The Africa Liberal Network (ALN) would like to commend all parties in Guinea on the agreement of a framework for much-delayed national elections, now scheduled for late September 2013.
In March of this year, the ALN called for a meaningful and inclusive dialogue between all election stakeholders in the face of widespread instability and violence across the country, fuelled by serious concerns over the credibility of the previous election preparation process.
The political agreement signed this week sets out a new framework for national elections in Guinea and has received the approval of both the Guinean ruling party and the opposition. This is thanks in part to the active and constructive involvement of international partners, who responded fully to the ALN’s call for external mediation.
Central to the new agreement is the decision to limit the involvement of the controversial South African election management firm, Waymark, as well as the decision to permit the large Guinean diaspora to participate in the election, something the government previously refused to allow.
Particular commendation must go to ALN member parties the Union des Forces Démocratiques de Guinée (UFDG), Parti de l’Unité et du Libéralisme Social (PULS) and Union des Forces Républicaines (UFR) who, despite opposition, proceeded to participate in dialogue with the Guinean government in order to secure a constructive resolution to the situation.
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Nous, partis membres du Réseau Libéral Africain réunis à Bamako le 1 er et 2 juin 2013 sur le thème de « la crise au Mali et la gouvernance sécuritaire en Afrique de l’Ouest », après avoir examiné la situation politique et sécuritaire dans la sous région, convenons de ce qui suit :
Sur le Sénégal:
Nous condamnons :
– le non respect des dispositions de l’arrêt rendu par la Cour de Justice de la CEDEAO relative à la violation des droits d’aller et de venir des responsables libéraux et de la présomption d’innocence.
– les atteintes à la liberté d’expression et de manifestation reconnue par la Constitution
Exhortons :
– au respect scrupuleux des valeurs et des principes fondamentaux du libéralisme ;
– au respect d”un Etat de droit, des libertés individuelles et collectives,
– à la séparation des pouvoirs, à l’indépendance de la justice et à la promotion des droits économiques, des spécificités sociales et culturelles.
Sur la Guinée
Le Réseau Libéral Africain constate avec consternation qu’après les élections de 2010, qui ont consacré l’accès au pouvoir du Professeur Alpha Condé, une profonde crise de confiance s’est installée entre le pouvoir et l’opposition dans un contexte de transition qui perdure.
En effet, depuis deux (02) ans, la vie politique guinéenne est marquée par des violences perpétrées lors des manifestations autorisées, par la violation des droits fondamentaux , le non respect de la Constitution et des lois du pays, la politisation à outrance de l’administration, la mise sous coupe réglée des médias publics, l’intimidation de la presse privée et le harcèlement des opérateurs privés n’ayant pas soutenu le parti au pouvoir lors des élections présidentielles.
Tout compte fait, les tensions politiques et sociales sont si exacerbées qu’il est temps de tirer sur la sonnette d’alarme afin de désamorcer les risques d’affrontements inters-ethniques qui se profilent à l’horizon.
Face à cette situation alarmante, le Réseau Libéral Africain, fidèle à ses principes de liberté, de démocratie et de paix, invite les autorités guinéennes et l’opposition républicaine à :
– privilégier un dialogue structuré pour trouver un consensus sur le choix de l’opérateur technique privé, la révision du fichier électoral, le vote des Guinéens de l’extérieur et l’indépendance de la Commission Nationale Electorale ;
– arrêter les violences perpétrées contre les populations, les militants de l’opposition et leurs leaders :
– organiser des élections libres, transparentes et acceptées de tous afin d’éviter des conflits post électoraux ;
– faciliter le rôle de la médiation sous l’égide de l’Organisation des Nations Unies.
Fait à Bamako, le 2 juin 2013

On 1 and 2 June 2013, we, the West African member parties of the Africa Liberal Network, met in Bamako, Mali to discuss the crisis in Mali and security governance in West Africa. After considering the political and security situation in the region, we resolve the following:
Senegal:
We condemn:
– Non-compliance by the Senegalese government with the judgment of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, which found it to be in violation of fundamental rights by enforcing a travel ban on liberal leaders and by violating the right to the presumption of innocence;
– Violations by the government on the freedom of expression and assembly enshrined in the Senegalese Constitution.
We urge:
– Respect for the fundamental values and principles of liberalism;
– Respect for the rule of law, including individual and collective freedoms;
– The separation of powers, including an independent judiciary and the promotion of economic, social and cultural rights.
Guinea:
The ALN is concerned that tensions between the government and opposition parties have continued to escalate since the 2010 elections in which Professor Alpha Conde was elected.
Over the past two years Guinean politics has been marred by numerous human rights violations, including violent clampdowns on and harassment of opposition members, extreme politicization of the administration and intimidation of the media. These actions stand in direct contravention of the Guinean constitution, yet continue unabated.
Political and social tensions have now escalated to a point where significant civil unrest is imminent if action is not taken.
In order to avert a crisis, the ALN, in line with its commitment to the principles of freedom, democracy and peace, call on the all parties in Guinea, including both the authorities and opposition parties, to:
– Hold a structured dialogue in order to find consensus on the choice of private election operator, the process for the revision of the voters roll, international voting and the independence of the National Electoral Commission;
– Halt the violence against citizens and opposition leaders and activists;
– Hold free, transparent, universally accepted elections in order to avoid post-election conflict;
– Allow the United Nations to play a role in facilitating a mediation process.
Adopted in Bamako on June 2, 2013.

Based on the African (Banjul) Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Liberal International and the Africa Liberal Network join forces in calling for the African Union to strongly condemn the adoption of the ‘Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill’ by the Nigerian parliament and to discourage President Goodluck Jonathan from signing this bill into law.
On Thursday 30 May, Nigeria’s parliament adopted the ‘Same-Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill’, a law that allows up to 10 years’ imprisonment for gay, lesbian and bisexual people who marry or display affection and even 14 years for visitors. This is the harshest piece of legislation against LGBT persons adopted worldwide since 12 northern Nigerian states endorsed Islamic Sharia law in 2000 and 2001, punishing consensual same-sex activity by death.
“In January 2012.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon urged leaders at an African Union summit to respect gay rights. Today we see his words are not heard. So now it is time for African leaders to show moral leadership, now their own Banjul is pushed aside so harshly by the Nigerian Parliament”, LI LGBT Rights Working Group Coordinator Frank Van Dalen says.
President of the Africa Liberal Network, Olivier Kamitatu Etsu, states, “we strongly condemn this bill as it stands in direct opposition to the ALN’s Liberal Manifesto for Africa, adopted in Abidjan in 2012, which upholds the protection of all fundamental human and political rights and envisions a society in which every individual is able to express themselves freely and fulfil their personal destiny in a tolerant environment free from sectarian fundamentalism.”
Liberal International and the Africa Liberal Network will address United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Navanethem Pillay directly with an appeal to take prompt action towards the Nigerian President and the African Union to prevent the adopted bills becoming Nigerian law.
Note for the Editors:
The African (Banjul) Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights guarantees every individual to enjoy the human rights and freedoms without distinction of any kind such as sex or other status. Liberal International’s LGBT rights working group operates under the auspices of the LI Human Rights Committee, chaired by Abir al-Sahlani MP, Vice President on the LI Bureau.

Adoptée par le Réseau Liberal Africain lors de la Conférence Sur la crise au Mali et la Gouvernance Sécuritaire en Afrique de l’Ouest.
Bamako, 2 juin 2013
Attendu que le Réseau Libéral Africain, membre de l’Internationale Libérale demeure, conformément au Manifeste d’Oxford de 1947, attaché aux valeurs de Liberté, de Démocratie et de Paix;
Attendu que la situation sécuritaire et démocratique qui prévaut actuellement au Mali constitue une préoccupation majeure pour toute la communauté libérale internationale;
Attendu que le Réseau Libéral Africain, dans sa Charte fondamentale et la Déclaration de Johannesburg de juin 2003, s’est assigné comme mission de défendre et de promouvoir les libertés, la démocratie, la paix et l’Etat de droit partout sur le continent africain;
EXPOSÉ DES MOTIFS
La crise qui a secoué le Mali a eu des conséquences humanitaires sécuritaires et politiques qui ont conduit à une déstabilisation des institutions de l’Etat, des déplacements massifs de populations civiles,

des pertes en vies humaines, des viols sur les femmes, l’enrôlement d’enfants soldats et une destruction sans précédent du patrimoine historique du pays notamment l’incendie de la bibliothèque de Tombouctou, la disparition de manuscrits anciens…
Les partenaires extérieurs et les pays amis à l’instar de l’Organisation des Nations Unies, de l’Union Africaine et de la CEDEAO ont déployé de multiples efforts pour aider le Mali à stabiliser les institutions

étatiques, combattre le terrorisme et recouvrer son intégrité territoriale et sa souveraineté. A cet effet, plusieurs instruments juridiques ont été adoptés en vue de la résolution de la crise.
Cette crise, en ce qu’elle révèle la fragilité des institutions et la rupture du contrat social malien, appelle une solution durable qui implique tant les Maliens de toutes confessions, de toutes ethnies

et de toutes obédiences politiques ou idéologiques, que tous les partenaires du Mali.
Les organisations qui adhèrent à la philosophie libérale, particulièrement le Réseau Libéral Africain, appuyé, entre autres, par la Fondation Friedrich Naumann pour la Liberté, ont un role déterminant à jouer dans la résolution de la crise malienne.
D’un point de vue institutionnel, l’ensemble des démocraties contemporaines puisent dans un même socle commun dont la finalité est la liberté et l’épanouissement des individus. Cela requiert un cadre : l’Etat de droit, la séparation des pouvoirs, la protection des libertés individuelles et collectives, le pluralisme politique, le respect des minorités, la liberté d’expression et d’opinion, la paix et la sécurité.
Le Réseau Libéral Africain propose aux autorités maliennes, à tous les acteurs de la crise ainsi qu’à la communauté internationale, régionale et sous régionale ce qui suit:
Résolution
1. Pour une refondation de l’Etat de droit:
a) Reconstruire un Etat fondé sur la citoyenneté, des institutions crédibles et une décentralisation effective;
b) Mettre en place les mécanismes d’une justice indépendante, impartiale et équitable et, entre autres, une Commission Vérité, Justice et Réconciliation;
c) Redéfinir la place, les rôles et responsabilités des forces de défense et de sécurité dans la gouvernance démocratique globale du pays;
d) Définir un nouveau contrat social par le recentrage de la place de la laïcité dans l’Etat;
e) Restaurer la confiance entre les acteurs de la crise et assurer la pacification effective de la totalité du territoire national en vue de l’organisation des élections;
f) Elaborer un code de bonne conduite pour tous les acteurs du processus électoral.
2. Pour une garantie effective de la sécurité des populations:
a) Mettre en place un dispositif de protection et de sécurisation des populations et de leurs biens;
b) Mettre en place une force sous régionale spécialisée dans la lute contre toute forme de criminalité organisée, notamment les mouvements terroristes et les réseaux de narcotrafiquants;
c) Veiller à la création de meilleures conditions de retour des populations déplacées et refugiés en vue de renforcer la cohesion sociale et l’unité nationale.
3. Mise en place d’un mécanisme d’alerte, de suivi et d’évaluation Mettre en place un Comité de veille, de suivi et d’évaluation du processus de sortie de crise:
a)  Renforcer l’efficacité du mécanisme d’alerte précoce au niveau sous régional en veillant à la mise en oeuvre effective de ses recommandations et en assurant la mutualisation des forces d’intervention;
b) Identifier les éventuels facteurs de blocage susceptibles de perturber le processus de réconciliation nationale et y apporter des solutions adéquates;
c) Veiller à créer des liens de coopération et de coordination efficaces avec les cadres stratégiques de l’Union Africaine, de l’Union Européenne et de l’Organisation des Nations Unies.
Ont signé:
– M. Olivier Kamitatu Etsu, Président du Réseau Libéral

Africain, Président de l’ARC / RD Congo
– Me Gilbert Noël Ouedraogo, Vice-Président du Réseau

Libéral Africain, Président de l’ADF-RDA / Burkina Faso
– M. Ousmane Ben Fana Traoré, Président du PCR / Mali
– Honorable Sidibe Abdoulaye, RDR / Côte d’Ivoire
– Dr. Lamine Ba, Président PLC / Sénégal
– Dr. Malick Dieng, PDS / Sénégal
– M. Alpha Diallo, Président du PULS / Guinée
– Dr. Youssouf Sylla, UFDG / Guinée
– Dr. Aissata Daffé, UFR / Guinée
– Honorable Thierno Bocoum, REWMI / Sénégal (observateur)
– Me Djibril War, APR / Sénégal (observateur)

Adopted by the Africa Liberal Network at the ‘Conference on the Malian crisis and security in West Africa’ hosted by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom.
Bamako, 2 June 2013.
Whereas the Africa Liberal Network is a member of Liberal International, which is guided by the Oxford Manifesto of 1947 which outlines the values of freedom, democracy and peace ascribed to by all its members;
Whereas the current security and political situation in Mali is of major concern to the international liberal community;
Whereas the mission of the ALN, as set out in its founding Charter and the Johannesburg Declaration of June 2003, is to defend and promote freedom, democracy, peace and the rule of law across the African continent.
Background
The conflict that shook Mali resulted in a massive humanitarian and political crisis that destabilised state institutions, led to the widespread displacement of civilians and a loss of human life, the rape and abuse of women, the enrollment child soldiers and unprecedented destruction of the country’s heritage, including the burning of the Timbuktu library and the disappearance of ancient manuscripts.
Numerous stakeholders including the United Nations, the African Union, ECOWAS and various other countries intervened in order to stabilise Mali’s state institutions, halt terrorist attacks and recover the nation’s territorial integrity and sovereignty. To this end, several legal instruments have been adopted in order to support a swift resolution to the crisis.
The crisis revealed the fragility of Mali’s state institutions, and in addressing it, a new social contract is required that calls for a sustainable solution that includes Malians of all faiths, ethnicities and all political or ideological persuasions.
Organizations that adhere to liberal democratic philosophy, particularly the Africa Liberal Network, supported by, amongst others, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, have a role to play in resolving the crisis in Mali.
From the ALN’s point of view, all contemporary democracies must be rooted in the same common values of freedom of the individual in order to be successful. These values must be rooted in a framework that includes the rule of law, separation of powers, protection of individual and collective freedoms, political pluralism, respect for minorities, freedom of expression, peace and safety.
Flowing from these common values of democracy, the ALN makes the following proposals in order to address the situation in Mali:
Resolution
1. Re-establish the rule of law:
a. Rebuild a credible, decentralised state;
b. Establish an independent and fair judiciary and a Truth, Justice and Reconciliation Commission;
c. Redefine the role and responsibilities of the defense and security forces as supporting mechanisms for democratic governance in the country;
d. Define a new social contract underpinned by a secular state;
e. Restore trust between all players in the crisis and unite them in working towards the organisation of elections;
f. Develop a code of conduct for all participants in the electoral process.
2. Effectively guarantee the safety of people:
a. Ensure the effective protection and security of people and property;
b. Establish a specialised regional force to fight against all forms of organized crime, including terrorist groups and drug trafficking networks;
c. Ensure the creation of conditions for the return of displaced persons and refugees in order to strengthen social cohesion and national unity.
3. Establish a system for monitoring and evaluating the process and issuing early warnings if necessary:
a. Establish a committee for monitoring and evaluating the crisis resolution process;
b. Ensure that there is a regional body to oversee the effective implementation of the crisis resolution process and intervene if required;
c. Identify potential factors that may disrupt the national reconciliation process and make appropriate preemptive interventions;
d. Create links with the African Union, European Union and the United Nations in order to secure their cooperation and support with the crisis turnaround plan.
Signed:
– Olivier Kamitatu Etsu, President of the ALN, President of the ARC / DR Congo
– Mr. Gilbert Noël Ouedraogo, Vice-President of the ALN, President of the ADF-RDA / Burkina Faso
– Ben Fana Ousmane Traoré, President of PCR / Mali
– Honourable Abdoulaye Sidibe, RDR / Ivory Coast
– Dr. Lamine Ba, President of PLC / Senegal
– Dr. Malick Dieng, PDS / Senegal
– Mr. Alpha Diallo, President of the PULS / Guinea
– Dr. Youssouf Sylla, UFDG / Guinea
– Dr. Aïssata Daffé, UFR / Guinea
– Honorable Thierno Bocoum Rewmi / Senegal (observer)
– Me Djibril War, APR / Senegal (observer)

On behalf of the African Liberal Network (ALN), I will today write to Faith Pansy Tlakula, the special rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information at the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and ask her to investigate the new media law passed by Burundi’s National Assembly in April and promulgated earlier this week by President Pierre Nkurunziza.
The President has promulgated the bill into law despite serious concerns being raised internationally about provisions in the bill that will severely restrict journalists’ ability to report freely on matters in Burundi through the imposition of heavy fines and jail sentences. The bill also weakens protection for sources and requires all journalists to have a university degree regardless of their work experience.
The media bill stands in direct contravention to the provisions of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, to which Burundi is a signatory, that commits countries to uphold freedom of information and expression.
In my letter to the special rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information, I will ask her to investigate the provisions of the Burundian media bill that violate the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and make appropriate recommendations to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights regarding further sanctions.
The key mandate of the special rapporteur on Freedom of Expression and Access to Information is to analyse national media legislation within Member States, monitor their compliance with freedom of expression and access to information standards, undertake fact-finding missions to Member States to investigate reports of systemic violations of the right to freedom of expression and denial of access to information and make appropriate recommendations and public interventions.
The rights to freedom of information and expression, as well as an independent and diverse media, are central to the realisation of real democracy. Without these rights democracy in Burundi is a farce. In line with the Liberal Manifesto for Africa drafted and adopted by the ALN, we will, along with our Burundian member party, the Alliance Démocratique pour le Renouveau (ADR), champion the rights to freedom of expression in Burundi until such time as they are delivered in both form and substance.
Media enquiries:
Olivier Kamitatu Etsu
Africa Liberal Network President
+24 381 268 1774
Aimee Franklin
Africa Liberal Network Coordinator
+27 72 232 0127

The African Liberal Network (ALN) urges the international community to join us in strongly condemning Monday’s alleged raid by Ugandan government security forces on the Daily Monitor newspaper and its two radio stations. During the raid the security forces shut down the publication’s operations using a search warrant that the publication was not given the opportunity to contest.
This action constitutes a direct threat to media freedom in Uganda, a country in which the African Media Barometer stated that: “State surveillance structures… continue to create a climate of fear among journalists as well as potential information sources, resulting in increasing cases of self-censorship. A disturbing trend of self-censorship through reportage of social rather than political issues leading to the downplaying of important issues is emerging.”
By using intimidation to restrict journalists’ abilities to report freely on matters, the Ugandan government stands in direct contravention of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, to which the country is a signatory.
The rights to freedom of information and expression, as well as an independent and diverse media, are enshrined in the Charter, and are central to the realisation of real democracy in any country. Without these rights democracy in Uganda is hollow.
The intimidation of journalists in Uganda cannot be allowed to continue. In line with the Liberal Manifesto for Africa drafted and adopted by the ALN, we will, along with our Ugandan member party, Liberal Democratic Transparency (LDT), continue to monitor the situation and champion the right to a free media in Uganda.
Media enquiries:
Olivier Kamitatu Etsu
Africa Liberal Network President
+24 381 268 1774
Aimee Franklin
Africa Liberal Network Coordinator
+27 72 232 0127

On behalf of the Africa Liberal Network (ALN) I call on the international community to join me in expressing concern about the upcoming Ethiopian elections, scheduled for 14 and 21 April, around which an increasing number of incidents of unfair practices are being reported. As well as a petition signed by thirty-four Ethiopian opposition parties taking issue with a number of electoral irregularities, ALN member party, the Ethiopian Democratic Party (EDP), have brought a number of concerns to the network’s attention.
These include:
1) The withholding of financial electoral campaign support for political parties by the government, contrary to long standing practice and the Electoral Code,
2) Opposition candidates being denied access to the media,
3) Reportedly wide-spread intimidation of voters by local officials aligned with the ruling party,
4) Irregularities in voter registration by the National Election Board, including the issuing of multiple ballots and a failure to check the residential status of voters, and,
5) Reported abuse of government funds by the ruling party for the purposes of campaigning.
Despite continued dialogue with the National Election Board, the Ethiopian Democratic Party have withdrawn all but one candidate from the election in protest against continued practices that they deem to render the electoral process neither free nor fair.
I urge all parties, as well as the National Election Board, to engage in open dialogue regarding these issues, and for the international community to closely monitor the elections in the interests of upholding democracy in Ethiopia.
Media enquiries:
Olivier Kamitatu Etsu
Africa Liberal Network President
+24 381 268 1774
Aimee Franklin
Africa Liberal Network Coordinator
+27 72 232 0127 or +44 75 5700 9023