Dakar 2003
Congress welcomes the creation of the Africa Liberal Network and supports its aim to strengthen liberal democracy in Africa by helping and encouraging African liberal and democratic parties.
Congress applauds the African Union’s initiative to implement its vision to enhance Africa’s competitiveness along liberal lines, through NEPAD. NEPAD will be instrumental in liberalizing trade amongst African countries: however, at the same time, developed countries should give market access to products from developing countries, particularly agricultural products. Developed and developing countries should actively work together within WTO in order to achieve a comprehensive liberalisation of the market.
Precondition for sustainable economic growth and human development is good governance, multiparty democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights and fight against corruption.
Liberals believe universal access to basic primary education for both girls and boys is one of the crucial keys for self-empowerment of the individual and social mobility, political development, and economic growth. The Congress encourages African governments and the international community to put more effort and investment into education in Africa.
Concerned about the spread of armed conflicts, Congress calls on the international community and parties involved to invest in the development of democracy and human rights in order to prevent ethnic and religious conflict across the African continent.
Congress having noted the use of child soldiers, in particular by the Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda, demands that all countries uphold the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child immediately and without delay.
Congress notes the improvements to the regulation of diamond sales, the production and sales of which have been key to the funding and prolonging of conflict. Congress welcomes the production of lists of countries which meet the UN monitoring requirements, but urges further actions to ensure legislation is effectively implemented.
LI welcomes the US campaign to fight AIDS in Africa and South Africa’s belated decision to introduce anti-retroviral drugs to treat people who are HIV positive. Providing information on HIV and safe sex and the distribution of contraceptives are the basis of a successful anti-AIDS policy.
One of the most important indicators of an established democracy is free and fair elections accompanied by peaceful transfer of power. Inspiring examples of recent years are our hosting country Senegal as are Ghana, Kenya, and Mali. Congress welcomes democratic elections in Rwanda and Nigeria, though notes concerns of international observers regarding these elections. However, Liberal International deplores the fact that the recent elections in Cameroon, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Zambia and Zimbabwe were marred by irregularities and intimidation and politically motivated violence towards opposition parties.
Key to a functioning democracy is not only the presence of free and fair elections, but an accountable Government and the presence of an effective opposition. Congress calls for all Governments to allow free operation of an effective opposition, and for opposition parties to continue to hold Government to account in a responsible and constructive manner.
In spite of the African Union’s stated commitment to democracy, Congress regrets that the result of the 2001 election, which brought to power Madagascar President Marc Ravalomanana, was only officially recognised by the AU in 2003.
Liberal International condemns the increasing oppression of the Mugabe regime which is using mass hunger as a weapon of oppression, has suppressed the last independent daily newspaper and presided over the ruin of the economy. Congress urges the member countries of SADC and the African Union to take action to encourage peaceful and fair solution through new, free and fair elections to prevent further hardship being inflicted on the peoples of Zimbabwe. Congress expresses solidarity with the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), and with MDC’s president Morgan Tsvangirai as he faces the continuation of his treason trial on the 28th of October and congratulates it on seeking a peaceful solution to the current situation in Zimbabwe in the face of immense persecutions.
Appalled by the recent conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo which are estimated to have cost 3 million lives, applauds the efforts of the United Nations and others to secure the withdrawal of the armies of other nations from the Republic of Congo and calls on all countries to deny support and arms supplies to all dissident groupings. Calls for a speedy introduction of democracy with the assistance of African Union and United Nations. Congratulates France on its intervention to save lives and welcomes the replacement of French forces by United Nations troops.
Liberal International deplores Equatorial Guinea’s President Teodoro Obiang Nguema’s constant breaches of: the programmes for the democratization of the country, the agreements signed with the opposition, and the violations of human rights – which increases the country’s political and social instability.
Congress welcomes Liberia’s former President Charles Taylor’s decision to finally resign from power and welcomes the peace agreement signed by the country’s interim government and two rebel movements and recognises the devastation caused by dictatorship and civil war can only be repaired by a sustained international effort. The atrocities caused by the violent actions and genocide inspired by the former President Charles Taylor both to the people of Liberia and Sierra Leone must be taken into serious consideration by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court. The formal lifting of the UN sanctions on Libya is positive step. Libyan leadership needs to take decisive steps towards democratisation of the country as main prerequisite for improving the living conditions of its citizens.
Congress notes the Marcoussis agreement of 24 January 2003 regarding the formation of a reconciliation government in Ivory Coast and calls on all signatory parties to respect the agreement.
Liberal International wants the conflict on Western Sahara to be solved in accordance with the UN Security Council plan on a referendum among the Western Saharan People, and strongly urges the parties involved to make a referendum possible.
