ALN welcomes new members from Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Southern Sudan, Sierra Leone, and Uganda
The Africa Liberal Network concluded a successful meeting of its General Assembly in Cape Town, South Africa, on Saturday 13 November 2010. Re-elected as ALN President, Senegalese Minister of Humanitarian and International Affairs, Dr Lamine Bâ, explained that the organisation “will play a more decisive role in spreading liberal values and ideas, and will do all it can to bring liberal political parties to power in their respective countries”.
The ALN was formed in 2002 to promote liberal democratic ideals in politics and to build solidarity among parties adhering to liberal principles. It has since grown to 27 parties, and welcomed the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) of Kenyan Prime Minister, Raila Odinga, to the network at this meeting. Other parties joining the ALN for the first time at the General Assembly were the Ethiopian Democratic Party (EDP); the Forum for Democratic Devolution (FDD) from Malawi; People’s Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC) of Sierra Leone; and Liberal Democratic Transparency (LDT) of Uganda. South Sudan Liberal Party (SSLP), a new initiative launched by existing ALN members, Liberal Democratic Party of Sudan, was admitted as an observer pending the resolution of the referendum scheduled to decide the fate of that region in January 2011. Three existing member parties, PLD Angola, UDENA Equatorial Guinea, and UDP Tanzania were disaffiliated from the network for not having participated in recent events or contributed their membership fees.
The ALN meeting coincided with the Executive Committee meeting of Liberal International (LI), the worldwide association of liberal parties, which was held in the South African Parliament buildings in Cape Town. This enabled ALN delegates to interact with important politicians from across the globe such as LI President, Hans van Baalen MEP, and for LI to demonstrate its support for resolutions adopted by the General Assembly. Both events were kindly hosted by the Democratic Alliance, the main opposition party in South Africa, and ruling party in Western Cape Province. The leader of the Democratic Alliance, Helen Zille, welcomed the ALN to Cape Town, and hosted a reception for ALN delegates at her private residence, Leeuwenhof, following the conclusion of their meeting.
ALN delegates were also fortunate enough to meet with DA founding member, Colin Eglin; DA Parliamentary Caucus Leader, Athol Trollip MP; and DA spokesperson, Lindiwe Mazibuko MP.
MEC Robin Carlisle delivered the keynote address focusing on implementing liberal ideals in Government, in light of his experience as Minister for Transport and Public Works in Western Cape. The ALN would like to thank DA Shadow Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Kenneth Mubu MP; DA Shadow Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, Stevens Mokgalapa MP, and DA International Officer, Tim Harris MP, for their valuable contribution to the programme and their participation in the events.
We would like to congratulate all members of the new ALN Executive Committee, but especially those serving for the firs time: Mme Alice Nzomukunda, Présidente of the Alliance Démocratique pour le Renouveau, former Vice-President of the Republic of Burundi; and Mr Clement Stambuli, Director of Campaigns of the United Democratic Front, and former Minister in Malawi.

Lidetu Ayalew, leader of the Ethiopian Democratic Party, was welcomed to London by a delegation led by Robert Woodthorpe Browne, Chairman of the Liberal Democrats International Relations Committee and Vice-President of Liberal International.
Meeting at the National Liberal Club, Ato Lidetu provided a brief summary of the political situation in Ethiopia following the elections earlier this year in which the ruling EPRDF (Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front) secured all but two of the seats in the parliament, wiping out independent opposition parties. The group discussed the findings of a recent Human Rights Watch report on how donor aid contributes to political repression in Ethiopia, an issue which the Liberal Democrats are keen to take up with the UK Government.
Finally, the participants debated ways for the Africa Liberal Network to support the EDP, perhaps through organising a regional meeting in Addis Ababa, and how the Liberal Democrats might be able to use their Westminster Foundation for Democracy programme to contribute to the development of the party.

Delegates from twenty different African liberal parties were represented at the ALN’s second Gender Workshop. This was kindly hosted the Parti Social Libéral in Hammamet, Tunisia from 30 July-2 August with financial support from the Liberal Democrats’ Westminster Foundation for Democracy programme. The participants presented their achievements, difficulties and lessons learnt since their last meeting in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, and debated the best practice for gender mainstreaming on the African continent. On the final day, the participants developed their own action plans for the next twelve months with help from an expert trainer from the Liberal Democrats’ Campaign for Gender Balance.
ALN President and LI Vice-President, Dr Lamine Bâ, congratulated the delegates on their hard work saying that they had taken “important steps towards increasing the participation of women in African politics”. His party’s delegate, Mme Aminata Lo, Minister for Institutions, offered the support of the Parti Démocratique Sénégalais in hosting the follow-up meeting in Dakar, Senegal next year.
The delegates also adopted urgent political resolutions calling for an end to violence against women, especially in the Democratic Republic of Congo, and for the immediate holding of elections in Cote d’Ivoire. Both issues had been deliberated at the ALN General Assembly meeting in the Seychelles, and sadly there has been no visible improvement in either case.
The participants issued a vote of thanks to the hosts, the Parti Social Libéral, particularly Secretary-General Mr Mondher Thabet and the Organisation of Liberal Women of Tunisia. The delegates awarded the inaugural Prize of African Liberal Women to Senegalese President, Maitre Abdoulaye Wade for his progressive reforms in favour of female participation in politics, and they called on others to follow his lead.
Finally, the delegates pledged their continued support for Mme Alice Nzomukunda, President of Alliance Démocratique pour le Renouveau, who had been arrested during the recent elections in Burundi, and continues to act as an example for aspiring female politicians.

From Monday 26 to Thursday 29 July, delegates from twelve ALN members met in Accra, Ghana for training organised by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation. Three further African liberal democratic parties also participated: the Movement for Democratic Change (Zimbabwe); the Orange Democratic Movement (Kenya); and the New Patriotic Party (Ghana). All three have been invited to participate in the ALN General Assembly and Liberal International Executive meeting in Cape Town this November.
NPP National Chairman, Jake Obetsebi-Lamptey, opened the meeting with Liberal International Secretary-General, Emil Kirjas. The participants focused on better acquainting themselves with the political situations in each other’s counties and the different donors working with liberal democratic parties in Africa. They learnt how best to drive issues and utilise regional networks, particularly in relation to tabling parliamentary questions. Finally, the delegates focused on the question of the youth in Africa, with contributions from Bart Woord, President of the International Federation of Liberal Youth (IFLRY), and Sidi Touré, former President of the Organisation of African Liberal Youth (OALY).
The meeting closed with ‘Liberal Thursday’ an initiative run by the FNF office in Accra to bring together progressive Ghanaians from all walks of life. A lively debate was held, with Clement Stambuli, Director of Campaigns at the United Democratic Front (Malawi) representing the Africa Liberal Network in the absence of ALN President, Dr Lamine Bâ. Mr Stambuli spoke of the difficult situation which homosexuals had to endure in his country, and called for African liberals to put an end to this persecution, instead uniting to protect freedom of expression. He was joined on the podium by Hon. Joe Ghartey MP (Chairman of NPP Constitutional, Governance and Legal Affairs Committee), Ms Uta Staschewski (FNF Programme Officer), Ms. Naomi Ichihara Røkkum (IFLRY Vice-President), and Mr Emil Kirjas.

Resolution proposed by the Africa Liberal Network on the Political Situation in Burundi
Proposed by Dr Mamadou Lamine Bâ, President of the Africa Liberal Network; Minister for International Cooperation and Humanitarian Affairs in the Senegalese Government and adopted by the 184th Liberal International Executive Committee meeting in Berlin, Germany on 11-13 June 2010.
The 184th Liberal International Executive Committee:
Regret the atmosphere of intimidation, which marked the municipal elections in Burundi on Monday 24 May;
Recall the allegations of electoral fraud against the Burundian Independent National Electoral Commission (CENI: Commission Électorale Nationale Indépendente);
Reiterate the importance of independent democratic institutions and political and civil rights, cornerstones of a liberal democratic society;
Support the calls from thirteen opposition parties for the municipal elections to be held afresh;
Deplore the decision of the Burundian Minister for the Interior to ban opposition parties from organising meetings during the Presidential election campaign;
Alarmed by the arrest of Mme Alice Nzomukunda, President of the Alliance Démocratique pour le Renouveau-Urunani Rw’Imvugakuri (ADR); former Vice-President of the Republic of Burundi and Vice-President of its National Assembly;
Resolved that Liberal International:
Condemns the interference of the Burundian Government in the election campaign;
Calls for the Minister for the Interior to repeal the prohibition on opposition campaigning;
Expresses solidarity with the detained political prisoners in Burundi;
Calls for the immediate release of all opposition leaders;
Requests that the United Nations Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, urgently address this issue with the Burundian Government;
Resolves all member parties and organisations to make representations to the Burundian Government in support of free and fair elections ahead of upcoming polls.

On the day of the Presidential elections in Burundi, Alice Nzomukunda, leader of ALN member Alliance Démocratique pour le Renouveau, had her opinions published in the Huffington Post, a progressive online newspaper. To read her op-ed, please click here.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/alice-nzomukunda/africas-other-contest_b_628217.html

The Africa Liberal Network held a very successful General Assembly meeting in Victoria, Seychelles from 4-5 December. The meeting was hosted by the Seychelles National Party with financial support from the Liberal Democrats via their Westminster Foundation for Democracy Programme.
Father Wavel Ramkalawan, President of the Seychelles National Party, delivered the opening address, and was subsequently interviewed by the press alongside the ALN President, Dr Lamine Bâ. The leader of the Liberal Democrats, Rt. Hon. Nick Clegg MP, also addressed the delegates by means of video message. The keynote address was delivered by Judge Akua Kuenyehia, former Vice-President of the International Criminal Court.
The delegates welcomed seven new parties to the network, bringing the membership to twenty-four. The new member parties are as follows:
– Burundi – ADR: Alliance Démocratique pour le Renouveau
– Democratic Republic of Congo – ARC: Alliance pour le Renouveau du Congo
– Democratic Republic of Congo – UREC: Union Pour la Reconstruction du Congo
– Guinea – PUL: Parti de l’Unité et de la Liberté
– Mali – PCR: Parti Citoyen pour le Renouveau
– Senegal – PLC/DJ: Parti pour la Liberté et la Citoyenneté / Défar Jikoyi
– Sudan – UDLP: United Democratic Liberal Party
The General Assembly also planned the network’s strategy for 2010 and approved the gender policy document developed by representatives of ALN member parties in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire earlier this year.
The delegates adopted a number of resolutions on the following topics:
– The Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change
– The Ratification of the Rome Statute on the International Criminal Court
– The need for Good Governance in Africa
– The 28 October 2009 elections in Mozambique
– The delayed elections in Côte d’Ivoire
– The political situation in the Republic of Guinea (Conakry)
– The recent resolution of the political impasse in Zanzibar
– The need for serious and credible political reforms in Tanzania ahead of the 2010 elections
– Gender based violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo
– A vote of thanks to Seychelles National Party for organising the meeting and to the the Liberal Democrats’ Westminster Foundation for Democracy Programme for their continued financial support.

The Africa Liberal Network (ALN) study tour titled “Good Governance and the Role of Political Parties”, commenced in Mainz, Germany on 12 September 2009. African liberal party representatives from Morocco, Senegal, Democratic Republic Congo (DRC), Zambia, Malawi, Tanzania, Seychelles, and Madagascar are attending the tour.
The group is being led by Dr Mamadou Lamine Bâ, President of ALN and Vice-President of the Liberal International Bureau. The study tour is a joint initiative by the Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) and the Liberal Democrats whose Westminster Foundation for Democracy programme host the ALN.
In Germany, the delegates were received by the FNF at the International Academy for Leadership Training. The group is scheduled to meet with Dr Wolfgang Gerhardt, Liberal International Vice-President, and Chairman of the Board of Directors of FNF, in his hometown, Wiesbaden. The group will also get the opportunity to interact and observe the election campaign of the Freie Demokratische Partei (FDP), and get the opportunity to attend an election rally where the FDP leader, Mr Guido Westerwelle will be delivering a speech. The elections in Germany are set to take place on 27 September 2009.
The ALN group will then proceed to Bournemouth where they will attend the Liberal Democrats party conference from 19-23 September 2009. The group will learn more about the multiparty system of the United Kingdom and the dynamics of how a party policy is decided.

Fifteen gender representatives from twelve ALN member parties have met in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire to develop a common gender policy paper for the network. This workshop was hosted by the Rassemblement des Républicains, with financial support from the Liberal Democrats Westminster Foundation for Democracy programme. Delegates met at the Hotel Ivotel, Abidjan, between Friday 3 July and Sunday 5 July 2009.
On Saturday 4 July, the ALN held a press conference, which wasbroadcast on Ivorian radio and television. On the panel were Mme KabaYaya Fofana, Vice-President for West Africa, and Executive Committeemember responsible for Gender Issues; ALN President, Dr Lamine Bâ; ALNCoordinator, Nick Branson; and two representatives from theRassemblement des Républicains. The first was Dr Cissé Bacongo,Minister for Higher Education and Scientific Research, and NationalSecretary for Institutional and Legal Matters at the RDR. The secondwas Sidi Touré, Chief of Staff to President Dr Alassane DramaneOuttara, and President of the Organisation of African Liberal Youth.
TheALN President and Coordinator were also fortunate enough to be receivedby RDR President Dr Alassane Dramane Outtara at his home in Abidjanwhere they discussed the progress of his Presidential campaign. Additionally, delegates wereinvited to visit the RDR’s campaign and communications headquarters inAbidjan, where Dr Lamine Bâ was interviewed for radio.
Thegender document itself was generated with the assistance of aconsultant from the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire, MrSiagbé Trah, who facilitated the workshop sessions, with translationprovided by Ms Aïsitou Diallo. The full document incorporatedsuggestions from all ALN member parties and is available below.
The delegates also nominated aGender Focal Point for each region of Africa to lead with theimplementation of the gender policy, they are as follows:
Northern Africa: Raoudha Seybi, Parti Social Libéral, Tunisia
Western Africa: Kaba Yaya Fofana, Rassemblement des Républicains, Côte d’Ivoire
Southern Africa & Islands: Lindiwe Desiré Mazibuko, Democratic Alliance, South Africa
Central and Eastern Africa: Ashura Mustapha, Civic United Front, Tanzania