Name

§     Ethiopian Peoples Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF)

 Established    

§     In 1989

 Members

§     Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF–established in 1975) (founder)

§     Ethiopian Peoples Democratic Movement (EPDM--established in 1982 and currently known as the Amhara National Democratic Movement (ANDM) (founder)

§     Oromo People's Democratic Organization (OPDO-- established in 1990)

§     Southern Ethiopia Peoples Democratic Movement (SEPDM).Previously known as Southern Ethiopia Peoples Democratic Front (SEPDF – established in 1992)

Congresses and Venues

§        EPRDF held five congresses

-         The first in January 1991 at Kola

-         Tembien, Tigray Regional State

          - The second in December 1995 at Awassa, Southern Nations

             Nationalities and Peoples Regional State (SNNPR)

          - The third in December 1998 at Jimma, Oromia Regional State

           - The fourth in August 2001 in Addis Ababa

           - The fifth in September 2004 at Bahirdar, Amhara Regional State

           -The sixth in September 2006 at Mekelle, Tigray Regional State          

 Structure

§     EPRDF is a front established by revolutionary democratic parties. Individuals can become members of the EPRDF only through those national organizations. The structure of the front therefore arises from this feature. Members of the EPRDF have equal status. All posts are filled through democratic elections and the front is guided by democratic centralism. The EPRDF has subsequently a Congress, a Council, an Executive Committee, and a Secretariat.

Congress

§     The highest body of the front is the Congress. The Congress meets every two years. The term of the Congress cannot exceed two and half years, unless the Executive Committee decides to postpone it by six more months, due to unforeseen circumstances.

§     Delegates to the Congress are represented equally from each member party. The congress would normally have about 1,000 participants.

 Council

§     The next body in the rank of EPRDF is the Council. It is a body that comprises Central Committee Members of all the parties. Here too equal representation of member parties is the rule.

§     The council deliberates on the plans and reports of the Front every six months. It normally consists of 180 members.

 Executive Committee

§     The Executive Committee is a body that consists of equal number of Executive Committee members delegated by each member party. It is the highest decision-making body in the day-to-day activities of the Front.

§     Ordinary meeting of the Executive Committee is held every three months. The Executive Committee has 36 members.

From among the Executive Committee members of the EPRDF are elected a chairperson. The current Chairperson of the Front is Meles Zenawi of TPLF and   the Vice Chairperson, Addisu Legesse of ANDM. Chairpersons are elected by the Executive Committee after the congress.

Secretariat

§     This body executes the day to day political, organizational and administrative works of the Front. Its headquarters is in Addis Ababa. Chief of the Secretariat is appointed by the Executive Committee along with heads of the formal and informal public relations and organizational sectors of the Front.

Audit and Control Commission

§     This is a body formed by delegates of the audit and control commissions of each member party during the congress. It is responsible for the proper implementation of the rules and procedures endorsed by the congress. It also investigates complaints presented by member parties. Controlling the financial transaction of the Front is again the duty of the commission. It is accountable to the congress.

§     The commission consists of eight members,

 Membership

§     The above stated national parties had around four million members by August 2006, out of which some 3.5 million were peasants.