United Democratic Party (Namibia)
Encyclopedia
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 effectively banned.
in 1985 as successor to the Caprivi African National Union. 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. Following an attempted revival in 2006, meetings of the party were declared illegal.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
, representing mainly people from Eastern Caprivi
Caprivi Strip
Caprivi, sometimes called the Caprivi Strip , Caprivi Panhandle or the Okavango Strip and formally known as Itenge, is a narrow protrusion of Namibia eastwards about , between Botswana to the south, Angola and Zambia to the north, and Okavango Region to the west. Caprivi is bordered by the...
and advocating for the secession
Secession
Secession is the act of withdrawing from an organization, union, or especially a political entity. Threats of secession also can be a strategy for achieving more limited goals.-Secession theory:...
of the Caprivi Strip.
Following a government directive from 1 September 2006 to forbid all the party's meetings in Namibia, it is effectively banned.
History
The party was founded by Mishake MuyongoMishake Muyongo
Mishake Muyongo is a Namibian politician and former Member of Parliament who is living in exile in Denmark.Muyongo was born in Linyanti. In September 1964 Muyongo became President of the Caprivi African National Union when its leader Simbwaye was arrested and disappeared in South-African custody...
in 1985 as successor to the Caprivi African National Union. 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
Caprivi Liberation Army
Caprivi Liberation Army is a Namibian rebel and separatist group which was established in 1994 to separate the Caprivi Strip, a region mainly inhabited by the Lozi people. It operates only in the Caprivi strip.-Background:...
, 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. Following an attempted revival in 2006, meetings of the party were declared illegal.