Following up on a resolution it passed two years ago at its sixth congress, the Eritrean Liberation Front-Revolutionary Council (ELF-RC) opened on Friday the founding congress of a “broad-based party” that has been in the works for the last two years.

Addressing the attendants, Mr. Woldeyesus Ammar, the chairman of ELF-RC, formally announced that “the ELF-RC has concluded its existence” and that “members of the ELF-RC are joining the [party formation] congress as individuals.”

Close to 130 delegates from around the world are attending the congress.

Background

Between its 5^th and 6^th congresses, the leadership of ELF-RC, under the chairmanship of the late Seyoum Ogbamichael, came to the conclusion that Eritrean political organizations with their existing historical names were incapable of attracting new membership. “The youth, the women, the different groups that did not want to associate with the historical context of the organizations” needed to feel welcome and, according to ELF-RC’s official website, nharnet.com, a new party with a new name would show “the struggle we currently are engaged in is one for a democratic change and not one based on historical vindication or revenge.”

At its 6^th congress, held in July 23-27, 2006, the ELF-RC passed a resolution mandating the leadership to “work towards establishing, within two years, a mass political party that includes other organizations and groups with similar programmes as well as intellectuals and important Eritrean figures….”   RC formed a Joint Party Formation Commission that has been preparing for the formation of this broad-based party for the last two years.

The Joint Party Formation Commission is made up of ELF-RC and non-members.

For a brief history of the ELF-RC, please refer to the following document at nharnet.com.