The Africa Liberal Network is excited to announce the launch of its new Women’s Leadership Programme, in partnership with the UK Liberal Democrats and Westminster Foundation for Democracy. The programme, open to women politicians from all ALN member parties, will provide participants with additional knowledge, skills and tailored support to advance as candidates and into leadership roles.
Applications for the 2019 programme are now open  and we warmly invite aspiring women leaders from across the Africa Liberal Network to apply.
The programme, designed for candidates intending to run for local or general elections in 2019, 2020 or 2021, will include three two-day training workshops spread out over 9 months. The first will take place in Marrakech, Morocco from 6^th-7^th March, ahead of the ALN General Assembly. The programme will also include a mentoring scheme whereby participants will be paired with an experienced political actor to provide tailored advice and support. The training will cover a range of topics, from campaigning and voter contact models to social media, fundraising and much more, helping equip participants with the tools they need to successfully contest party nominations and elected positions.
For more information about this important opportunity, including training dates, curriculum and applicant eligibility, please read the attached programme brochure.
To apply, please complete the attached application form and return to adele.poskitt@parliament.uk. The deadline for applications is 17^th February 2019.
Application Form English
Brochure English
Application Form French
Brochure French
 
 
Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions about the programme or application process.

Africa Liberal Network statement by
Olivier Kamitatu 
Africa Liberal Network President
ALN condemns alleged AU proposal to withdraw from the ICC
 
26 February 2016
 
The Africa Liberal Network (ALN), the largest political network on the continent consisting of 47 political parties, is deeply concerned over the outcome of the recent African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa regarding the matters of alleged withdrawal from the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the ongoing crisis in Burundi.
We strongly denounce the alleged proposal from the AU to encourage its member states to withdraw from the ICC simply to protect the selfish political interests of a few. The ICC is an established institution to which one-third of African states are members, having ratified the Rome Statute in their respective legislatures. It would, therefore, be unconstitutional in many instances to withdraw from the ICC.
The ALN strongly maintains its position adopted at the Network’s 10^th General Assembly in Zanzibar: we encourage full cooperation with the ICC and encourage the fight against impunity and all abuses of human rights. The ICC remains a credible institution through which these goals can be achieved.
The ALN urges the AU to remain firm and committed to the fight against impunity so that the history of oppression and violence may be stamped out from the continent and serve as a warning to those who seek to perpetrate violence against citizens. The ALN and its members believe that justice must be served against those who have committed crimes against humanity, displaced individuals and families, destroyed communities and villages, and led mass murders and genocides.
It is an injustice against the people of Africa for any state to withdraw from the ICC.
The ALN moreover calls for urgent intervention in the ongoing crisis in Burundi. We hold that the important work of the ICC is necessary in order to safeguard the lives of many thousands of Burundians. The AU and the ICC should be working in cooperation to ensure protection and justice for all Africans, which includes the possibility of AU troops on the ground in Burundi.
 
This is a time where the people of Burundi need the support of their fellow Africans. The AU is the vehicle through which we ought to support the innocent and bring an end to the violence through all diplomatic means. The loss of life in Burundi is an atrocity for the entire continent and cannot be accepted. The ALN’s position on the crisis in Burundi is found in a resolution passed at our recent General Assembly in Johannesburg, South Africa.
 
The ALN calls for the AU to lead the struggle against impunity by encouraging members to commit to and cooperate with the ICC.
 
Media enquiries:
Luke Akal
Africa Liberal Network Coordinator
+27 (0)81 481 3754

The following article originally appeared in the Liberal Democrat Voice and can be found here
 
The Liberal Democrats have had a strong and flourishing relationship with the South African Democratic Alliance (DA) for many years, and we continue to work together through the Africa Liberal Network (ALN) and the Young Leaders Programme. In this series of profiles of our liberal sister-parties overseas, Luke Akal, ALN Coordinator, gives an account of the DA:
On 27-30 January this year, the 13^th annual Africa Liberal Network (ALN) General Assembly is being held in Johannesburg, hosted by South African member party, the Democratic Alliance (DA). The DA is a shining light of liberalism on the African continent and, as the main opposition party in South Africa, is an inspiring model for liberal parties around the world.
Since its establishment, the DA has increased its vote share in every election, going from 12% in 2004 to 22% in 2014, gaining 89 MPs and becoming the main opposition party. In 2009, the DA gained power in the Western Cape province, giving the party an opportunity to deliver on its promises. Over the past 6 years, the Western Cape has seen an impressive decrease in crime, as well as improvement in infrastructure, and demonstrating that the DA is a safe pair of hands in government.
Last year the DA launched ‘Vision 2029’, an ambitious plan to become the ruling government party by the end of the next decade. With the ruling African National Congress (ANC)’s failure to tackle staggering levels of inequality, crime, unemployment and the legacy of apartheid, and the recent crisis in which President Jacob Zuma was forced to appoint his third finance minister within a week, the need for a change of government in South Africa is clearer than ever.
The DA has achieved its impressive growth by running on an unapologetically liberal platform, in stark contrast to the uninspiring and corrupt leadership of Zuma’s ANC. They advocate an ‘Open Opportunity Society for All‘ in which all people, regardless of gender, race or sexuality, are empowered to live their lives, pursue their dreams and develop their full potential.  They stand for a free market economy, in which the role of the government is to provide every citizen with a minimum basic standard of quality services and resources, and have ambitions to significantly extend access to education and health care, tackle the HIV-AIDS crisis and address South Africa’s dangerous carbon footprint through green energy and environmental policies.
At the core of its success is the DA’s unique investment in its youth. Through its Young Leaders Programme, supported by the Liberal Democrat International Office, the DA organises a series of retreats for a group of young members within the party every year, and provides them with mentorship and training in leadership skills, with the long-term goal of empowering the next generation of leaders both within the party and in the country. Alumni from the programme have gone on to become activists, councillors and MPs, and are undoubtedly the future leadership of the party.
The DA faces challenges ahead, with the rise of the Economic Freedom Fighters, a political party exploiting the prevalence of poverty and unemployment and advocating a politics based on division, blame and hatred. But with continued commitment to the principles of liberalism, the DA is well placed to become the future government of South Africa.
The DA is the most diverse party in South Africa, now well-recognised and progressed under the leadership of MP Mmusi Maimane. Maimane, as a previous mayoral and premier candidate for the DA, will address the ALN’s General Assembly on Friday 29 January 2016 on the topic of Principles for Liberal leadership: Shaping the Africa of our dreams. He will address the audience along with the ALN’s President, Olivier Kamitatu.
This year, the ALN General Assembly focuses on the theme “Winning Elections: Strategies, Policies and Solutions for Success”. The ALN’s 44 member parties, from across the African continent, will gather in Johannesburg to share experiences and strategies on how to win elections and achieve liberal governments in their home countries. With the DA gaining ground in South African politics every year, we cannot think of a more appropriate host for this event!
Mmusi Maimane, Leader of the DA, said:

It is our goal to build a South African society based on the core values of Freedom, Fairness and Opportunity for all, where no child is left behind because of the circumstances of their birth. The DA is committed to building a political home for all our people, uniting South Africans around shared values, and ensuring that every single South African has a voice and a say in the future of our nation. 
It is an honour for the DA to be hosting this year’s Africa Liberal Network General Assembly. Internationalism and liberalism go hand-in-hand and we cherish the opportunity to meet and work with our fellow African liberals to help usher Africa into a brighter, more liberal future.

The Africa Liberal Network (ALN) is pleased to announce that our next General Assembly will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, from 27-31 January 2016. The event is hosted in partnership and collaboration with the Liberal Democrats and the Friederich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF).
Our theme for the upcoming conference will centre on:
Winning Elections: Strategies, Policies, and Solutions for Success
Through this theme, the plenary and breakaway sessions will focus on specific issues, practices and models for the growth of our liberal member parties.
We aim to empower and prepare fellow African liberals for future elections. It is also an opportunity to share experiences and expertise, such as in writing party manifestos as a tool for policy development and winning elections. The related topics of coalition preparation and building, policies, communications, ground support and the involvement of youth form part of the General Assembly’s theme.
Applications to attend the General Assembly are now open.
 
For more information, please contact Luke Akal on luke.akal@africaliberalnetwork.org