Moslem League of the Western Province

The Moslem League of the Western Province was an Islamic political party in mostly inhabited by Beja western province of Eritrea.

The party was founded by Ali Mussa Radai, a former serf, who later became the President of the National Assembly of Eritrea was.

Foundation

The Muslim League of the Western Province was founded after a split from the Muslim League in 1949., You could take over half of the membership of the Muslim League before splitting.

Cleavage was initiated by intrigues on the part of the British Military Administration, which Muslim leaders could convince them that the chairman of the Muslim League Ibrahim Sultan Ali was an Italian agent, which would restore the former colony of Eritrea. Also, social and political differences played a role among the Muslims of Eritrea.

Development

Following Toward the end of 1949, the spin-off of the Independent Muslim League, the party left the Blocco Independenza (independence block ). The Moslem League of the Western Province, making it the second of several factions, which the Blocco Independenza left. The party aimed to exclude the Italians in Eritrea from the political process in the country, which is clearly the attitude of the Muslim League argued.

In the elections of 1952 - in some cities by direct election, in other areas held by indirect vote - the party won 14 to 15 from a total of 68 seats in the National Assembly of Eritrea.

Initially, the Moslem League of the Western Province advocated that Eritrea should remain for another ten years under British administration, then it should be decided on the future of Western Province. In June 1953, nine months after the federation between Ethiopia and now the Imperial Ethiopian province of Eritrea came into force, the party started for an independent state for the Beja use. This was to be formed from the western province of Eritrea and the province of Kassala in eastern Sudan. When the party was clear that Britain would not support creation of an independent state from the Western Province, the party, however, the union with Ethiopia began to support. At this time, the party favored the inclusion in Ethiopia over a possible inclusion in the Sudan, as they feared the dominance of opposing clans in Sudan.