Union for the Republic and Democracy

The Union for the Republic and Democracy (French: "Union pour la République et la Démocratie", URD) is a political party in Mali.

The party was formed by those who supported Soumaïla Cissé during the 2002 election. Most of its members came from ADEMA, the former ruling party. It is believed they felt betrayed by outgoing President Alpha Oumar Konaré, who supported Amadou Toumani Touré (eventual winner of the 2002 presidential election) against his own party. The MCCDR of Boubacar Karamoko Coulibaly and the PMDR of Abdoul Wahab Berthe joined the URD. Both men are vice-presidents of the URD.

The president of the URD is former prime minister Younoussi Touré. [http://www.bamanet.net/actualite/Generale/-Info-Matin/668.html "Info matin: Présidentielles de 2007, L’Urd officialise son soutien à ATT"] , bamanet.net, December 4, 2006 fr icon.]

The party came second in the 2004 municipal elections and has 17 members in the National Assembly, including prominent members such as Mamadou Awa Gassama Diaby of Yelimane, and Baba Oumar Bore of Kita. The party has 114 mayors in Mali including the late Ali Farka Touré of Niafunke and Demba Fane of the fifth district of Bamako.

The URD backed Amadou Toumani Touré for re-election in the April 2007 presidential election. The party, part of the pro-Touré Alliance for Democracy and Progress (ADP), won 34 out of 147 seats in the July 2007 parliamentary election. [http://fr.allafrica.com/stories/200708131307.html "Mali: Résultats définitifs des Législatives — l'Adéma/PASJ perd dans trois localités"] , "Les Echos" (allAfrica.com), August 13, 2007 fr icon.]

ee also

*Politics of Mali

References

External links

* [http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Mali-POLITICAL-PARTIES.html Africa Political parties]
* [https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ml.html Mali] on the CIA World Factbook