assembly of Ethiopia has two chambers. ... Map of Ethiopia highlighting the Amhara region. ... Map of Ethiopia highlighting the Oromia region. ... Map of Ethiopia highlighting the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples region. ... Map of Ethiopia showing Dire Dawa (in red). ...

Dr. Hailu was placed under house arrest in early June 2005 after the government accused the CUD of sponsoring street protests in which over twenty were killed.

In the elections for the Regional assemblies, the CUD won 137 of the 138 seats in the Addis Ababa administrative district, 106 of 294 in the Amhara Region, 11 of 89 in the Benishangul-Gumaz Region, 1 of 82 in the Gambela Region, 3 of 36 in the Harari Region, 33 of 537 in Oromia, and 39 of 348 in the SNNPR.^[3] But the split inside CUD has caused big problems. One of the parties that split was the old UEDP-Medhin and this was a major problem for the AEUP because without UEDP-Medhin, CUD support in Addis Ababa would have been "no more than marginal." ^[4] For the long-distance runner, see Addis Abebe. ... Map of Ethiopia highlighting the Benishangul-Gumaz region . ... Map of Ethiopia highlighting the Gambela region. ... Map of Ethiopia highlighting the Harari region (in red). ...

Claiming that the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) committed election fraud, on 6 November the CUD leadership called for a week of strikes and a boycott of businesses owned by members of the EPRDF, as well as boycotting the new parliament. In response, the government stripped CUD legislators of their parliamentary immunity, and arrested a large number of CUD members.^[5] The Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front, or EPRDF, is the ruling political party of Ethiopia. ... November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

As of October 2006, most of the leaders of the AEUP subparty remain imprisoned, awaiting the outcome of their trial that has spanned nearly a year starting from their arrest. Porous roofs, cramped conditions, extreme temperatures have all contributed to the numerous emergency room visits that the main leaders of the party have experienced. During this time the health of three of the major figures -- Dr. Hailu, Professor Mesfin Woldemariam^[6], Dr.Berhanu Nega -- has suffered during their incarceration, and required visits to the Police hospital. There is an international effort in motion that is trying to create harmony between EPRDF and CUD, but it has not made any progress. 2006 is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Professor Mesfin Woldemariam (also spelled Mesfin Wolde Mariam; born 1930) is an Ethiopian peace activist who was active during the Meles Zenawi era. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

The spirit of CUD and the Kinijit movement is still in motion. Dr. Berhanu Nega has written a book, published by MM publishing, providing his account not only of the CUD's role in the election, but also of his imprisonment, as well as of his fellow detainees.^[7]

Dictatorial tendencies

Engineer Hailu, a leader of the AEUP, was one of the ministers working for the prior Ethiopian Derg regime led by the dictatorMengistu Haile Mariam.^[8] Under the Derg government, it was one of the darkest eras for Ethiopia, which some sources claim up to 1,500,000 Ethiopians were victims of the genocide. ^[9] Due to this, many people have been worried about his rise into the executive leadership of this opposition party. Derg party badge, c1979. ... Mengistu Haile Mariam Mengistu Haile Mariam (IPA: mɛngəstuː hɑjəlɛ mɑːʀjɑm) (born 1937[1] [2]) is a Communist politician who was the President of Ethiopia from 1977 to 1991. ...

Also various negotiations between the UEDP-medhin opposition party and the AEUP opposition party failed. And this was a major problem for the AEUP that was originally united with UEDP-Medhin to make up the CUD because without UEDP-Medhin, CUD support in Addis Ababa would have been "no more than marginal." ^[10] Most people, including UEDP-medhin and Rainbow party, have pointed out the hardliners inside AEUP, particularly Hailu Shawel, were the reasons for the disagreements. ^[11] Some members said AEUP leaders like Hailu Shawel "are chauvinists and dictators who think that they are the only best opposition party." ^[12]

The other issue was about accepting the parliamentary seats of the CUD party. When UEDP and others respected the vote of the people and took their seats, some AEUP members, forced by Dr. Hailu, didn't take their seats because they believed there was election fraud. Later, they organized a demonstration, even though demonstrations were banned at the time. Government officials said they banned demonstrations to calm the city and the tense situation. In the end, the demonstration ended in violence with rioters attacking the police. Some said the hardliners in AEUP knew there would be massive riots beforehand.^[13] One SBS journalist, Olivia Rousset, indicated that the government used too much force to calm the rioters. She also said that the "stone-throwing rioters" tried to take the guns from the security forces. ^[14]

A major issue arose when even the closest people to Dr. Hailu rejected his stance and wanted to take their parliamentary seats instead of joining the banned protests that turned to riots. One of them, Berhanu Nega, stated that elected MPs and City Councilors would be betraying their constituents if they failed to take their seats.^[15] But at the end, the minority in AEUP, including Hailu Shawel, forced CUD members to change direction, thus causing a permanent division between UEDP and AEUP. Most sources claim that the Rainbow party also split from Hailu's AEUP but the decision of mayor choice issues between UEDP and Rainbow allowed Hailu to dictate Rainbow's destiny. US observers and the United States government praised the 2005 elections saying "These elections stand out as a milestone in creating a new, more competitive multi-party political system in one of Africa’s largest and most important countries."^[16] The U.S. report also called on all newly elected members of the Ethiopian parliament to take their seats. ^[17] Following the split in the party, most subparties in CUD itself are working in the parliament as are the other opposition parties, with the exception of Hailu's AEUP members who have been charged with inciting the riots that resulted in many deaths.

Other criticism

From Oromos to Gambella & Sidamas as well as Ogadeni/Somali Ethiopians, almost all non-Amhara Ethiopians (particularly elites of these ethnicities) continued to be against the CUD party which they saw as an ethnic Amhara party.{cite} Extensive papers and articles from ethnic Sidamas intellectuals indicated that they saw CUD as the return of the old order, pre-1991 oppression and Amharization. ^[18] Meanwhile the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) labeled the CUD a neo-neftenga group and sent the harshest criticism of the CUD.^[19] Neftenga is best translated to mean a "bearer of the gun" and it was used to describe the people who southern Ethiopians labeled Amhara colonizers/black colonialists. Accordingly, almost all critics identified CUD with the one ethnic, Amhara, domination of Ethiopian culture, language, economics and politics. ^[20] Other than the ethnic Amhara, there are about 79 ethnicities in Ethiopia. Some Somali Ethiopians also criticized the history of CUD, which is a group largely originating from All Amhara Peoples Organization (AAPO.)^[21] The Oromo, Somali, Gambella and Sidama Ethiopians represent nearly 55% of the country's population.

Recent developments

The Walta Information Center reported 9 October that the CUD lost its legal life with the conclusion of the 2005 election, and is no longer accredited as a political party. Although a number of members of the Ethiopian Parliament still possess identification cards issued by the CUD, National Election Board of Ethiopia (NEBE) deputy head Tesfaye Mengesha stated that this does not guarantee eligibility. The CUD that existed in the pre-election had long taken its exit, he concluded. “Today’s CUD has borne nothing of the former, but the name.”^[22] Walta Information Center is a private news and information service that is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. ... is the 282nd day of the year (283rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

In a surprise development, the General Assembly of the CUD met on 22 October in the Hall of the NEBE in Addis Ababa, and elected new officials. Ayele Chamesso was elected party Chairman and the former Chairman Temesgen Zewde was elected Deputy Chairman in absentia, while Sasahulh Kebede became Secretary General. However Temesgen Zewde stated that the meeting was held against party rules and its decisions were illegal. When asked why the NEBE allowed the assembly to take place on its premises, Mekonnen Wondimu, the Acting Registrar of the NEBE Political Parties Registration Office, replied that the request had been made in writing by the Deputy Chairman of the party, and that the NEBE has never turned down the requests of political parties when they made similar requests.^[23] is the 295th day of the year (296th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

After a split between inside CUD in the diaspora, another split occurred to CUD in Ethiopia during the Ethiopian intervention in Somalia. ^[24] A CUD group led by Temesgen Zewde disapproved the decision by the government to go into Somalia, while a CUD group led by Tadesse Bekele (CUD's elected representative for Addis Ababa City Council) supported the ruling party's decision to go into Somalia. Tadesse said "Ethiopians have never been divided on the issue of the sovereignty of the country, and the stand of the CUD group led by Temesgen and some opposition parties has failed to prioritize national interest." ^[25]

After a long trial, the Ethiopian court found 38 CUD officials guilty of breaching Ethiopia's constitution. General charges ranged from armed rebellion to "outrage against the constitution".^[26] In addition to organizing and provoking the violence, witnessed also accused some CUD leaders of attempting assassinations on government heads.^[27] Various human rights organizations have accused the trial of being politically motivated.

Kinijit senior executives

Chairman: Dr. Hailu Shawel
1st Vice Chairperson: Birtukan Mideksa
Secretary: Muluneh Eyuel

Executive staff:
Abayneh Birhanu, Abdurahman Ahmedin, Akalu Gergrie, Dr. Hailu Alemayehu, Dr. Befikadu Degifie, Dereje Amensisa, Elala Tezera, Major Getachew Mengistu, Gizachew Shiferaw, Leniesil Asfaw, Dr. Mulalem Tarekegn, Mesfin Ayalew, Seleshi Tena, Dr. Shimels Tekletsdik, and Dr. Yakob Hailemariam

Notes

1. ^ The Ethiopian consonants Q and K are often confused by foreigners, who mostly cannot pronounce Q correctly; consequently, the Q is often written as K in English context, even if both consonants would never be confused in the original Amharic script and in Amharic pronunciation
2. ^ Ethiopian House of Peoples' Representatives Website
3. ^ African Elections Database
4. ^ result show without Medhin, CUD was powerless in Addis Ababa
5. ^ ETHIOPIA: Recent arrests of opposition leaders and police killings of 46 demonstrators (Amnesty International Website)
6. ^ Mesfin Woldemariam website
7. ^ "Berhanu Nega's must-read book out of Kaliti" (Ethiomedia.com)
8. ^ Hailu Shawel Derg minister
9. ^ Derg genocide 1.5 million dead
10. ^ result show without Medhin, CUD was powerless in Addis Ababa
11. ^ minority hardliners in CUD causing issues
12. ^ Members claim AEUP leaders like Hailu Shawel are dictators
13. ^ AEUP knew of riots
14. ^ SBS talks of the CUD riots
15. ^ Berhanu Nega opposes Hailu Shawel
16. ^ America (USA) praises the Ethiopian elections
17. ^ America (USA) praises the Ethiopian elections
18. ^ CUD and amharization compared
19. ^ OLF talks about the elections and CUD
20. ^ dangerous issues with the CUD
21. ^ AAPO and CUD
22. ^ "NEBE says pre-election period only leaves CUD’s name behind" (WIC)
23. ^ CUD elects new leadership (WIC)
24. ^ CUD division in the diaspora
25. ^ CUD in Ethiopia splits over the issue of Somalia
26. ^ CUD officials found guilty by court
27. ^ Meles and other leaders on CUD opposition assassination list

External links

• Official Homepage of CUD/Kinijit
• Arrests follow Ethiopian deaths, BBC, 8 June 2005
• Advocacy Ethiopia: Dedicated to the unconditional release of all political prisoners in Ethiopia
• List of jailed CUD (Kinijit) leaders

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