Submitted by: APR (Senegal) 

Recalling 

• Liberal International’s policies regarding West Africa, including the positions expressed in the 75th Congress Resolutions “Rebuilding a Liberal World” and “The World Today”  
• The importance that West African liberals have traditionally played in the international liberal family, including hosting the only LI Congresses in sub-Saharan Africa, namely in Dakar (2003, 2018) and in Abidjan in 2012 

Expressing  

• Its grave concern over the deterioration of the security situation and the resurgence of terrorist attacks in the Sahel region and throughout West Africa 
• Its total solidarity with the countries of the Sahel region and West Africa as a whole 
• Its sincere condolences to the victims of terrorist and jihadist attacks against innocent civilian populations throughout the region and the Defense and Security Forces (FDS), 
• Its grave concern over the return to military rule in Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali and the lack of a clear timetable by the respective juntas for the return to a constitutional democratic order in accordance with their ECOWAS commitments,
• Concern about proven or alleged attempts at massive involvement in the region of well-organized and state-supported military mercenaries from third countries, in particular the notorious Russian military group “Wagner”
• Apprehension about the rise of populist political forces that advocate religious extremism, ethnic and racial intolerance, denial of human rights and violence against women, as witnessed, for example, in the Senegalese parliament. 

Welcoming 

• Senegal’s nine-position improvement in the “Democracy Index” for 2022 published by the Economist Intelligence Unit.
• The release of Ivorian soldiers captured by the military junta in Bamako thanks to the diplomatic efforts of the presidents of the sub-region and President Alassane Ouattara.
• The determination of liberals in Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali to persevere in difficult circumstances under severe harassment from military regimes
• The commitment of liberals in the region to work closely together, particularly through the African Liberal Network and the LI
• The increased awareness among democratic partners in the region, including in Brussels, Paris, Ottawa and Washington, of the need to strengthen the partnership with Africa on the basis of equality, respect and support. 

The Liberal International Executive Committee meeting in Ottawa in May 2023 

• Urges determined cooperation between liberals and democrats in the region to address the growing threats to peace, security, and stability.
• Insists on the immediate return to constitutional democratic order in Burkina Faso, Guinea and Mali, and the establishment of civilian governments based on the free will of the peoples of these nations.
• Reaffirms the importance of promoting freedom, democracy, human rights, and the rule of law in political discourse and action, and of resolutely combating populism, extremism, intolerance, and violence against women through both political and judicial means.
• Calls for the unity of liberal and democratic forces at the national and regional levels to support candidates who represent a strong democratic alternative to the populist and extremist forces that threaten regional and international security.
• Expresses its full support for the liberals in the upcoming elections, stressing the need to comply with the established constitutional and democratic judicial order.