ocr: Since independence, politics have been dominated by President Aptidon, an Issa, and a carefully chosen group ofl Issaand Afar politicians. Behind the scenes, French backing is essential to the ruling group. Afar fears of Issa domination eruptedin - 1991, when the Afar guerrilla group FRUD took control of - much of the country agaust a background of. similar ethnic contlicts 11 neighboring states. The French intervened militarily to - keep Aptidon in power, but torced him to hold elections in 1992.These were won by the RPP, on a tumnout of only 49%. The expected parliamentary reforms didnot fol ...
