Unity for Democracy and Justice

The Unity for Democracy and Justice Party (UDJP), commonly known as Andenet (Amharic for Unity), is an Ethiopian national opposition political party established by former leaders and members of Coalition for Unity and Democracy Party (CUD). Andenet is a short form of UDJP's Amharic name, Andenet ledemocracy ena lefitih.[3] It was formed by former CUD leaders and members advocating for free and fair Ethiopian elections in the then-upcoming 2010 elections. The UDJP was chaired and vice-chaired by Birtukan Midekssa and Yakob Haile-Mariam, respectively. Both were detained and sentenced to life in prison before they were controversially pardoned on October 6, 2008 and September 2007, respectively.[4] Their arrests were considered by Ethiopian political opposition parties as a Majority Government attempt to block fair and free election and democratic process.

UDJP was formed with 42 parliament members and the representatives of former CUD leaders and members on June 17, 2008. Support organizations abroad. Members representing woredas in Ethiopia were also in attendance. This meeting was supposed to be held at Imperial Hotel on June 13, 2008, but due to government problems, it was postponed. The meeting was later held in a tent in the compound of the party. After 6 hours of discussion, 60 permanent and 15 temporary central committee members were elected out of 105 nominated representatives. The same meeting elected the party's 18 executives (of which 6 are top executives): The chair was Midekssa.[5]

UDJP was formed on June 17, 2008. On December 15, 2009, the National Executive Committee of UDJ made the following assignments and reassignments of duties:

• Wzt. Birtukan Mideksa – Chairperson
• Engineer Gizachew Shiferaw – Deputy Chairperson (formerly Deputy Chairperson and Head of Organizational Affairs)
• Hailu Araaya – Deputy Chairperson and Head of Study and Research
• Negaso Gidada – Deputy Chairperson and Head of Foreign Affairs
• Ato Siyye Abraha – Deputy Chairperson and Head of Public Relations
• Ato Asrat Tasie – Head of Organizational Affairs
• Ato Andualem Aragie – General Secretary
• Ato Haileyesus Mekonnen – Deputy Head of Organizational Affairs
• Ato Shimelis Habte – Deputy Head of Public Relations

On the same day, the bylaws and manifesto that the party adopted from its predecessor, CUD, was reviewed and adopted. After three reviews by NEBE and the corresponding amendments and explanation by UDJP, the chairwoman obtained the registration certificate of the party.[6]

UDJP has support organizations on all continents. It has 34 offices in Ethiopian regions of Amhara, Oromia, Southern state, Afar, Harari and Addis Ababa.