The Comorian Union for Progress (Comorian: Udzima, lit. Unity;Martin Ottenheimer & Harriet Ottenheimer (1994) Historical Dictionary of the Comoro Islands, Scarecrow Press, p85 , UCP) is a political party in the Comoros.
History In 1978, French mercenary Bob Denard staged a coup d'etat against the socialist government of Ali Soilih, bringing Ahmed Abdallah back to power. In February 1982, Abdallah banned all existing political parties and created the UCP. In subsequent elections a month later, the UCP won 37 of 38 seats in the National Assembly, with the other seat going to an independent. In the 1987 parliamentary elections the UCP won all 42 seats. Another coup by Denard in 1989 brought Said Mohamed Djohar, who was also part of the UCP.
Multi-party politics was introduced in 1990 and Djohar was elected President. However, Djohar renounced the party in 1991. The party boycotted the 1992 parliamentary elections in protest at the government's refusal to update the voter roll.Elections held in 1992 IPU However, it did contest the early elections the following year, winning two seats.Elections held in 1993 IPU
The party was dissolved in October 1996 when it merged into the National Rally for Development.Comoros islands: Constitutional referendum African Intelligence, 12 October 1996
However, the party was later reformed, and contested the 2015 parliamentary elections, failing to win a seat. It nominated Said Ahmed Said Ali as its candidate for the 2016 presidential elections, but he failed to progress beyond the Grande Comore primary, only receiving 0.5% of the vote.
Electoral history
Presidential elections ElectionParty candidateVotes%Votes%ResultFirst RoundSecond Round1984Ahmed Abdallah99.4%Elected 1990Said Mohamed Djohar44,84523.1%103,00055.1%Elected 1996Omar Tamou13.3%Lost Mtara Maécha38.7%2016Said Ahmed Said Ali5730.52%Lost
Assembly elections ElectionVotes%Seats+/–PositionResult1982 37 1st 1987 5 1st 1992Boycotted 42 1993 2 5th 20152,7131.51%10th
References