The Political Handbook of the World 1997, lists the Issa Gurgura Liberation Front (IGLF), among the "pro-government" eastern region groups that merged on 10 February 1994 to form the Ethiopian Somali Democratic League (ESDL) (1998, 271). According to a 24 January 1998 Indian Ocean Newletter report, the ESDL and the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) had decided to merge into a single party (2). The two parties reportedly agreed to set up a joint committee composed of nine members from the ESDL and eight members from the ONLF, to prepare for the merger and to administer the region until the merger was finalized (ibid).

Additional information on the situation of the Issa Gurgura Liberation Front (IGLF) and on the treatment of the Issa could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please see below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

The Indian Ocean Newsletter (ION). 24 January 1998. No. 796. Ethiopia: Single Party for Region Five."

Political Handbook of the World 1997. 1998. Edited by Arthur S. Banks. Binghamton, NY: CSA Publications.

Africa Research Bulletin: Political Social and Cultural Series [Oxford]. January-December 1997. Vol. 34. Nos. 1-11.

_____. January-September 1998. Vol. 35. Nos. 1-8.

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 1997. 1998. United States Department of State. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office.

Ethiopian Register [Minnesota]. January -October 1998. Vol. 10. Nos. 1-10.

_____. May -December 1997. Nos. 5-12.

Horn of Africa Bulletin [Uppsala]. January-August 1998. Vol. 10. Nos. 1-4.

_____. January-December 1997. Vol. 9. Nos. 1-6.

The Indian Ocean Newsletter (ION). January-December 1997. Nos. 768-792.

_____. February-October 1998. Nos. 794-830.

Electronic sources: IRB Databases, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, REFWORLD, World News Connection (WNC).

Two oral sources consulted did not provide information on the requested subject.