STATEMENT REGARDING UPCOMING SENEGALESE ELECTIONS

The largest political affiliation in Africa, the Africa Liberal Network, wishes every success to its Senegalese member parties, in the upcoming parliamentary elections on 30 July. Four full ALN member parties (APR-Yaakaar, PDS, PLC/DJ and Rewmi) will be partaking in the first parliamentary elections since 2007, which saw a coalition formed by the PDS to win the majority of the seats.
The ALN believes that these parties are all committed to seeing a better future for every Senegalese citizen, based on the rule of law, the protection of human rights and sound government policies. The ALN trusts that the upcoming elections will take place freely and fairly, allowing every Senegalese voter to cast their vote safely. Irrespective of the outcome, the ALN will continue to support its sister-parties in fostering liberal values, not only in Senegal, but also across the continent.
Media enquiries:
Zanie Ferreira (ALN Coordinator)
zanie.maree@africaliberalnetwork.org

STATEMENT OF THE AFRICA LIBERAL NETWORK

STEVENS MOKGALAPA MP, ALN PRESIDENT

Note to editors:

The Africa Liberal Network is Africa’s largest political affiliation, consisting of 45 member parties from over 25 countries. The following statement and remarks are provided by the newly-elected ALN President, Stevens Mokgalapa MP, the South African Shadow Minister for International Relations and Co-operation (Democratic Alliance).

The Africa Liberal Network condemns in the strongest possible terms, the approval by the Zambian government to extend the state of emergency in the country by a further 90 days. This comes short on the heels of the arrest of leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND), a full member of the ALN and Zambia’s largest opposition party, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, on charges of treason. The extended security measures decreed by President Edgar Lungu is nothing short of an attempt to stifle opposition to his government and cement his grip on power. The additional three-month period will place unlimited power in the President and security forces’ hands, which may be used to intimidate and threaten opposition parties and citizens alike. These measures include the prohibition of public meetings, the closure of roads, imposed curfews and restricted movements, all to be enforced by security forces.

Zambia, once a stellar example of a democracy in Africa, has recently been on a decline due to reports of human rights abuses as well as the erosion of political freedom. During the August 2016 elections, the governing party, the Patriotic Front (PF), was involved in the manipulation of votes and unlawful arrests of and violence against UPND members have been commonplace. This state of emergency sees the extension of such abuses of power by President Lungu and the PF.

The ALN lends full support to its sister-party in Zambia and calls for regional bodies such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and African Union (AU) to break their silence in light of the above events. As President of Africa’s largest political affiliation, I implore representatives and our member parties to uphold liberal values in securing the safety and freedom of all Zambians. The Democratic Alliance, ALN full-member in South Africa, has shown solidarity with the party leader, Mmusi Maimane MP, attempting a visit to Zambia, where he was unlawfully denied entry by border police. Furthermore, I have escalated this matter to our colleagues at Liberal International and their Human Rights Committee.

The ALN will continue to work tirelessly for the promotion of liberal values on the continent in order to achieve a better future for all Africans, based on the rule of law, freedom of expression and the entrenchment of human rights.

Media enquiries:
Zanie Ferreira (ALN Coordinator)
zanie.maree@africaliberalnetwork.org

STATEMENT OF THE AFRICA LIBERAL NETWORK

STEVENS MOKGALAPA MP, ALN PRESIDENT

Note to editors:
The Africa Liberal Network is Africa’s largest political affiliation, consisting of 45 member parties from over 25 countries. The following statement and remarks are provided by the newly-elected ALN President, Stevens Mokgalapa MP, the South African Shadow Minister for International Relations and Co-operation (Democratic Alliance).
A magistrate’s court in Zambia has today ruled that the opposition leader, Hakainde Hichilema (HH), must be tried for treason in Lusaka’s High Court. The date for this trial is unspecified and Hichilema remains in prison.
The decision to charge and try HH for treason is utterly problematic and deplorable; it is a clear indication of the level of corruption and political tyranny pursued by Zambia’s President Edgar Lungu. The Africa Liberal Network – as the continent’s largest political affiliation – denounces the trumped up charged against Hichilema and continues to call for his immediate, unconditional release.
Looking at politics in Zambia, democracy is failing. President Lungu has taken what was once a beacon of hope for the region and taken the country backwards, not only politically but also economically and in terms of human rights. The ALN denounces the actions of the Lungu administration in the strongest possible terms and we call for proper, necessary intervention by regional bodies including SADC and the AU.
It is worth remembering that treason remains an unbailable offence in Zambia, and if found guilty, one may face the death penalty. Hichilema’s treason case is based on the politically-motivated charge that he supposedly did not give way to the President’s motorcade.
Finally, the ALN encourages member parties to continue to uphold liberal democratic values and their commitment to sister-parties, especially our Zambian member the United Party for National Development (UPND). The Democratic Alliance, ALN full-member in South Africa, has taken a great lead in showing such solidarity with the party leader, Mmusi Maimane MP, pledging to return to Zambia support HH during his trial.
Our hope and commitment to the future is one of freedom under the rule of law for all Africans. We must work tirelessly everywhere, even in Zambia at this time, to achieve our mandate.
 
Media enquiries:
Luke Akal (ALN Coordinator)
+27 (0)81 4813754
luke.akal@africaliberalnetwork.org

Statement of the Africa Liberal Network

Stevens Mokgalapa MP, ALN President

 
Note to editors:
The Africa Liberal Network is Africa’s largest political affiliation, consisting of 45 member parties from over 25 countries. The following statement and remarks are provided by the newly-elected ALN President, Stevens Mokgalapa MP, the South African Shadow Minister for International Relations and Co-operation (Democratic Alliance).
 

Lors de la 13ème Assemblée Générale annuelle du Réseau Libéral Africain, le réseau politique africain le plus grande s’est réuni à Nairobi, au Kenya. Le parti membre local du RLA, l’Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), a accueilli l’Assemblée générale.
Lors de ce réunion, le réseau a adopté un document historique, la Déclaration de Nairobi sur la prévention et l’élimination de la violence à l’égard des femmes. Les délégués ont également élu un nouveau comité exécutif, dirigé par le président Stevens Mokgalapa. De plus, l’Assemblée Générale a organisé un certain nombre d’ateliers sur le thème des coalitions.
Le premier jour de l’Assemblée Générale a commencé avec la dernière réunion du comité exécutif sortant, présidée par le président sortant Olivier Kamitatu. La journée s’est terminée par un dîner d’accueil, organisé par la Fondation Friedrich Naumann pour la liberté. Ce dîner a permis aux délégués de s’entretenir avec le président de l’ODM, l’ancien Premier ministre kenyan Raila Odinga.

Les libéraux en coopération : coalitions, négociations et collaboration démocratique

Le deuxième jour s’est centré sur les ateliers sur le thème de l’Assemblée Générale : les coalitions. Les délégués ont partagé et appris les expériences de chacun, et ont également eu l’occasion d’acquérir de nouvelles compétences auprès d’experts externes en coalition et en négociation. Quatre sessions différentes ont eu lieu tout au long de la journée, couvrant plusieurs aspects des coalitions, y compris les différents cycles de la coalition.
Les délégués libéraux des membres partis du RLA à travers le continent ont forgé de nouvelles bonnes pratiques sur le sujet, qui peuvent maintenant être utilisées pour accroître l’importance de leurs partis lors des prochaines élections et au-delà. Le libéralisme est en progression en Afrique, et avec de meilleurs résultats électoraux et plus de responsabilité politique, cela implique inévitablement un plus grand besoin de compétences liées aux coalitions.

Déclaration de Nairobi sur la prévention et l’élimination de la violence à l’égard des femmes

La dernière journée de l’Assemblée Générale a vu l’adoption de la Déclaration de Nairobi, condamnant la pratique généralisée de la violence à l’égard des femmes sur le continent. La Déclaration, soutenue et approuvée par le Comité des droits de l’homme de Libéral International, engage les membres du Réseau à travailler de manière rigoureuse pour éliminer la violence sexiste dans leur pays d’origine. En outre, la déclaration appelle tous les partis membres à travailler activement ensemble pour promouvoir l’égalité entre les sexes dans tous les aspects de la vie sociale et politique. La déclaration engage également les membres du RLA à travailler pour soutenir l’élimination des obstacles empêchant les femmes d’entrer dans la vie politique et publique.

Résolutions

En plus de la Déclaration, l’Assemblée Générale a adopté les résolutions suivantes :

1. Résolution sur la situation de crise politique et sociale en République Démocratique du Congo
2. Proposition libérale contre l’exclusion politique
3. Résolution sur le nouveau président somalien
4. Résolution sur la cour pénale internationale
5. Résolution sur l’état d’urgence en Ethiopie
6. Résolution sur l’intervention de la CEDEAO en Gambie
7. Résolution sur le respect du constitutionnalisme et du processus démocratique
8. Résolution sur les élections de 2015 à Zanzibar
9. Résolution sur la liberté de parole et les médias en Tanzanie

Ces résolutions ont été accueillies par l’Assemblée Générale et le comité exécutif s’est engagé à donner suite aux résolutions tout au long de son mandat.

Le Comité Exécutif

Au dernier jour de l’Assemblée Générale, les délégués ont élu un nouveau comité exécutif, sous la direction du président Stevens Mokgalapa (député). M. Mokgalapa est également le ministre fantôme pour les relations internationales et la coopération pour l’Alliance démocratique en Afrique du Sud.
Les nouveaux délégués du Comité exécutif, élus par l’Assemblée Générale, sont les suivants :

• Président : Stevens Mokgalapa (Afrique du Sud, Democratic Alliance)
• Trésorier : Darren Bergman (Afrique du Sud, Democratic Alliance)
• Vice-président pour l’Afrique du Nord : Ahmadou El Baz (Maroc, Union Constitutionnelle)
• Vice-président pour l’Afrique de l’Ouest : Zephirin Diabre (Burkina Faso, Union pour le Progrès et Changement)
• Vice-président pour l’Afrique centrale : Medard Mulangala (RDC, Union pour la Majorité Républicaine)
• Vice-président pour l’Afrique de l’Est : Rosemary Machua (Kenya, Orange Democratic Movement)
• Vice-président pour l’Afrique du Sud : Mulondwe Muzungu (Zambie, United Party for National Development)

Ce nouveau Comité exécutif est plus fort et plus dévoué que jamais, et se tient unis dans son point de vue d’une Afrique prospère et intégrée au bénéfice de tous ses habitants.

Membres

Le Réseau Libéral Africain a grandi en taille et en force, en termes d’adhésion et de capacité.

Le réseau est maintenant heureux d’annoncer que les partis politiques suivants ont été acceptés dans la famille des libéraux africains en tant que membres observateurs :

• Union pour la République et la Démocratie (URD), Mali
• Parti pour le Développement Economique et la Solidarité (PDES), Mali
• People’s Alliance for Change (PAC), Zambie
• Rassemblement Pour la Mauritanie (RPM-Temam), Mauritanie

Deux membres observateurs existants ont également transféré du statut d’observateur au statut de membre à part entière :

• Alliance pour la République (APR-Yaakaar), Sénégal
• Union pour le Progrès et Changement (UPC), Burkina Faso

 
At the 13th annual General Assembly of the Africa Liberal Network, Africa’s largest political network met in Nairobi, Kenya. The local ALN full member party, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), co-hosted the General Assembly.
At this gathering, the network adopted a historic document, the Nairobi Declaration on Prevention and Elimination of Violence against Women. Delegates also elected a new Executive Committee, to be led by President Stevens Mokgalapa. Additionally, the General Assembly provided a number of workshops on the theme of coalitions.
The first day of the General Assembly started with the outgoing Executive Committee holding its last meeting, chaired by the outgoing President, Olivier Kamitatu. The day closed with a welcome dinner, hosted by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom, which presented an opportunity for delegates to engage with the ODM leader, former Kenyan Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Liberals in Cooperation: Coalitions, Negotiations, and Democratic Collaboration

The second day centred around workshops on the General Assembly’s theme: coalitions. The delegates shared and learned from each other’s experiences, and also had a chance to acquire new skills from external coalition and negotiations experts. Four different sessions took place throughout the day, covering several aspects of coalitions, including the different cycles of coalition-building.
The liberal delegates from the ALN member parties across the continent together forged new best practices on the topic, which can now be used to increase the significance of their parties in upcoming elections and beyond. Liberalism is on the rise in Africa, and with better electoral results and more political responsibility, that also inevitably means a bigger need for skills related to coalitions.

The Nairobi Declaration on the Prevention and Elimination of Violence against Women

The General Assembly’s final day saw the adoption of the flagship Nairobi Declaration, condemning the widespread practice of violence against women on the continent. The Declaration, supported and endorsed by Liberal International’s Human Rights Committee, commits the Network’s members to working stringently to eliminate gender-based violence in their home countries. Additionally, the declaration calls on all member parties to actively work together to promote gender equality and gender balance in all aspects of social and political life. The declaration also commits the ALN members to working to support the removal of barriers preventing women from entering politics and public life.
 

Resolutions

In addition to the Declaration, the General Assembly adopted following resolutions:

1. Resolution on the Political and Social Crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
2. Resolution of Liberals against Political Exclusion
3. Resolution on the Newly Elected President of Somalia
4. Resolution on the International Criminal Court
5. Resolution on the State of Emergency in Ethiopia
6. Resolution on the ECOWAS intervention in the Gambia
7. Resolution on Respecting Constitutionalism and the Democratic Process
8. Resolution on the Nullified 2015 Zanzibar Elections
9. Resolution on Freedom of Speech and Media in Tanzania

These resolutions were welcomed by the General Assembly and the Executive Committee is committed to follow-up on the resolutions throughout its term.

The Executive Committee

On the final day of the General Assembly, the delegates elected a new Executive Committee, under the leadership of President Stevens Mokgalapa (MP). Mr Mokgalapa also serves as the Shadow Minister for International Relations and Cooperation for the Democratic Alliance in South Africa.
The new delegates of the Executive Committee, elected by the General Assembly, are the following:

• President: Stevens Mokgalapa (South Africa, Democratic Alliance)
• Treasurer: Darren Bergman  (South Africa, Democratic Alliance)
• North Africa Vice President: Ahmadou El Baz (Morocco, Union Constitutionnelle)
• West Africa Vice President: Zephirin Diabre (Burkina-Faso, Union pour le Progrès et Changement)
• Central Africa Vice President: Medard Mulangala (DRC, Union pour la Majorité Républicaine)
• East Africa Vice President: Rosemary Machua (Kenya, Orange Democratic Movement)
• Southern Africa Vice President: Mulondwe Muzungu (Zambia, United Party for National Development)

The new Executive Committee is stronger and more dedicated than ever, and stands united in its view of a prosperous and integrated Africa for the benefit of all its people.

Membership

The Africa Liberal Network has grown in size and strength, both in terms of membership and capacity.

 
 
 
 
 
The network is now also pleased to announce that the following political parties were accepted into the family of African liberals as observer members:

• Union pour la République et la Démocratie (URD), Mali
• Parti pour le Développement Economique et la Solidarité (PDES), Mali
• People’s Alliance for Change (PAC), Zambia
• Rassemblement Pour la Mauritanie (RPM-Temam), Mauritania

Two existing observer members also transferred from observer status to full member status:

• Alliance pour la République (APR-Yaakaar), Senegal
• Union pour le Progrès et Changement (UPC), Burkina Faso

Statement of the Africa Liberal Network Executive Committee

Note to editors:
The Africa Liberal Network is Africa’s largest political affiliation, consisting of 45 member parties from over 25 countries. The following statement is made by the network’s Executive Committee in solidarity with the ALN’s sister-network in Asia, the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats.

Statement of the Africa Liberal Network

Stevens Mokgalapa MP, ALN President

 
Note to editors:
The Africa Liberal Network is Africa’s largest political affiliation, consisting of 45 member parties from over 25 countries. The following statement and remarks are provided by the newly-elected ALN President, Stevens Mokgalapa MP, the South African Shadow Minister for International Relations and Co-operation (Democratic Alliance).
 
The Africa Liberal Network (ALN) condemns in the strongest possible terms the recent arrest of the Zambian opposition leader, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, on charges of treason. This is the latest development in the ruling party’s attempts to silence dissent and opposition.
Hichilema, the leader of the United Party for National Development (UPND), a full member of the ALN and Zambia’s largest opposition party, was arrested in his home in Lusaka. Zambian police reportedly raided his home during the night, breaking down doors and tear-gassing the house. Mr Hichilema’s attorney states that he has been detained for committing treason by obstructing a motorcade of President Edgar Lungu. Treason is an unbailable offence in the country and carries a minimum jail term of 15 years and a maximum sentence of the death penalty.
ALN President Stevens Mokgalapa MP comments:
“We urge the Zambian government to respect due process, the rule of law, and to immediately cease all arbitrary arrests of its political opponents. It is unacceptable for the governing party in a constitutional democracy such as Zambia to allow for politically-motivated issues such as this to occur.
As President of Africa’s largest political affiliation, I will encourage representatives and our member parties to submit questions to their respective national legislatures and other structures concerning this alarming matter. We will explore potential options to add pressure to President Lungu’s government and request satisfactory clarity.”
According to the opposition leader’s representatives, Mr Hichilema will take legal action to challenge the police action, the brutality of which left Mr Hichilema and his wife unwell.
This event follows previous unacceptable actions by the Zambian governing party, the Patriotic Front (PF). Manipulation of the voting, counting, and other mechanisms in favour of the PF was pervasive in the August 2016 elections, and legal challenges of the elections by the UPND have been blocked. Mr Hichilema and UPND vice-president Geoffrey Mwamba have also been previously arrested for unlawful assembly and sedition. PF supporters have on several occasions committed acts of political violence such as attacking UPND supporters and vandalising UPND property.
 
Media enquiries:
Luke Akal (ALN Coordinator)
+27 (0)81 4813754
luke.akal@africaliberalnetwork.org
 

 
At the 13th Annual Africa Liberal Network (ALN) General Assembly, Africa’s largest political network adopted the flagship Nairobi Declaration condemning the common practice of violence against women on the continent and committing the Network’s members to working stringently to eliminate gender-based violence in their home countries.

The full Declaration can be found HERE.

Acknowledging that violence against women remains one of the most widespread forms of human rights violations, the ALN has committed to working with their partners in Liberal International (LI) and liberal parties across the world, in opposition and in government, to condemn and eliminate gender-based violence.
The Network’s members agreed to promote and, where in government, implement policies to secure women’s access to education – the single most effective method of empowerment – as well as working with judicial branches and police forces to ensure the effective protection of women from acts of violence.
The declaration also commits ALN members to working to bring more women into public life and politics, believing strongly that we can only eliminate violence against women when women are comfortable taking over leadership roles.
The Nairobi Declaration comes at a particularly poignant moment as this year’s host party, the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) faces parliamentary and presidential elections later this year. In Kenya, women often face intimidation during elections and there have been widespread incidents of physical and verbal intimidation against female candidates at party primaries and during campaigning in the past. Working with the UK Liberal Democrats, the ALN has been running a campaign of support for women running on the ODM ticket in the upcoming elections. This began with a workshop in February 2017 for twenty outstanding women running in the party’s internal primaries to represent ODM in key seats in the August election.
Rosemary Machua, ALN Vice President for East Africa and a Director of the ODM, said:
“African politics remains overwhelmingly the work of men. Women continue to face hurdles when engaging the democratic process, from their families, their communities and from the men at the top of the political tree.
“I am delighted that the ALN has acknowledged the unique challenges women face and the horrifying prevalence of gender-based violence. I look forward to working with the member parties on exposing violence in their home countries and supporting more women to enter into public life.”
Stevens Mokgalapa MP, newly-elected ALN President and DA Shadow Minister of International Relations and Cooperation in South Africa, said:
“I am proud that my first action as President is to endorse this declaration which commits the Network to taking the serious problem of violence against women – in all its forms – head on. It is unacceptable for liberals to stand by while over half of the population still suffers from discrimination and, in many cases, violence.
The ALN pledges today to work on ourselves, by striving to bring in more women into our own processes, whilst strongly, passionately, and loudly protesting poor treatment of women across the African continent.”
Markus Loening, Chairman of the Liberal International (LI) Human Rights Committee and LI Vice-President, said:
“This fundamental document represents an important step towards the empowerment of women and it testifies to the ongoing commitment by the African liberal family to gender equality.
“As we look forward to strengthen the cooperation between Liberal International (LI), its Human Rights Committee and the Africa Liberal Network, I sincerely hope that this Declaration will serve to solidify the efforts of liberals to speak with one voice when it comes to promotion and advancement of human rights.”
The ALN General Assembly met in Nairobi, Kenya from 23-24 March 2017. Delegates from over 40 liberal parties from across the continent met to discuss the major issues facing their countries and the wider continent and to share their experiences of campaigning, governing and scrutinising governments in Africa.