Eritrean opposition leader resigns after disagreement on relations with Ethiopia

April 9, 2009 (ADDIS ABABA) – The Leader of the opposition Eritrean Democratic Party, EDP has resigned from the chairmanship of the party following disagreement over relations with Ethiopia.

Mesfin Hagos was a former defense minister and a founding member the Eritrean People’s Liberation Front turned People’s Front for Democracy and Justice (PFDJ) which rules the country since its independence in 1993.

Hagos’s resignation was motivated by the issue of relations with Ethiopia. According to the Eritrean Awate the party disagrees with Hagos on whether the EDP should open an office in Addis Ababa or not.

In the past some EDP’s Central Committee members broke away from the party because the EDP agreed to be represented in a convention of opposition umbrella the Eritrean Democratic Alliance held in the Ethiopian capital in 2007.

Mesfin Hagos “submitted his resignation citing strong differences of opinion between himself and members of the Executive Committee which if he was to stay could have a negative impact on the Party’s work,” said a statement issued by the party on April 8.

“Participants of the Meeting accepted Mr. Mesfin’s resignation with regret and wished him well,” the statement added.

Tesfamichael Yohannes has been designated to replace Hagos the EDP said.

In 2001, Hagos had been part of a group in the ruling PFDJ opposed to the President Isaias Afewerki policy and disagreed with the manner in which the war with Ethiopia was handled. They were accused of “abdication of responsibility during Eritrea’s difficult hours, at the maximum, grave conspiracy.”

(ST)