Déclaration conjointe du Réseau Libéral Africain (RLA) et de la Fondation Friedrich Naumann pour la Liberté (FNF)

Depuis Mars 2020, l’Honorable Soumaila Cissé est retenu en otage par un groupe armé, suite à une opération d’enlèvement ciblée qui aura fait une victime et des blessés parmi les membres de sa délégation.

• Considérant que « l’avènement d’un monde où les êtres humains seront libres de parler et de croire, libérés de la terreur et de la misère, a été proclamé comme la plus haute aspiration de l’homme » (Déclaration universelle des droits de l’homme, DUDH – Préambule);
• Considérant que le droit à la vie est le premier des droits de l’homme, celui qui conditionne la jouissance de tous les autres et ayant pour corollaire immédiat le droit à l’intégrité physique et morale (Charte Africaine des Droits de l’Homme et des Peuples, Art. 4);
• Rappelant que tout individu a droit à la vie, à la liberté et à la sûreté de sa personne (DUDH, Art. 3);
• Rappelant que nul ne peut être arbitrairement arrêté, détenu ni exilé (DUDH, Art. 9);
• Réaffirmant leur profond attachement aux libertés et droits fondamentaux de la personne humaine contenus dans les instruments juridiques nationaux, régionaux et internationaux;
• Déplorant la récurrence des attaques et enlèvements perpétrés par des groupes armés extrémistes au Mali et dans le Sahel, rendant la situation sécuritaire plus que jamais préoccupante et inquiétante;
• Fermement convaincus que la protection des libertés et des droits fondamentaux constitue une garantie pour la stabilité et la paix, préalables à la construction et à la prospérité de toute nation;

Le RLA et la FNF condamnent vigoureusement et avec la dernière énergie cet acte brutal illégal et inopportun sur l’Honorable Soumaila Cissé, figure emblématique du Mali et de l’Afrique;

Le RLA et la FNF présentent leurs condoléances les plus attristées à la famille du défunt et souhaitent prompt rétablissement aux blessés victimes d’agression physique;

En cette pénible circonstance, le RLA et la FNF témoignent leur solidarité agissante à sa famille politique l’URD;

Nos pensées vont à l’endroit de son épouse et de sa famille à qui nous exprimons notre profonde et sincère compassion ainsi que notre solidarité;

Le RLA et la FNF demandent la libération immédiate, sans condition et sans délai de l’Honorable Soumaila Cissé;

Le RLA et la FNF remercient le Gouvernement Malien et la MINUSMA à qui ils expriment leur profonde gratitude et leur reconnaissance pour leur engagement et les efforts consentis, en vue d’obtenir la libération de l’Honorable Soumaila Cissé;

Le RLA et la FNF lancent un appel solennel au Gouvernement malien, principalement au Président Ibrahim Boubacar KEITA, à la communauté internationale et à tous les Africains épris de paix et de justice, pour une plus forte implication, en vue d’un dénouement heureux.

Me Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo et Dr Joachim Holden

Président du Réseau Libéral Africain et Directeur Rég. Afrique de l’Ouest

LIVE Webinar on Facebook 27 May 2020 (Wednesday), 10:00 – 11:00 GMT/ 12:00 – 13:00 (South Africa)/ 18:00 – 19:00 (Taiwan)

Background

Social innovation, defined as “people’s participation from all walks of life in order to benefit society”, is said to be cornerstone of Taiwan’s collective intelligence.  The country’s successful response to the COVID-19 pandemic, with less than 500 confirmed cases and 6 deaths in a country of 23 million people, also largely hinges on people’s access to, and use of, reliable and credible information.

With an almost universal internet, mobile phone and cable TV penetration, Taiwan has been able to successfully engage its population to be part of the solution to both enduring and emerging societal problems, including the COVID-19 health crisis. Taking this into account, the question arises whether digital social innovation can work in contexts where there is less developed technological or digital infrastructure. Sub-Saharan Africa serves as a case in point.

According to the 2018 survey of a US-based think tank Pew Research Center, Sub-Saharan Africa has a lower level of internet use than any other geographic region. The GSM Association, an industry organization that represents the interests of mobile network operators worldwide, also reported in 2019 that mobile internet in the region is only at 24%.  Part of the reason for this low penetration, is the high cost of the internet, with the Alliance for Affordable Internet reporting that African consumers are paying some of the highest rates in the world for internet access as a proportion of income.

Apart from access to digital technology, there are other contextual issues in the region that may impinge on digital social innovation.  The key findings of the Africa Liberal Network (ALN) and Friedrich Naumann Foundation (FNF) Sub-Saharan Africa’s “Freedom and COVID-19 Survey” conducted on April/May 2020 provide a glimpse of those issues:

• 92% of Africans support restrictive measures to control the spread of COVID-19, although a sizeable 40% sees them as a risk to individual freedoms;
• 62% of Africans (in East Africa even 71%) are prepared to give up some or many of their freedoms for a longer period of time to get the virus under control;
• 65% of Africans (in East Africa, this goes to 71% and in Southern Africa to 77%) believe that the virus is especially risky in Africa because “health systems have suffered from corruption and dishonest government”;
• 60% of Africans do not think that all the news about the virus are correct and take the news with a pinch of salt;
• 15% of Africans trust their government more than before the pandemic, whereas 16% trust their government less than before; 11% trust their government completely anyhow, 41% only up to a point, and 15% simply never trusted their government and “still don’t”; and
• 28% of Africans were and still are in favor of strong government control on freedoms, another and 14% are now more in favor of such controls; 34% always did and still do support maximum individual freedoms, and another 16% said that “the crisis has made clear how terrible it is when the government takes citizens’ freedoms away to organize their own lives”.

Taking these issues into account, ALN and the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats (CALD), in cooperation with FNF Sub-Saharan Africa, are planning to organize a one-hour interactive webinar entitled “Can Digital Social Innovation Work in Sub-Saharan Africa: Drawing Lessons from Taiwan’s Successful Pandemic Response”.  In particular, the webinar hopes to address the following questions:

• What are the key characteristics of Taiwan’s digital social innovation, particularly in relation to the country’s pandemic response?;
• Would digital social innovation work in Sub-Saharan Africa? What could be the possible innovations or changes to make it work in the African context?; and
• How can Sub-Saharan Africa use digital social innovation to improve its pandemic response?

Speakers:
Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo – Africa Liberal Network President;
Hakima Elhaité – Liberal International President

Keynote Address:
Audrey Tang – Digital Minister, Taiwan

Moderated by:
Jules Maaten – Freedom Foundation Africa, Regional Director

Dear members, dear colleagues

Greetings to all and my wishes of good health for you, your families and loved ones.

Please allow me first to have a special thought for our Muslim colleagues for this month of Ramadan which is ending in a worrisome global health context.

As we prepare to celebrate Eid el Fitr, I would like to invite you to remember our colleague Soumaïla Cisse, Leader of the Malian Opposition, President of the political party Union pour la République et la Démocratie (URD). Abducted since Wednesday March 25, 2020 while he was campaigning for the legislative elections, Mr. Cisse remains to this day, the only one in captivity as all the members of his delegation have been released. To his family and loved ones, we renew our commitment to continuously contribute to all the efforts made for the safe return of Mr. Cisse.

I would also like to share the gratitude of the Africa Liberal Network to all those in Africa and around the world who continue to express various support during this ordeal. I remain convinced that these efforts will not be in vain and will undoubtedly lead us to a happy outcome.

To all, I express the hope that this sacred month which is about to end brings health, joy, peace, serenity and prosperity.

Ramadan Mubarak

Maître Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo

President, Africa Liberal Network

The Africa Liberal Network has received with sadness, the horrific news of three young women who were found seriously injured and traumatized in Zimbabwe.

The three women who were reported missing are members of the Zimbabwean opposition party, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

The Honourable Joannah Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova were found severely beaten and abandoned in Muchapondwa shops in Musana, South Bindura.

They were all in a very alarming physical condition and had been subjected to horrific torture and abuse.

Honourable Mamombe and Netsai Marova are having difficulty walking while Cecilia Chimbiri complained of severe head pain. They have been taken to a medical facility in the presence of their lawyers and the police.

They are severely traumatized.

Ellea tells horrific stories of abuse and humiliation, including being forced to eat excrement.

The Africa Liberal Network denounces violence in all its forms, especially gender-based violence and the abuse of women and children.

As a network, we demand that law enforcement officials carry out a thorough investigation into this incident in order to identify the perpetrators and punish them in accordance with the law. We urge them to ensure the protection of all citizens from such abuses.

By: Mr Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo
President, African Liberal Network

Le soutien aux mesures restrictives pour contrôler la propagation du virus Covid-19 est largement répandu en Afrique, cependant la nécessité de sauvegarde des libertés suscite une forte préoccupation.

Les Africains sont fortement divisés sur l’interventionniste du gouvernement dans les libertés économiques et les libertés civiles, ils ne blâment toutefois pas la mondialisation et le libre-échange comme responsables de la crise sanitaire mondiale, et sont par contre en colère contre la corruption et la mauvaise gouvernance qui mettent en danger les systèmes de santé. Il existe des différences régionales importantes, où par exemple les populations d’Afrique Australe sont plus sceptiques vis-à-vis de leurs gouvernements. Aussi, les jeunes Africains sont davantage favorables à des contrôles gouvernementaux plus forts.

Il y a un large soutien à travers le continent africain que pour contrôler la propagation du virus Covid-19, des mesures restrictives devraient être prises. 92% des Africains soutiennent de telles mesures, les femmes (95%) encore plus que les hommes (90%) et les Africains de l’Est encore plus (96%). En effet, la moitié des Africains non seulement soutiennent les mesures, mais croient également qu’elles ont des effets bénéfiques sur la société, alors qu’un pourcentage important de 40% soutiennent les mesures mais les considèrent comme un risque pour les libertés individuelles. 7% pensent par contre que les mesures vont trop loin et mettent inutilement ces libertés en danger, et à peine 1% pensent que les mesures ne sont pas du tout nécessaires.

C’est moins le cas en Afrique australe, où seulement 32% voient des effets bénéfiques sur la société, 47% voient un risque pour les libertés et 14% trouvent les mesures allant trop loin.

Ces données sont le résultat d’un sondage réalisé auprès de 1200 participants volontaires à travers l’Afrique par le Réseau Libéral Africain (RLA) et la Fondation Friedrich Naumann pour la Liberté (FNF), entre le 16 et 30 Avril 2020. L’enquête a couvert 36 des 54 pays africains.

L’enquête montre que 62% des Africains (en Afrique de l’Est même 71%) sont prêts à renoncer à une partie ou à plusieurs de leurs libertés pour une période plus longue afin de maîtriser le virus (femmes 70%, hommes 58%), alors que 32% sont prêts à le faire pendant quelques semaines tout au plus, et 4% pas du tout.

C’est peut-être le cas, car 65% des Africains pensent que le virus est particulièrement risqué en Afrique, parce que «les systèmes de santé ont souffert de la corruption et d’un gouvernement malhonnête» (en Afrique de l’Est, ce chiffre monte à 71%, il est de 62% en Afrique de l’Ouest et en Afrique australe à 77% ). En revanche, 21% pensent qu’il est exagéré de le dire et 11% sont en désaccord.

En ce qui concerne les causes du virus en Afrique, moins d’un quart (23%) pointe du doigt la mondialisation et le libre-échange et estime par contre que les frontières devraient rester fermées pour mieux contrôler la propagation du virus (en Afrique de l’Ouest encore moins, seulement 19% accusent l’économie de marché, mais en Afrique de l’Est, c’est 38%). 32% pensent qu’il est exagéré de blâmer les marchés ouverts, et 41% (en Afrique australe 48%) ne sont pas du tout d’accord avec les accusations contre la mondialisation et le libre-échange. Et sont favorables pour l’ouverture des frontières.

Entre autres résultats, les Africains voient beaucoup de fausses informations autour de cette crise sanitaire. Un peu plus du quart (27%) pense que toutes les informations sur le virus sont correctes, alors que 60% ne le pensent pas et prennent les informations avec des pincettes. 8% pensent même que la plupart des informations sont fausses et créent inutilement la panique.

La crise a-t-elle renforcée la confiance des Africains dans leurs gouvernements? Une forte disparité dans le jugement. Depuis le début de la crise, 15% font davantage confiance à leur gouvernement qu’auparavant, tandis que 16% font moins confiance à leur gouvernement qu’auparavant. À peu près 11% font entièrement confiance à leur gouvernement, 41% seulement jusqu’à un certain point, et 15% n’ont tout simplement jamais fait confiance à leur gouvernement (« n’ont toujours pas »).

En Afrique australe, les gouvernements ont fait pire dans la gestion de la crise: alors que 15% font plus confiance à leur gouvernement qu’auparavant, 25% leur font moins confiance. Les femmes sont plus sceptiques vis-à-vis de leur gouvernement que les hommes.

Y a-t-il des effets positifs de la crise? Près de neuf Africains sur dix voient un effet positif sur l’environnement, plus d’un tiers (34%, parmi les femmes même 39%) y voient un « changement bienvenu », alors que 53% reconnaissent l’effet positif mais croient que l’impact négatif sur la santé publique et l’économie est plus important que l’effet positif sur l’environnement. Un quart (27%) des Africains voient émerger une «société plus aimable» en raison de la crise, un autre quart (25%) ne le voit pas du tout, alors que 44% conviennent qu’il y a un effet positif sur les relations sociales mais constate que les effets négatifs sur la santé publique et l’économie sont plus importants.

La crise a-t-elle changé l’opinion sur l’intervention du gouvernement dans l’économie? 39% étaient de toute façon en faveur de l’intervention du gouvernement, et 17% sont désormais plus convaincus qu’auparavant que c’est une bonne chose, par exemple dans l’organisation de la santé publique et d’autres réglementations qui protègent les groupes défavorisés. 25% étaient toujours opposés à une trop grande intervention du gouvernement, et ils sont rejoints par 15% qui sont maintenant plus sceptiques qu’auparavant car bon nombre des effets négatifs de la crise ont été causés par la gouvernement (mauvaise gestion du système de santé, limitations du commerce). C’est très différent en Afrique australe, où seulement 18% soutiennent l’intervention du gouvernement, avec 8% maintenant en plus, tandis que 42% étaient toujours opposés et sont maintenant rejoints par 29% supplémentaires. L’inverse est vrai en Afrique de l’Ouest, où plus de la moitié (53%) étaient toujours en faveur de l’intervention du gouvernement (désormais rejointe par 15% supplémentaires) et seulement 15% (désormais rejointe par 9% supplémentaires) s’y étaient opposés. Chez les jeunes, le soutien à l’intervention gouvernementale est fort (44%, plus 17% de nouveaux convaincus), chez les hommes (59%), il y a plus de soutien à l’intervention gouvernementale que chez les femmes (48%).

Enfin, la crise a-t-elle modifié l’opinion sur les libertés individuelles, telles que la liberté de circulation, la liberté de réunion et la liberté de la presse? 28% étaient et sont toujours en faveur d’un contrôle gouvernemental fort sur les libertés, et en plus de cela, 14% sont davantage en faveur de tels contrôles, car «si vous permettez aux gens de faire ce qu’ils veulent, vous vous retrouvez avec des crises telles que Covid19 ». D’un autre côté, 34% ont toujours soutenu et soutiennent toujours le maximum de libertés individuelles, et ils sont rejoints par 16% supplémentaires parce que «la crise a montré à quel point elle est terrible lorsque le gouvernement prive les citoyens de libertés pour organiser leur propre vie». Ici aussi, la situation est différente en Afrique australe, où 18% et 6% de plus (nouveau) soutiennent un contrôle gouvernemental fort sur les libertés, alors que 45% ne l’ont jamais fait et sont rejoints par 25% supplémentaires. En Afrique de l’Est, les partisans et les opposants à un contrôle gouvernemental fort sont également équilibrés (26% chacun), mais 28% sont désormais plus convaincus de ces contrôles et 15% de moins. En Afrique de l’Ouest aussi, les partisans et les opposants à un contrôle gouvernemental fort se tiennent (31% chacun). Parmi les jeunes, 32% soutiennent un contrôle fort et 30% ne le font pas, mais 19% en sont désormais plus convaincus alors que 13% ne le sont pas.

Gilbert Ouédraogo & Jules Maaten

Président du Réseau Libéral Africain (RLA)
et Directeur Régional et la Fondation Friedrich Naumann pour la Liberté (FNF)

Support for the anti-virus measures is widespread across Africa, but there are concerns about the safeguarding of freedoms. Africans are sharply divided over government intrusion in economic freedoms and civil liberties, they don’t blame the crisis on globalization and free trade, and they are angry about corruption and dishonest government putting health systems at risk. There are substantial regional differences, with southern Africans more sceptical about their governments. Young Africans are more on the side of strong government controls.

There is wide backing across the African continent that in order to control the corona-virus Covid-19 restrictive measures have to be taken. 92% of Africans support such measures, women (95%) even more than men (90%), and East Africans even 96%. In fact, half of all Africans do not only support the measures, but also believe that they have beneficial effects on society, whereas a sizeable 40% support the measures yet sees them as a risk to individual freedoms. 7% believe that the measures go too far and unnecessarily put those freedoms at risk, and a mere 1% believes the measures aren’t necessary at all.

This is less the case in southern Africa, where only 32% see beneficial effects on society, 47% see a risk to freedoms and 14% find the measures going too far.

This is the outcome of a survey held amongst 1200 respondents across Africa by the Africa Liberal Network (ALN) and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF), between April 16th and May 3rd, 2020. The survey covered 36 out of 54 African countries.

The survey shows that 62% of Africans (in East Africa even 71%) are prepared to give up some or many of their freedoms for a longer period of time to get the virus under control (women 70%, men 58%), whereas 32% is prepared to do so for a few weeks at the most, and 4% not at all.

This may well be, because 65% of Africans believe that the virus is especially risky in Africa, because “health systems have suffered from corruption and dishonest government” (in East Africa this figure goes up to 71% and in southern Africa to 77%). On the other hand 21% believe that it is an exaggeration to say so, and 11% disagree.

As regards the causes of the virus in Africa, less than a quarter (23%) points the finger at globalization and free trade and believes that borders should remain closed (in West Africa even less, only 19%, but in East Africa 38%). 32% believes that it is exaggerated to blame open markets, and 41% (in southern Africa 48%) disagree completely that that is where the blame lies.

Amongst other results, Africans see much fake news around. Just over a quarter (27%) believes that all the news about the virus is correct, whereas 60% does not think so and takes the news with a pinch of salt. 8% even believes that most of the news is fake and merely unnecessary creates panic.

Has the crisis enhanced the trust that Africans have in their governments? The jury is out on that one. Since the crisis began 15% trust their government more than before, whereas 16% trust their government less than before. Just about 11% trust their government completely anyhow, 41% only up to a point, and 15% simply never trusted their government “still don’t”. In Southern Africa governments have done worse: whereas 15% trust their government more than before, 25% now trust them less. Women are more sceptical about their governments than men.

Are there positive effects of the crisis? Nearly nine out of ten Africans see a positive effect on the environment, more than a third (34%, amongst women even 39%) sees that as a “welcome change”, whereas 53% acknowledges the positive effect but believes that the negative impact on public health and on the economy is more important than the positive effect on the environment. A quarter (27%) of Africans see a “kinder society” emerge due to the crisis, another quarter (25%) doesn’t see that at all, whereas 44% agrees that there is a positive effect on social relations but finds that the negative effects on public health and on the economy are more important.

Has the crisis changed the opinion about government intervention in the economy? 39% were anyhow in favor of the government intervening, and another 17% are now more convinced than before that this is a good thing for example in organizing public health and other regulations that protect disadvantaged groups. 25% were always opposed to too much government intervention, and they are joined by another 15% who are now more sceptical than before since many of the negative effects of the crisis (mismanagement of the health system, limitations on trading) were caused by the government. This is very different in Southern Africa, where only 18% back government intervention, with another 8% now on top, whereas 42% were always opposed and are now joined by another 29%. The opposite is true in West Africa, where more than half (53%) were always in favor of government intervention (now joined by another 15%) and only 15% (now joined by another 9%) opposed. Amongst young people the support for government intervention is strong (44%, plus another 17% newly convinced), amongst men (59%) there is more support for government intervention than amongst women (48%).

And, finally, has the crisis changed the opinion on individual freedoms, such as freedom of movement, freedom of assembly and freedom of the press? 28% were and still are in favor of strong government control on freedoms, and on top of that another 14% are now more in favor of such controls, because “if you allow people to do as they like you end up with crises such as Covid-19”. On the other hand 34% always did and still do support maximum individual freedoms, and they are joined by another 16% because “the crisis has made clear how terrible it is when the government takes citizens’ freedoms away to organise their own lives”. Here, too, the situation is different in Southern Africa, where 18% plus a new 6% back strong government control on freedoms, whereas 45% never did and are joined by another 25%. In East Africa though proponents and opponents of strong government control are evenly balanced (26% each), but another 28% are now more convinced of such controls and another 15% less. Amongst young people 32% back strong control and 30% doesn’t, but another 19% is now more convinced of it whereas 13% isn’t.

Gilbert Ouédraogo & Jules Maaten

Dear members, dear colleagues

Greetings to all and my wishes of good health for you, your families and loved ones.

I would like to first, express my gratitude to all for the confidence placed upon me and the board members during the 16th General Assembly of the Africa Liberal Network held in Ouagadougou from 13 to 15 February 2020, under the theme “Peace and Stability for Social and Economic Development in Africa”. I would like to reiterate my commitment to work tirelessly, with the current board members, and the support of all, to continually deserve this confidence and achieve a successful mandate.

I would like to wish our Muslim brothers and sisters a happy month of Ramadan. May Allah the merciful in his grace answer our prayers. On this commemorative date, I would also like to wish to all the workers in our network, a happy Labor Day.

The beginning of our mandate was impacted by the current health crisis faced by our countries, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. My sincere condolences to the members who have lost their loved ones and wish everyone who is suffering a quick recovery.

As you know, this unexpected health crisis has impacted the launch of our activities. However, we successfully reorganized and adapted to this new context. As a result, a decision was made to hold our meetings via video conference. We continue to assess the possibility to take advantage of the new technologies for the implementation of our activities and remain open to any ideas and suggestions. We continue to regularly assess the situation and follow the development of the pandemic, its consequences on our daily lives and its impact on freedoms across the continent. In this regard, a survey was launched in collaboration with our traditional partner the Friedrich Naumann Foundation Africa (FNF), whom we thank for the continuous support. We also signed with the President of the Liberal International, a note on the contribution of telephone operators in the fight against Covid-19.

Let us not forget the abduction case of one of our members, the Leader of the Malian Opposition, Mr. Soumaïla Cisse, President of the party Union pour la République et la Démocratie (URD). In order to combine efforts for a solution, we discussed with the Liberal International Human Rights Committee, as well as the European Union. We continue to hope for his return soon.

Regarding the political situation in Guinea, we have published several statements denouncing cases of human rights violations as well as the combined constitutional and legislative election which was boycotted by the opposition. We continue to follow the developments in this country.

The challenges which we are facing due to the ongoing situation must inspire us to work for a more united Africa. Thank you for your commitment to liberalism and the promotion of good governance in our countries.

Maître Gilbert Noël Ouédraogo
President, Africa Liberal Network

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.

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