Today will be a big day for one faction of what is now considered the fragmented Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) in North America. The so-called Group of five, led by Birtukan Mideksa, will wind down its tour in the United States with a final public meeting scheduled to be held inside the Grand Hyatt Hotel, Washington D.C.

It will not be an ordinary opposition convention, according to gossip at the centre of Ethiopian Diaspora politics. The number of people that turn up and the amount of money raised will be a major statement in telling who is really the chief priest of the "Kinijit spirit." True, the same group - believed to be maneuvered by Brehanu Nega (PhD) - had a similar meeting when it launched its tour back in September 2007.

Eye witnesses acknowledge this meeting was a smashing success. In comparison, the one convened by Hailu Shawel's group (Kinijit International Council - KIC) two weeks later in the same city was far from impressive to those in the gossip corridors on Washington D.C.'s "U" Street. The number of people gathered was half the attendance attracted by Kinijit International Leadership (KIL) and the amount of funds allegedly raised that evening (October 14) suffers from a credibility gap.

But, frankly, the convention called by KIL was held long before the bitter political dogfight within the CUD leadership exploded in the face of its dumbfounded support base in the Diaspora, if not inside the country. Will it have as good success this afternoon as it had a few weeks back is yet to be seen. Those in the gossip corridor have little doubt, though. A majority of the young supporters of the CUD are inclined to support Birtukan-Brehanu's group because of its reputation for being progressive and "democratic" in its leadership style. Interestingly, that is precisely how Brehanu tried to portray the real cause of the struggle within the CUD leadership: a fight being waged to create a democratic and collective leadership culture as opposed to a leader that defies the decision of the majority.

If you talk to Hailu, he has his own version of the story; his adversaries are instilling a rather "selective and whistle" style of democracy within the party, whatever that may mean.

The CUD faction meeting today will, however, have a serious issue to worry about, according to gossip. After winding down its North America tour and returning back home, there are those who question how many of them will indeed go back to Addis. A major loss to the "struggle," according to gossip, is the decision made by Brehanu to remain in the United States and perhaps continue the "struggle" from afar. Gossip disclosed that Brehanu has already signed up to take an offer from a university here in the United States that offers work to "endangered intellectuals." It will indeed be a tragic loss to the CUD cause, according to an insider of his group.

Brehanu is a great fan of Natan Sharansky, former Soviet dissident and coauthor of "The Case for Democracy: The Power of Freedom to Overcome Tyranny and Terror," a book that inspired Brehanu to write his much publicized book from jail. Perhaps he would also find inspiration in another book, "The Cuban Americans" by Miguel Gonzalez-Pando, should he indeed become a politician from afar.