Political Programme of Afar National Revolutionary Democratic Front

MISSION

The Afar National Revolutionary Democratic Front is a political organisation. It was established during 2005 in Baracle District of Zone 2 of Afar Region National State in Ethiopia. The ultimate objective of ANRDF is for the Afar people to freely determine their political, social, economic and cultural status, in accordance with the peoples’ right to self-determination as set out in Article 1 of the UN’s Charter and on Resolution 1723 (XV1) of 1961.

POLITICS

ANRDF struggles for the Afar people’s inalienable rights to freely determine their political status and to pursue their economic, social and cultural development.

ANRDF struggles to form a responsible Afar Regional National State answerable to the Afar National Assembly and accountable to the electorate.

ANRDF struggles to adopt a democratic political system based on pluralism and egalitarianism.

ANRDF rejects totalitarian and dictatorial forms of government.

ANRDF as a member of the Federal Council of the States of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia supports the existing federal arrangement and constitutional rights adopted in 1994, by the Ethiopian People Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF).

ANRDF shall have the right to engage in armed struggle if there is no peaceful and democratic solution to the existing problems of political marginalisation, natural wealth and resources exploitation, undemocratic and indirect rule, denial of freedom to manage local political, economic and social affairs, and to elect responsible political leaders who truly represent the interests of the Afar people.

ANRDF’s request for the Afar people is in accordance with the United Nation Resolution 1723 (XV1) 1961, Article 1 of the UN Charter and Articles 8 and 11 of the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Peoples 1976.

ANRDF rejects terrorism in all its forms.

ANRDF will empower zones and districts administrations to them able to freely mange their local and neighbourhood affairs.

ANRDF will protect the rights of grazing land of the Afar pastoralist communities.

LEGAL SYSTEM

ANRDF will establish a flexible legal system to enforce legal accountability and justice, uphold the Rule of Law and hold the public officials accountable and answerable to rule of law and constitution.

ANRDF shall establish Afar Traditional Customary Laws as a source of the Afar State Constitution and Legal Systems.

Afar Traditional Customary Laws shall have overriding legal authority, if cases are directly related to the Afar national security, peace and safety.

ECONOMY

ANRDF will produce an Afar National Economic Development Programme.

ANRDF will encourage the private sector to invest in the Afar region.

ANRDF will create an Afar Cooperative and Development Bank to supporting Afar business communities to access to interest free loan for 5 Years.

ANRDF will create an Afar National Bank to generate local incomes and meet the financial needs of the people of the State of Afar.

ANRDF will develop the existing pastoral economic system.

ANRDF will encourage free market economic system.

ANRDF will modernise animal husbandry.

ANRDF will exploit natural wealth and resources for the benefit of national and local communities.

ANRDF will use all locally generated revenues and taxes for the development of the Afar Region by building good democratic political and legal institutions, strong social and economic infrastructures, advanced and accessible public health, education, agriculture, water supply, and communication.

ANRDF shall provide free advice, material support and training to the Afar agricultural communities.

ANRDF will provide the pastoral communities with veterinary services, livestock breading experts, and financial support to improve their living conditions.

ANRDF will provide the salt making communities with modern technology, training and financial assistance.

ANRDF will encourage the establishment of enterprises that will contribute to the Afar national Economic Development Programme, and well-being of the people of the State of Afar, without endangering local environments and the grazing land of Afar pastoralist communities.

SOCIAL AND CULTURE

ANRDF will introduce a well organised social welfare provision in the State of Afar to provide a minimum level of income, services and other support for disadvantaged people such as the disable, elderly, poor, lone parents, low income families, students, unpaid workers and job seekers to help alleviate poverty and social exclusion in the State of Afar.

The social and well-being of the people of Afar shall be ANRDF’s primary concern.

ANRDF will develop Afar culture, heritage, traditions, folklore and folkdances by making them part of the Afar Educational Curriculum.

ANRDF will build an Afar National Museum for Zones 1, 3 and 5 (where Afarensis “Lucy” was found) in order to preserve Afar culture and history.

ANRDF will establish sports and leisure Centres in all zones, districts and neighbourhood to promote the health exercise and well-being of all people in the State of Afar.

EDUCATION

ANRDF shall establish in all districts of the State of Afar, free and compulsory education for all children aged 5 to 16.

ANRDF will build good Public Boarding Schools in all Districts of the State.

Higher Educational students of the State of Afar shall be eligible to apply for Student Allowance, Grants or Maintenance Allowance and Tuition Fess Grants.

ANRDF will build Vocational and Training Centres in all Zones and Districts to equip people with the necessary qualifications and skills to improve their living conditions.

ANRDF will introduce a Training Allowance Schemes to encourage people to learn new skills, gain qualifications and to move to higher education and more productive employment.

ANRDF will establish IT and Adult Learning Centres in all Zones to re-skill peoples, and to teach modern technology and communication skills.

HEALTH

ANRDF will establish good Health Centres and Primary Care Clinics in all Zones.

ANRDF will establish public hospitals, specialist health clinics in all Zones of the Afar State to meet the health needs of the people.

ANRDF will establish Health & Primary Care Centres in all Zones in order to building up the capacity of health professionals.

ANRDF will make all medical consultations, treatments and drug supply free for all people in the State of Afar.

ANRDF will take immediate measures to minimize the ongoing HIV, malaria, child malnutrition, and other health problems experienced the Afar people.

HOUSING

ANRDF will build modern houses to facilitate the settlement of Afar pastoralist communities in the urban areas of the State.

ANRDF will set up social housing agencies to build affordable housing in the State of Afar.

ANRDF will provide interest free loan to those who wish to buy or develop housing.

ANRDF will give housing grants to qualified individuals so as to enable them to buy homes.

ANRDF will support the private sectors in property development which benefits the local communities.

DEFENCE & SECURITY

ANRDF will build a strong Afar National Defence Police Force to maintain the national integrity and security of the State of Afar.

Afar National Defence Police Force will be composed of very committed and qualified individuals who are requited by choice, ability and willingness to defending the Afar Regional State’s borders.

Afar National Defence Police Force shall have responsibility for maintaining law and order, peace and security in the State of Afar.

Afar National Defence Police Force shall have the specific obligation and duty to protect the citizens of the Afar Regional National State from any armed or unarmed attack, what ever its source.

Members of Afar National Defence Police Forces will be eligible to apply for the state managed housing and related facilities.

HUMAN RIGHTS

9.1 ANRDF adheres to internationally accepted human rights standards.

FORIENGN POLICY

ANRDF believes that all international relations should be based on mutual and friendly co-operations and agreements that govern good neighbourhood relations.
ANRDF will therefore:-
a-1- Develop friendly relations based on mutual respect and mutual advantages with all the nations and nationalities of Ethiopia.

a- 2- Enter into economic and trade agreements with all states of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

a- 4- Appoint Afar speaking diplomats at all Ethiopian Diplomatic Missions in all countries where there are Afar speaking communities.

a- 5- Establish economic, education and agricultural co-operation with all regional and local governments at national and international levels, regardless of their political, ideological and religious status on the basis of mutual respect, mutual benefits, non aggression and non-interference principles.

Re-approved on 10th October 2007, by the Central Committee of

Afar National Revolutionary Democratic Front

Victory to the People of Afar

Mayso Qafar ummattah iimi

Mayso Qafar Uguugumooh iimi

Victory to the Afar National Revolutionary Democratic Front

(ANRDF)

Contact: email: [email protected]

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