“GOOD NEWS FROM AFRICA”

Alde — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 10:32:24 +0100

The role of Parliaments

In improving the image of Africa

Kampala, Uganda, 20-22 February 2009

The Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, Pacific, Africa and Caribbean, ALDEPAC, came together in Kampala, from 20-22 February 2009, for a seminar entitled “GOOD NEWS FROM AFRICA”, "The role of Parliaments in improving the image of Africa”. The conference was officially opened by H.E. Yoweri Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, H.E. Abdoulaye Wade, President of the Republic of Senegal and the Copresident of ALDEPAC Hon. Johan Van Hecke, M e m b e r of the European Parliament. The conference was greatly enriched by the excellent contribution of Hon. Edward Kiwanuka Ssekandi, Speaker of the Parliament, Uganda, Lord Alderdice, President of Liberal International, United Kingdom, Professor Morris W. Ogenga-Latigo, the Leader of Opposition in the Ugandan Parliament, and liberal and democrat members of Parliaments from twenty four ACP countries and eight from the European Union.

In his opening speech, ALDEPAC Co-President Johan Van Hecke warmly welcomed the Speakers, Deputy Speakers and Members of Parliament from Botswana, Gambia, Ghana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Burundi, RDC, Congo (Brazzaville), Djibouti, Mauritania, Rwanda, Senegal, Togo and of course Uganda; and his European colleagues from France, Slovenia, Finland, Spain and Italy. Highlighting the theme of the conference, he pointed at the daily international media feed on bad news from Africa. Radio, TV and websites feature atrocious stories and horrifying images of the tragedy in Darfur, the chaos in Somalia, the recurrent conflict in eastern Congo, etc. These stories of conflict, corruption and state brutality dominate the headlines on Africa but do not represent the whole story of Africa today. Consequently ALDEPAC puts prominence on ‘Good News from Africa’. For, despite these crises, Africa is moving slowly but surely towards durable peace, greater democracy and sustainable development. For the last 20 years, the number of democracies in Sub-Saharan Africa has doubled. Legislative and presidential elections have become the norm rather than the exception. Transparency and accountability has improved through the strengthening of parliaments. Deadly wars such as Angola, Mozambique, Burundi, Liberia, Sierra Leone and Southern Sudan have ended.

Article original rédigé par Alde et publié sur ALDEMUNDUS
Reproduction interdite sans autorisation