Common Struggle.........

Common Struggle for a Common Cause: Afar People’s Party

April 1, 2015

Press Release, March, 31, 2015

The Afar people as a nation and territorial Ethiopian entity plays important role in economic development of the country. Moreover, the region is a significant geo-political and strategic entry point. Nevertheless, the current regime as well as the previous political systems in Ethiopia has seen the Afar people and its region as insignificant political periphery but considers it as a source of exploitation backyard in nation building process.

Afar people are facing multiple challenges of political, economic, social and environmental factors. Most of these issues could be improved and ultimately solved through a just and inclusive political system. However, under the contemporary rule of EPRDF/TPLF regime the magnitudes of these preventable challenges are escalating to the extent that many analysts are predicting the extinction of Afar people as a nation.

The pastoralist are driven from their grazing lands to desert; the territorial clam and land grabbing has been intensified; corruption and bad governance is reigning in Afar region; unemployment rate among Youth is on top of all Ethiopian regions; child and maternal death and other healthcare indicators are the worst in the Horn of Africa; the harassment of federal army and extrajudicial killings are everyday life events; basic democratic values such as political freedom and freedom of expression are stifled and the absolute poverty level is increasing as never seen before. These avoidable challenges as background many Afars who felt marginalisation and injustice are opted to intensify their struggle against the current regime. The purpose of the struggle is to bring about a sustained, democratic and a prosperous Afar Region within democratic Ethiopia.

Historically, the struggle of Afar people has been marred by factors such as regional and tribal factions and lack of clear political objectives. Therefore, the outcome of previous struggle has not landed in a way that secure the future of Afar People. To these problems, a unified struggle is not an option rather a must.

By evaluating the previous failures and recognising the benefit of unified struggle the Afar People Party (APP) has facilitated on 16/02/ 2015 the formation of coalition between the below three groups. The ultimate objective of the common struggle strategy is to forge a common ground for Afar struggle close to the rest of Ethiopian fighting forces for democracy.

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