SI Africa Committee
29-30 July 2011
WINDHOEK DECLARATION
Original: French
Meeting in Windhoek on 29-30 July 2011, the Socialist International Africa Committee has focussed its discussions on the following themes: Good governance in Africa: the economic and political agenda; Electoral processes in Africa 2011-2012; Securing peace through conflict resolution.
The Africa Committee:
- Considers that good governance is impossible without democracy. Therefore, it sees bad governance in Africa and its dramatic consequences as intertwined with a democratic deficit;
- Observes that the absence of good governance and the unequal distribution of resources among the population can lead to social uprisings;
- Notes that obstacles of all kinds are imposed by the authorities in many countries of Africa, notably in Cameroon, Mauritania and Senegal, among others, frequently in violation of the electoral laws for the holding of free, fair, transparent and democratic elections.
- Deplores the non-application by some SI member parties of the UN Resolutions 1325 and 1820 on Women, Peace and Security;
- Equally notes and deplores the absence of Africa among the permanent members of the UN Security Council;
- Notes and deplores the persistence of civil wars, corruption and famine despite the continent having an abundance of all manner of material and human resources;
- Notes the concurrence of these scourges with the deficit of democracy and underlines that it is not the fate of this continent to suffer this reality without reacting.
Consequently:
The Committee urges all SI member parties to show their firm solidarity, irrespective of the situation in which the African party finds itself, with fair and efficient assistance.
Considering the numerous Presidential and Legislative elections to come, it is necessary to create in all these countries an atmosphere of calm in order to allow voters to enjoy their civic rights in accordance with the constitution and the law, as the non-respect of these principles can lead to a failed state and a breach of the peace.
The Committee also urges political actors, whose work embodies the active principles of successful politics, to respect these principles and to educate their members and supporters accordingly, well in advance of election day.
The Committee supports the establishment of true democracies engaged in promoting human rights as well as the prevention and resolution of conflicts and the consolidation of peace, reaffirming the important role of women in all these endeavours.
Calling for Africa to have a permanent seat on the UN Security Council, the Committee hopes that a resolution in this sense will be adopted at the next Congress of the SI.
The Africa Committee reaffirms the position of the SI Council in Athens for a peaceful and lasting solution to the Western Saharan conflict, as stated in its resolution.
In the struggle for gaining power through the ballot box, the SI member parties should be able to constructively count on the young generations, as it is for them to shape tomorrow’s world.
Taking into account the impact of drug trafficking, money laundering and terrorism, scourges which negatively influence the development of African countries, the Committee has decided to have a deeper discussion on these important issues at its next meeting.
Finally, the Committee expresses its sincere appreciation to the host party, SWAPO, for its fraternal hospitality and warm welcome.
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Other activities
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Meeting of the SI Africa Committee in Luanda, Angola
12-13 December 2017
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Socialist International focuses on Africa at meeting in Accra, Ghana
07-08 October 2016
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Meeting of the SI Africa Committee, Bamako, Mali
10-11 April 2015
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Meeting of the SI Africa Committee, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
28-29 March 2014
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Supporting peace, democracy and solidarity in the Sahel
17-18 March 2013
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SI Africa Committee meets in Praia
30-31 July 2012
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From a time of crisis to a new era of inclusive partnership: SI Africa Committee meets in Dakar
19-20 June 2009
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The SI Africa Committee meets in Abidjan
14-15 June 2008
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SI Economic Committee meeting in Buenos Aires
09 November 2007
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SI Committee on the Economy, Social Cohesion and the Environment focuses on economies in transition
09-10 September 2007
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GHANA MEETING of the SI Africa Committee
15-16 June 2007
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Meeting of the SI Africa Committee, Praia, Cape Verde
20-21 October 2006
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SOCIALIST PRIORITIES in Africa at the SI meeting in Niger
24-25 April 2006
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Socialist International reaffirms its solidarity with Africa at the WORLD SOCIAL FORUM in Bamako, Mali
21 January 2006
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Socialist International meets in Hong Kong on eve of WTO Conference
12 December 2005
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SI Economic Committee met on the African continent at UN OFFICE IN NAIROBI
08-09 April 2005
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Dakar was the venue of the SI Africa Committee
12-13 July 2004
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Benin meeting of the Socialist International Africa Committee
15-16 September 2003
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Socialist International Mission to the Great Lakes Region
18-23 February 2003
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Socialist International meeting in Côte d'Ivoire supports cease-fire, constitutional order and democracy
18 October 2002
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First meeting of the SI in Angola
26-27 July 2002
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Meeting of the SI Africa Committee, Niamey, Niger
01-02 June 2001
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Meeting of the Socialist International Working Group on the World Trade Organisation, Maputo, Mozambique
11 November 2000
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Meeting of the Socialist International Africa Committee, Praia, Cape Verde
30-31 October 2000
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Meeting of the Socialist International Africa Committee, Yaoundé, Cameroon
30 June-01 July 2000
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Meeting of the Socialist International Africa Committee, Maputo, Mozambique
03-04 September 1999
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Meeting of the Socialist International Africa Committee, Bamako, Mali
29-30 March 1999
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Meeting of the Socialist International Africa Committee, Dakar, Senegal
25-26 July 1997
If you are looking for an earlier meeting, please consult the LIBRARY section.