Published 02/21/2011 - 2:13 a.m. GMT
According to Ethiopian media outlets Addis Neger and Capital, the most famous opposition leader Judge Birtukan Mideksa is planning to abandon her party’s struggle for democracy in Ethiopia. The newspapers quoted family sources which revealed that Birtukan will leave Ethiopia for the United States in a few weeks.
The President of the largest opposition group, Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJ) party, Ms. Birtukan was previously imprisoned by the government in 2005 when her party won the poll before the ruling party of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi allegedly rigged the election. After a brief release, she was re-imprisoned in 2008 and pardoned in October 2010.
Despite being a moderate politician known for her speeches about unity, love and democracy, Birtukan was still viewed as an untested and inexperienced young leader. The first woman political party leader and born from Ethiopia’s two biggest ethnic groups, Birtukan was seen as a uniting factor in the divisive ethnic politics of the country. In her absence, other young Ethiopian politicians like Andualem Andarge have risen to the forefront of the party while her UDJ joined hands with other opposition parties to form a new coalition called MEDREK.
Other unconfirmed sources reported Birtukan asking her UDJ party to replace her by voting for a new president as soon as possible before she leaves for the US with her 6 year old daughter Hale.
The President of the largest opposition group, Unity for Democracy and Justice (UDJ) party, Ms. Birtukan was previously imprisoned by the government in 2005 when her party won the poll before the ruling party of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi allegedly rigged the election. After a brief release, she was re-imprisoned in 2008 and pardoned in October 2010.
Despite being a moderate politician known for her speeches about unity, love and democracy, Birtukan was still viewed as an untested and inexperienced young leader. The first woman political party leader and born from Ethiopia’s two biggest ethnic groups, Birtukan was seen as a uniting factor in the divisive ethnic politics of the country. In her absence, other young Ethiopian politicians like Andualem Andarge have risen to the forefront of the party while her UDJ joined hands with other opposition parties to form a new coalition called MEDREK.
Other unconfirmed sources reported Birtukan asking her UDJ party to replace her by voting for a new president as soon as possible before she leaves for the US with her 6 year old daughter Hale.
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