View source for Union for the Republic and Democracy

{{short description|Political party in Mali}}
{{more citations needed|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox political party
| name             = Union for the Republic and Democracy
| native_name      = Union pour la République et la Démocratie
| logo             = Union for the Republic and Democracy logo.png
| colorcode        = {{party color|Union for the Republic and Democracy}}
| leader           = 
| president        = [[Amadou Sankaré]]
| founder          = [[Soumaïla Cissé]]
| dissolved        = 13 May 2025
| chairman         = 
| general_secretary = 
| first_secretary  = 
| secretary_general = 
| split            = [[Alliance for Democracy in Mali|ADEMA–PASJ]]
| secretary        = 
| spokesperson     = 
| foundation       = 2003
| ideology         = [[Social liberalism]]
| position         = [[Centrism|Centre]] to [[centre-left]]
| headquarters     = 
| regional         = [[Africa Liberal Network]]
| international    = [[Centrist Democrat International]]
| website          = https://urd-mali.org
| country          = Mali
| abbreviation     = URD
| seats1_title     = [[National Assembly of Mali|National Assembly]]
| seats1           = {{Composition bar|19|147|{{party color|Union for the Republic and Democracy}}}}
}}
The '''Union for the Republic and Democracy''' ({{langx|fr|Union pour la République et la Démocratie}} {{IPA|fr|ynjɔ̃ puʁ la ʁepyblik e la demɔkʁasi|}}, '''URD''') is a political party in [[Mali]].

==History==
The party was formed by those who supported [[Soumaïla Cissé]] during the 2002 election. Most of its members came from [[Alliance for Democracy in Mali|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 [[Malian presidential election, 2002|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 party placed second in the 2004 municipal elections and had 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 had 114 mayors in Mali including [[Ali Farka Touré]] of [[Niafunké Cercle|Niafunke]] and [[Demba Fane]] of the fifth district of [[Bamako]].

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

At the URD's Third Ordinary Congress in November 2014, Soumaïla Cissé succeeded [[Younoussi Touré]] as President of the URD. Touré was instead designated as Honorary President.<ref>[http://www.mali24.info/actualites/politique/877-soumaila-cisse-prend-les-renes-de-l-urd "Soumaïla Cissé prend les rênes de l'URD"], Mali 24, 25 November 2014 {{in lang|fr}}.</ref> Following May 2020 the party won 17 seats out of 147 in the National Assembly of Mali, which makes it the third largest political party.

==See also==
*[[Politics of Mali]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Africa/Mali-POLITICAL-PARTIES.html Africa Political parties]
* [https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/mali/ Mali] on the [[CIA World Factbook]]

{{Malian political parties}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Union For The Republic And Democracy}}
[[Category:Political parties in Mali]]
[[Category:Political parties established in 2003]]
[[Category:Political parties disestablished in 2025]]
[[Category:2003 establishments in Africa]]


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