Democratic Evolution Movement of Central Africa (in French: Mouvement d'Evolution Démocratique de l'Afrique Centrale) was a political party in the Central African Republic led by Abel Goumba. MEDAC was founded in 1960 by Goumba and Pierre Maleombho, the former president of the National Assembly who was ousted by Dacko, after they left the MESAN party.
In the elections the same year MEDAC won around 20% of the votes, and 11 out of 50 seats.
In the end of the year MEDAC mobilized protests against the increasingly authoritarian rule of David Dacko. Goumba became more and more critical of the French backing of Dacko. At a parliamentary session, MEDAC MPs staged a walk-out following accusations by Dacko that MEDAC was supporting tribalism. On December 23 MEDAC was dissolved by the government. Goumba's parliamentary immunity was repealed, and together with seven other MEDAC leaders he was arrested.
Famous quotes containing the words democratic, evolution, movement, central and/or africa:
“There is a limit to the application of democratic methods. You can inquire of all the passengers as to what type of car they like to ride in, but it is impossible to question them as to whether to apply the brakes when the train is at full speed and accident threatens.”
—Leon Trotsky (1879–1940)
“What we think of as our sensitivity is only the higher evolution of terror in a poor dumb beast. We suffer for nothing. Our own death wish is our only real tragedy.”
—Mario Puzo (b. 1920)
“What new thoughts are suggested by seeing a face of country quite familiar, in the rapid movement of the rail-road car!”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“When life has been well spent, age is a loss of what it can well spare,—muscular strength, organic instincts, gross bulk, and works that belong to these. But the central wisdom, which was old in infancy, is young in fourscore years, and dropping off obstructions, leaves in happy subjects the mind purified and wise.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“Day by day we hear the cry of AFRICA FOR THE AFRICANS. This cry has become a positive, determined one. It is a cry that is raised simultaneously the world over because of the universal oppression that affects the Negro.”
—Marcus Garvey (1887–1940)