OCTOBER 27, 2002 - The Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front (ARDUF) has declared its former Europe Zone chief persona non grata, and stripped him of all his responsibilities following his defection to the ruling clique of Ethiopia's Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, an ARDUF statement disclosed Saturday.

Mahomuda Ahmed Gas, ARDUF Central Committee member and the front's Europe Office chief, has been stripped of his party position and responsibilities effective the issuance of this statement, the Afar rebel group declared.

ARDUF said the defection of Mr. Mahomuda to serve an enemy may create a temporary setback, but vowed the struggle of the Afar people against the inimical regime of EPRDF would continue with greater resolve.

An active armed rebel group, ARDUF began its struggle in the early 1990s against the Eritrean regime of President Isaias Afewerki which annexed Ethiopia's Red Sea territories, including the Port of Assab. But the rebel group which set out to battle Eritrean troops has - since its inception - been forced to turn its guns toward Addis Ababa, and engage troops loyal to the Addis Ababa-based Eritrean activist Prime Minister Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia.

ARDUF's press release follows:

PRESS STATEMENT
MR MAHOMUDA AHMED GAS DEFECTS TO EPRDF

For the past months, ARDUF patiently and seriously followed the unholy acitivities of Mr. Hohamoda Ahmed Gas, one of the prominent members of our central committee, and a representative of Europe. ARDUF exercised extreme restraint and withheld any actions against him, hoping Mr Mohamoda would self-correct and remedy the situation.

Unfortunately and regrettably, Mr Mohamoda willfully and voluntarily left his organization and defected to a repressive and dictatorial regime of EPRDF. Mr. Mohamoda, instead of furthering the cause of our people, chose to side and collaborate with an enemy, and has abandoned all honors, trust and responsibilities bestowed upon him by our ogranization and the people of Afar.

Henceforth, effective immediately, Mr. Mohamoda has been removed from all his positions, responsibilities and he is no longer representing ARDUF in any capacity or form.

The defection and surrender of Mr. Mohamoda to EPRDF is very regrettable, and may create a temporary setback for our struggle. Nevertheless, our struggle will continue with vigor and determination.

Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front (ARDUF)

Back to NewsPage