The network has the greatest pleasure to announce our President, Maître Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo as endorsed by the network’s #ALN2020GA convened during 13 – 15 February 2020, in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

Together with the Executive Committee, President Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo will be leading the execution of the network’s 3 year strategy plan, which can be summarised as:

The network’s strategic priorities 2019 – 2022:

*External vision*: a prosperous and integrated Africa of flourishing democracies that are at peace with one another, in which all persons have the right and opportunity to fulfil their potential and be what they want to be;

*Internal vision*: a respected and influential advocate of liberal ideas on the African continent;

*Mission*: the network’s mission is to empower liberal political parties to grow their support, to increase their influence on politics of the continent and to implement liberal policies when in government.

Action Plan 2019 – 2020:

1. Adopt a clear national and regional strategy plan, which coincides with the continental strategy;
2. Support member parties with peer 2 peer exchange programmes;
3. Convene regional training workshops for member parties;
4. The constitutional review task team to investigate minimum standards of inclusion for youth and women. Investigation findings to be relayed, for consideration, by the ALN Executive Committee and ALN member party Executive Committees;
5. Extend to ALN member parties, realistic commitments and achievable goals, as outlined in the ALN Constitution, Johannesburg Declaration and the Liberal Manifesto for Africa;
6. Initiate and/ or collaborate with national, liberal political philosophy platforms;
7. Initiate the network’s annual calendar;
8. Initiate the network’s annual budget, complementing the calendar and the above outlined action plan.

Best wishes to the network, under the leadership of President Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo.

15 FEBRUARY, BURKINA FASO

Recommendations on the theme: Peace and stability for economic and social development

• Considering its General Assembly, convened during 13 – 15 February 2020 in Ouagadougou, themed: Peace and stability for Economic and Social Development in Africa;
• Recalling the principle of solidarity and union of liberal parties to meet the aspirations of the African populations who expect from governance more justice, more peace and stability for equitable development;
• Recalling the interactive link between peace and stability, necessary conditions for economic and social development understood as a situation where there are no prospects for wealth, acquiring knowledge, power and whose achievement requires predictability and durability;
• Deploring the intensification of violence, the increasing attacks and kidnappings perpetrated by extremist groups in several African countries, in recent months, such as Niger, Burkina Faso and Mali, making the security situation worrying and disturbing;
• Considering that respect for the Constitution is the first pledge of stability of a nation;
• Considering that stability and peace, without which all national construction is doomed to failure, constitute the guarantee of a country’s prosperity;
• Recalling the creed of the RLA which is to defend freedom, democracy and institutions;
• Wishing to promote economic and social development through entrepreneurship and the stimulation of the private sector;
• Aware of the harmful consequences of a constitutional forcing for unconstitutional mandates;
• Noting the perverse effects of the Internet on education, culture, social relations and the animation of political parties;

The Africa Liberal Network (ALN),

• Follows with concern the recent developments in the political crisis in Guinea, born of the will of the President of the Republic, Alpha Condé, to amend the Constitution in order to grant himself a third mandate;
• Recalls its attachment to the limitation of presidential mandates, as indicated in the Liberal Pan-African Manifesto adopted at its General Assembly in Abidjan in 2012;
• Encourages African States to adopt in their Constitution the limitation of mandates in order to promote democratic change and avoid the detention of supreme power by one person for an extended period, with all the known consequences;
• Condemns, therefore, the obstinacy of the Guinean President to change the Constitution of his country, eight months ahead of the end of his second and last mandate, with the sole aim of being able to seek a third term, at the tender age of 83 years;
• Support and encourage the National Front for the Defence of the Constitution (FNDC) – a coalition of opposition political parties, unions and civil society organizations – which is fighting with courage and determination against this project to change the Constitution despite the ruthless repression to which his supporters are subjected to;
• Condemns the violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms by the recurrent use of lethal weapons in Guinea, during political or trade union demonstrations, which have to date resulted in the death of 134 innocent civilian demonstrators who are opposed to the Constitution amendment and the Guinean statutory laws amendment;
• Recommends that the elections in Africa which are a source of instability and conflict take place in compliance with the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance;

Formulates, in accordance with the principles of peace, stability and economic development of the Liberal Manifesto for Africa, the following recommendations:

1. Bring together traditional, religious and political leaders in each country in order to deeply identify the causes of internal conflicts;
2. Establish an inclusive, frank and permanent dialogue between the living forces of the nation on questions of national interest concerning elections, living together, etc. in order to prevent and mitigate electoral disputes, pre- and post-election violence;

• Promote inter-religious, inter-ethnic and inter-community dialogue at the base and sanction any case of extremism, however slight, in order to prevent and mitigate inter-community, inter-religious, inter-ethnic conflicts;
• Mobilize and involve all internal human resources for effective and less costly management of the consequences of conflicts and promote traditional and endogenous mechanisms for managing the consequences of conflicts;
• Improve governance in our young states to assert the authority of the state without violence;
• Respect individual and collective freedoms with a view to accepting differences and building strong nations;
• Identify areas of complementarity in terms of conflict prevention and the sustainability of peace in the region with a view to pooling efforts for greater efficiency;
• Identify the mechanisms, indicators and actors for the effective implementation of preventive diplomacy by the early warning system;
• Promote a new model of economic development, based on a dynamic private sector, independent of the ruling system but rather supported by innovation and by sustainable, decent employment for young people and women;
• Know how to count on your own strength. This requires an effort to mobilize internal resources by finding specific mechanisms for financing development projects and programs in crisis countries aimed at promoting the collective interest while relying on private actors and market instruments and in working for solidarity between African countries;
• Promote economic integration through intra-Africa trade and the creation of optimal monetary zones.

As the Africa Liberal Network (ALN), we call upon ECOWAS, the African Union, the European Union and the United Nations to refer to their statutory obligations and action appropriate measures applicable to President Alpha Condé and intervene to:

• Stop the massacre of Guinean compatriots;
• Respect the Constitution of the Republic by renouncing the illegal and conflict-generating third term project;
• Complete the local elections in accordance with the Electoral Code and the Supreme Court judgment delivered on December 26, 2019;
• Organize free, transparent and inclusive elections based on a Consensual Electoral Register, faithfully reflecting the reality of the electoral body;
• Open a dialogue in good faith with the Opposition to resolve differences and organize free, transparent and inclusive elections for both the legislative and presidential elections of 2020;
• Conduct serious investigations to identify and bring to justice the perpetrators of the crimes during demonstrations against the third term.

14 February 2020

Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Date: 4 February 2020
Release: Immediate

On 3 February 2020 Malawi’s constitutional court’s five panel judges unanimously annulled the 2019 General Elections results where President Mutharika had won with 38% thereby reverting to the 2014 to 2019 mandate until next elections are held. In interpreting the constitution, the court said that according to the law nobody won the 2019 elections because no candidate achieved 50+1.

The court have also reinstated Rt. Hon Saulos Kraus Chilima as the country’s Vice President replacing Rt. Hon Chimulirenji who had assumed office alongside President Peter Mitharika in May 2019.

The 500-page ruling cited widespread use of unauthorised correctional fluid, Tippex, to alter figures, the use of duplicate result sheets and unsigned results forms as cases that compromised the outcome of the elections. The court has also recommended to parliament to meet and amend the Elections Act paving way for a 50+1 win for the presidency.

The Africa Liberal Network congratulates the victory of the opposition political parties for championing the principles and actions of good governance and the rule of law. Further, the network commends the strict independence of the judiciary in protecting citizens’ constitutional rights.  We also commend the Malawi judges for having resisted attempts of bribery as the case was in progress.

The Africa Liberal Network believes that Africa’s long-term development can only be assured when political and civil rights are secured for all people. Power comes from the people and is expressed through regular, free and fair elections.

This is the second time in Africa that a constitutional court annuls election results, the first was Kenya in 2017.

Elections should be open, transparent, and express the legitimate choice of the citizens.

This is indeed a milestone. This is a valuable lesson for all governments to learn from.

Well done to opposition parties for upholding democratic principles!


Issued by the Africa Liberal Network

• by Rose Sakala – Liberal International Human Rights Committee Representative and Africa Liberal Network Vice President, Southern Africa

Date: 7 January 2020
Release: Immediate

The Africa Liberal Network (ALN) is repulsed by the gross violation of the Uganda Constitution by it’s incumbent Head of State, President Yoweri Museveni. Museveni assumed office in 1986 and has ruled Ugandans for the past 34 years in dictatorship. Throughout his regime term, the state’s Constitution and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance has been violated with no warning to the dictator by domestic state institutions aimed to protect democracy and the rule of law.

On Monday 6 January 2020, Museveni’s police arrested and detained Robert Kyagulanyi Ssentamu aka Bobi Wine, together with other People Power leaders and supporters, on their way to attend a Consultative public meeting with citizens of Uganda, ahead of the General Election inclusive of the Presidential elections scheduled for next year 2021.

The Africa Liberal Network observes the detainment as unjustified, considering that Uganda’s 2015 Presidential Election Act, accommodates for presidential aspirants to carry out “nationwide consultation” in the 12 months ahead of their official nomination as candidates. Bobi Wine is a contender of Uganda’s 2021 Presidential Elections.

Not only does the Network observe Museveni’s violation of the Uganda Constitution and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, we also denounce the violation of people’s sovereignty and certainly the human rights and people’s choice of assembly and association.

We call on regional and international organisations like the AU and SADC, to committ to the promotion of human rights and democracy, by denouncing acts opposing democracy and the freedom of citizens. Together with our global federation, Liberal International, we will be escalating Museveni’s violations to the United Nations Human Rights Council, through our representation on the Liberal International Human Rights Committee, which reports directly to the UN. Further the network will seek support, on behalf of Uganda, with the European Parliament.

The network remains committed to promoting liberal governance and we stand for values and principles of good governance. We respect human rights, democracy, the rule of law and sustainable development for all persons on the African continent.

Media Enquiries

Rose Sakala
Liberal International Human Rights Committee Representative
Africa Liberal Network Vice President, Southern Africa

• par Gilbert Noël OUEDRAOGO – Président par intérim, Africa Liberal Network (ALN)

Date: 30 décembre 2019
Sortie: Immédiate

Dans le cadre de son adresse à la Nation du jeudi 19 décembre 2019, le Président Alpha Condé a confirmé publiquement son intention de changer la Constitution guinéenne par voie référendaire, malgré les vives protestations populaires exprimées depuis le 14 octobre dernier.

Ces protestations, organisées par le Front National pour la Défense de la Constitution (FNDC), une large coalition fédérant tous les Partis politiques de l’Opposition, les Organisations de la société civile et les syndicats, ont donné lieu à une répression sanglante du pouvoir faisant 25 morts, âgées de 14 à 32 ans, plusieurs dizaines de blessés par balles et de nombreuses arrestations arbitraires.

Le Réseau Libéral Africain déplore ces violations graves et massives des droits de l’homme et exhorte les autorités à diligenter, dans les meilleurs délais, des enquêtes pour identifier et déférer devant les tribunaux les auteurs et commanditaires de ces actes répréhensibles.

Extrêmement préoccupé par les violations de l’ordre constitutionnel et démocratique compromettant la paix et la stabilité en Guinée et dans la sous-région, le Réseau Libéral Africain en appelle au respect des principes de convergence constitutionnelle prévus par l’article premier du Protocole A/SP1/12/01 de la CEDEAO sur la Démocratie et la Bonne Gouvernance, à savoir :

• Toute accession au pouvoir doit se faire à travers des élections libres, honnêtes, et transparentes.
• Tout changement anti-constitutionnel est interdit de même que tout mode non démocratique d’accession ou de maintien au pouvoir.
• La participation populaire aux prises de décision, le strict respect des principes démocratiques, et la décentralisation du pouvoir à tous les niveaux de gouvernement.
• L’armée est apolitique et soumise à l’autorité politique régulièrement établie.
• L’État est laïc et demeure entièrement neutre.

Le Réseau Libéral Africain exhorte en outre la Guinée au respect des obligations découlant pour elle de la Charte africaine de la Démocratie, des Élections et de la Gouvernance, de la Charte Africaine des Droits de l’Homme et des Peuples et des instruments onusiens de protection des droits de l’homme qu’elle a ratifiés.Le Réseau Libéral Africain continuera à suivre attentivement la situation des droits et libertés fondamentaux en Guinée, au premier rang desquels le droit à la vie, conditionnant la jouissance de tous les autres droits, mais aussi et surtout, le respect des principes démocratiques et de l’État de droit.

Demandes des médias

Gilbert Noël OUEDRAOGO
Président par intérim, Réseau Libéral Africain
+226 7064 7117

Ousmane Ben Fana Traoré
Vice-président Afrique de l’Ouest, Réseau Libéral Africain
+223 7310 5050

• by Gilbert Noël OUEDRAOGO – Acting President, Africa Liberal Network (ALN)

Date: 30 December 2019
Release: Immediate

As part of his address to the Nation on Thursday, December 19, 2019, President Alpha Condé publicly confirmed his intention to change the Guinean Constitution by referendum, despite the strong popular protests expressed since October 14.

These protests, organized by the National Front for the Defense of the Constitution (FNDC), a broad coalition federating all the political Parties of the Opposition, the organizations of the civil society and the trade unions, gave place to a bloody repression of the capacity leaving 25 dead, aged 14 to 32, dozens of gunshot wounds and numerous arbitrary arrests.

The African Liberal Network deplores these serious and massive violations of human rights and urges the authorities to promptly conduct investigations to identify and bring to justice the perpetrators and sponsors of these wrongdoings.

Extremely concerned by the violations of the constitutional and democratic order compromising peace and stability in Guinea and in the sub-region, the African Liberal Network calls for respect for the principles of constitutional convergence provided for in article 1 of Protocol A / ECOWAS SP1 / 12/01 on Democracy and Good Governance, namely:

• Any accession to power must be done through free, fair, and transparent elections.
• Any anti-constitutional change is prohibited, as is any undemocratic mode of gaining or remaining in power.
• Popular participation in decision-making, strict respect for democratic principles, and the decentralization of power to all levels of government.
• The army is apolitical and subject to regularly established political authority.
• The state is secular and remains entirely neutral.

The African Liberal Network also urges Guinea to respect the obligations arising for it from the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the UN protection instruments human rights it has ratified.

The African Liberal Network will continue to closely monitor the situation of fundamental rights and freedoms in Guinea, foremost among which is the right to life, conditioning the enjoyment of all other rights, but also and above all, respect for democratic principles and ‘Rule of law.

Media Enquiries

Gilbert Noël OUEDRAOGO
Acting President, Africa Liberal Network
+226 7064 7117

Ousmane Ben Fana Traore
West Africa Vice President, Africa Liberal Network
+223 7310 5050

Dear liberal colleagues and friends,

This note serves to update you of our Deputy President, Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo’s appointment as Acting President of the network, while the President, Stevens Mokgalapa is on special leave.

Until further notice, all communication regarding the network and all preparations for the upcoming 2020 General Assembly, may be communicated to the following persons:

Acting President: Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo
Treasurer: Clement Stambuli
Coordinator : Nangamso Kwinana

The largest political affiliation in Africa, the Africa Liberal Network, takes note of the unfolding events in Zimbabwe. On 14 November 2017 the Zimbabwean military took control of the country and state media, announcing it was targeting “criminals” around President Robert Mugabe shortly after Mugabe fired his Vice-President‚ Emmerson Mnangagwa. Mnangagwa was set to compete for the top ZANU-PF leadership spot against President Mugabe’s wife, Grace Mugabe. In a move that the armed forces have denied as a military coup, Mugabe and his family were placed under house arrest while talks have risen about a potential transitional government, easing him out of his longstanding term in office. At the age of 93, President Mugabe has been at the helm of a struggling country for far too long and the opportunity is ripe for Zimbabwe to transition into a stable, democratic country. We urge the President to step aside peacefully and allow for free and fair elections to take place.
These recent events show the big divide in the ruling party. We encourage and support our liberal friends and opposition parties in Zimbabwe to stand for the values we hold dear: constitutionalism, transparency, rule of law, multiparty democracy and peace. We implore Zimbabweans to remain calm and show non-violent restraint during this time. The ALN is monitoring the situation closely and offer our unwavering support to those who are fighting for a better, democratic Zimbabwe.
Media enquiries:
Zanie Ferreira (ALN Coordinator)
zanie.maree@africaliberalnetwork.org

 
 
 
 

Africa Liberal Network media statement by
Stevens Mokgalapa (MP)
Africa Liberal Network Vice President (Southern Africa)
ALN condemns pre-election violence in South Africa
27 October 2015
Release: immediate
The Africa Liberal Network (ALN), the largest political network on the continent consisting of 44 political parties in 30 states, expresses grave concern over reports that our South African member party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), has faced intimidation and violent attacks against its supporters, members and staff in the country’s capital.
We condemn any actions by the ruling party involving alleged theft and destruction of property. It has come to our attention that the African National Congress (ANC) organised attacks against DA supporters during the preparation of the DA’s campaign launch in Tshwane (Pretoria).
The ALN is especially concerned that anti-DA forces physically attacked the party’s members, throwing bricks and rocks at them. We are aware of an incident in which a group of ANC supporters sprayed a fire extinguisher in a kiosk in which DA activists were hiding.
As per our resolution taken at Ouagadougou (2014), the ALN is also committed to the peaceful, democratic transition of power as well as an environment conducive to free and fair elections. To this end, the ALN affirms its support and solidarity with the Democratic Alliance. Additionally, we encourage the DA in its efforts to take the appropriate legal steps and actions with the Independent Electoral Commission and other relevant South African authorities.
Our thoughts are with the innocent DA activists who were injured. We call on the governing authorities to follow due procedure and the South African Constitution. The ALN will continue to monitor the situation and gather support through our international networks if necessary.
 
Media enquiries:
Stevens Mokgalapa (MP)
Africa Liberal Network Vice President (Southern Africa Africa region)
+27 83 275 1779
Luke Akal
+27 81 481 3754
ALN Coordinator