Resolutions taken at the 2014 ALN General Assembly

WEST AFRICA
SENEGAL

1. The ALN is concerned about the freedom and human rights situation in Senegal. It supports all political and civil society organisations working towards the principle of and respect for the separation of powers and independence of the judiciary.
2. The ALN condemns any form of manipulation of justice and the setting up of exceptional (emergency/special) courts. At the same time, the ALN denounces the failure of the Senegal government to respect the decision of the ECOWAS Court of Justice in the case between the State of Senegal and certain liberal senior political leaders banned from leaving the country.

MALI

1. The ALN supports the resolutions of the United Nations, the African Union and ECOWAS in favour of the non-partition of Mali.
2. The ALN calls upon armed groups to lay down their arms.
3. The ALN denounces and condemns all forms of terrorism in Northern Mali.
4. The ALN encourages and supports the negotiations underway in Algeria with the support of the international community.

BURKINA FASO
With respect to Burkina Faso, the Africa Liberal Network states that:

1. The Network has never supported the constitutional amendments recently proposed in Burkina Faso in order to extend the number of terms of former president Compaoré.
2. The Network urges the transitional movement to restore the rule of law in Burkina Faso, and to organise elections within 12 months.
3. The Network rejects any form of violence perpetrated against any individuals in Burkina Faso, and upholds the right to conduct peaceful protests.
4. The Network calls on all individuals and political parties to ensure that there are free and fair elections held in an open and competitive environment.

CENTRAL AFRICA DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
–          Given the resolution taken in Kinshasa by the Africa Liberal Network in 2011, in the context of the Senegalese crisis, to launch an appeal to President Abdoulaye WADE not to run for a third term of office;
–          Given the resolution taken by the Africa Liberal Network in Ouagadougou on 14 March 2014 on the issue of democratic governance in Africa: reflections on democratic transition and the changeover of power; In the light of the foregoing the Africa Liberal Network:

1. urges the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and the members of the National Assembly not to review the inviolable articles of the Constitution born of the popular referendum of 2006;
2. the Africa Liberal Network encourages the Congolese government to preserve the democratic gains and progress achieved, guaranteeing sustainable peace for the integral development of the DRC.
3. The Network urges the Government of Congo and MONUSCO to take action to end the massacres occurring in the East of the country.

  BURUNDI

1. The Network expresses deep concern about the safety of political leaders in Burundi.
2. We urge all political stakeholders to ensure there is a peaceful electoral process in Burundi.

EAST AFRICA
SUDAN
Taking into consideration the complexity of the situation in Sudan and the need for a peaceful transformation in the country from a one party system to a multi-party democracy, the Africa Liberal Network:

1. Urges the Sudanese parties to end all armed conflicts and declare a permanent ceasefire in the war zones;
2. Urges the Sudanese government to release all political detainees and prisoners and guarantee the basic freedoms of speech, association and political activity;
3. Calls for a democratic, fair and peaceful elections in which all parties have the same chances and opportunities;
4. Endorses the efforts of liberal parties in Sudan to contest elections under a unified presidential candidate;
5. Calls for the involvement of the international community in the elections in support of a peaceful and fair process.

 
SOUTHERN AFRICA
MADAGASCAR

1. The ALN congratulates Madagascar on the successful holding of its elections and encourages the process set in motion to bring an end to the crisis.

  AFRICA AS WHOLE

1. The ALN is concerned by the health situation prevailing in certain African countries faced with the Ebola epidemic. It expresses its solidarity with the people and hopes that this disease will be swiftly eradicated in all the countries concerned thanks to the efforts currently underway with the support of the international community, which it welcomes.
2. With regard to forthcoming elections, the ALN called for vigilance by the international community and all friends of Africa, particularly in deploying a maximum number of electoral observers in order to ensure that the electoral process is not marred by any irregularity and that the voting process is sincere, peaceful and credible.
3. The ALN urges member parties to promote consultation and dialogue between liberals within the same country with a view to defining common strategies to win and exercise state power.
4. The ALN calls on liberal parties to draw inspiration from African success stories with regard to the process of gaining and exercising state power, in particular in Côte d’Ivoire and in the province of the Western Cape in South Africa, in order to define and implement liberal good governance policies, the guarantors of stability and prosperity.
5. The Africa Liberal Network endorses all of the Network’s members that are contesting elections in 2015 in their respective countries and wishes them luck for their campaigns.
6. The Network calls for the oversight of the international community to ensure all elections held across Africa in 2015 are open, free and fair.  

SPECIAL RESOLUTION ON GOMOLEMO MOTSWALEDI
The Africa Liberal Network notes with immense sadness the tragic passing away in August 2014 of Gomolemo Motswaledi, the ALN Vice President for Southern Africa, who was also the President of the Botswana Movement for Democracy. We recognise Gomolemo as a political leader who worked tirelessly to advance his vision of a Botswana and Africa in which every person is free and equal and able to live the life they choose. His loss is a deep one for his family, party, Botswana, Africa and indeed the world.
The General Assembly hereby resolves:

1. To recognise with gratitude and honour the role that Gomolemo played in the Africa Liberal Network as its Vice President for Southern Africa.
2. To recognise the central role that Gomolemo played in historically uniting the opposition in Botswana to form the Umbrella for Democratic Change.
3. To congratulate the Umbrella for Democratic Change on winning 17 parliamentary seats in the October 2014 election and the party’s new status as the official opposition in Botswana.
4. The Network will introduce a special annual prize named the Gomolemo Motswaledi award that will be given to an exceptional young liberal leader in Africa by agreement of the General Assembly.