United Democratic Party (Namibia)

United Democratic Party
German nameVereinigte Demokratische Partei
FounderMishake Muyongo
Founded1985
DissolvedEffectively banned since 2006[1]
Preceded byCaprivi African National Union
IdeologyLozi nationalism
Separatism
ColorsBlack, Blue, White, Red and Green
         
SloganUnity - Peace - Freedom
Party flag
Website
Website of UDP

The United Democratic Party (UDP) is a political party in Namibia, representing mainly people from Eastern Caprivi and advocating for the secession of the Caprivi Strip.

Following a government directive from 1 September 2006 to forbid all the party's meetings in Namibia, it is today effectively banned.[1]

History

The party was founded by Mishake Muyongo in 1985 as successor to the Caprivi African National Union. In 1988 the National Progressive Party split off.[2] Originally a member of the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA) group of parties, it was expelled from this alliance in 1998 after it openly voiced support for the secession of the Caprivi.

It has been alleged that the party is closely connected to the Caprivi Liberation Army, a separatist guerrilla group fighting Namibia in the Caprivi conflict in 1998/99. The party activities stalled after most of the party's leadership went into exile.[3] Following an attempted revival in 2006, meetings of the party were declared illegal.[1]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Staff writer (11 September 2006). "Caprivi Political Party Declared Illegal". IRIN (via afrol News). Retrieved 25 March 2011.
  2. ^ Dierks, Klaus. "Chronology of Namibian History, 1988". www.klausdierks.com. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  3. ^ Menges, Werner (28 July 2006). "Ex-Prisons Chief Joins Secessionist Cause". The Namibian. Retrieved 25 March 2011.
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