. DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION .

An article by Jaquelino Figueiredo and Fernando Neto, Jornal de Angola (translation by CPNN)

“The culture of peace is an urgent need for the harmonious coexistence among the people of Africa”, according to the remarks of the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on Saturday in Soyo,.

Photography: Jaquelino Figueiredo

Manuel Augusto, who was speaking at the closing ceremony of the International Conference on the Culture of Peace, organized by the Eduardo dos Santos Foundation (FESA), said the participants analyzed the causes of conflicts and their tragic consequences.

The Secretary of State emphasized the need for actions aimed not only to establish, but also to contribute to the collective understanding of the importance of a culture of peace. He said, “It is in this context of pragmatism and collective awareness of the culture of peace that fall under the six dimensional levels set out by His Excellency the President of Angola, José Eduardo dos Santos and Patron of FESA, at the International Conference on Culture Peace, held in Luanda in March 2013, a joint initiative between the Angolan Government, UNESCO and the African Union.”

Manuel Augusto said that the culture of peace just one specific action, but rather an ongoing and dynamic process. For this, the Angolan Government has taken the responsibility to carry out next year the Forum for the Culture of Peace in Africa, with the support of UNESCO and the African Union. “This proposal was accepted and endorsed by African Heads of States in their Summit of July 2014. Angola and its leader will share with the rest of the world their own experience and thus contribute concretely to the dissemination, awareness and adoption of a culture of peace “, he said.

The Executive considered that the participation of lecturers and experts from different parts of the world and international institutions of recognized competence will add not only prestige and visibility to the initiative of FESA, but also the assurance that the compilation of the papers presented will become a matter of study and research for leaders, academics, students and civil society in general. The participants of the International Conference on Culture of Peace recommended to academic research institutions a reflection on citizenship in Africa, its historical, sociological and cultural perspective. The enhancement and strengthening of oral tradition as a vehicle of transmission of cultural values ​​is also a recommendation of the conference.

The participants to the International Conference on Culture of Peace, held Friday and Saturday in Soyo, northern Zaire province, acknowledged the active role of Angola in resolving conflicts in the African continent, according to the chairman of FESA. Ismael Diogo da Silva, considering the meeting which brought together about 500 participants, including 90 foreigners from various countries in Africa, said all participants were unanimous that Angola is an example in conflict resolution, taking into consideration the efforts of the leadership of President José Eduardo dos Santos to keep the peace. For Angolans, he said, it should be cause for pride and to encourage the ongoing dialogue.

The chairman of FESA noted that the final declaration recommends the continuation of the theme of the discussion of the culture of peace, to persuade leaders not to take the path of conflict, but rather identify the major reasons for the promotion of dialogue and understanding.

The conference allowed interaction with African lecturers and FESA and managed to bring politicians, researchers and professors to the discussion of the culture of peace.

“We have heard politicians, researchers and professors, many of them members of international academies of culture of peace, of democracy, citizenship and UNESCO. They have left us with a clear message of encouragement that Angola is on track,” he said.

(click here for the original Portuguese version of this article)

How can we develop the institutional framework for a culture of peace?

. DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION .

An article from News Ivoire

The REPSFECO-CI, Peace and Security Network for Women of ECOWAS – Ivory Coast Section – wants to contribute to civic education and culture of peace. This organization initiated, Wednesday, August 5, 2015 in Abidjan, the first edition of the “Rendez-vous du REPSFECO-CI” under the theme “Peaceful elections: responsibilities of political parties and organizations of the civil society”.

The “Rendez-vous du REPSFECO-CI” is designed for organizations of civil society and political parties. Every actor involved in the democratic process should calmly prepare for future elections that guarantee stability and lasting peace, according to Mr. Diallo Géneviève, president of REPSFECO-CI. Côte d’Ivoire needs peace for its development. The upcoming elections are a test. The international community wants to see if our country really got into a democratic state. We think it is the political parties that determine the game. They have their supporters and activists. So it is important that political parties involved in these elections should speak in a different way because people are tired and they need to be reassured. We must not repeat the violent post-election crisis in 2010.

The highlight of “Rendezvous REPSFECO-CI” is a panel discussion moderated by M.Traoré Wodjo, vice president of the National Commission of Human Rights of Côte d’Ivoire (CNDH- CI) and Fernand-Julien Gauze, president of the NGO Action for Democracy, Justice and Freedom in Ivory Coast (ADJLCI) and member of the Network of organizations of civil society in Côte d’Ivoire (CCAP-Rosci ).

The communication of by M.Traoré Wodjo emphasized the responsibilities of political parties in promoting a peaceful electoral climate and effective participation in the electoral process. He noted that elections in Africa are often sources of serious social tensions. Witness the case of Côte d’Ivoire in 2010. That’s why the 2015 elections are a challenge to democracy for Ivorians. Hence the recommendation to the political parties to put a point of honor to the training and education of their supporters and especially to ask actions that promote a peaceful climate throughout the electoral process. “We want a civilized election in Ivory Coast,” he stressed. “Political parties that are conscientious and mature politicians with a high sense of democracy are the guarantee of a peaceful electoral process,” M.Traoré said.

Civil Society for peaceful elections was the theme of Fernand Julien Gauze, president of the ADJLCI, “Actions of CSOs in the objective monitoring of the electoral process and the consolidation of pre- and post-electoral peace” “Election monitoring” is an English expression which translates into French as “surveillance électorale” simply indicating the need to monitor the process of the election by civil organizations, citizens, political parties, media, trade associations, lobby groups etc. The purpose is to raise the alert. The expert in election monitoring has identified the crucial importance of monitoring in electoral processes in Côte d’Ivoire since it calls attention to the violence and incidents that may take place during an election. And, through informatics, the social networks and SMS. “The monitoring of violence is an essential civic activity in the electoral processes of countries that have experienced crises,” he concluded.

(Click here for the original version of this article in French.)

How should elections be organized in a true democracy?

CPNN receives more and more articles from Africa about initiatives that contest the European model of “winner-takes-all” elections, and demand that elections should only be part of a broader democratic process that seeks consensus and compromise.

This fits with the pre-colonial systems of justice in Africa, when there was no monotheism and no single supreme god, no single supreme law, no single “truth” provided by divine intervention, but rather a compromise among many different “gods,” perspectives and “truths” arrived at through a process of mediation, for example, the “palabra.”

Here are some of the articles:

Ghana Youth Coalition wants politicians to commit to peace in 2012

Women’s World in Nationwide Sensitization [Sierra Leone]

Varsities vouch for peace ahead of general elections (Kenya)

Zimbabwe: Christian denominations launch peace initiative

Rethinking Post-Election Peacebuilding in Africa

Nigeria: Why we facilitated Abuja peace accord —Ben Obi

Uganda: Government to Set Up Election Conflict Resolution Body

Côte d’Ivoire: Le REPSFECO-CI invite les acteurs à un processus électoral apaisé

Côte d’Ivoire: REPSFECO-CI promotes a peaceful electoral process

. DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION .

An article by Stephen Wandera, All Africa

Plans are underway to set up a Conflict Resolution Authority with the mandate of settling post 2016 election disputes. The authority, compiled jointly by government and the Uganda Joint Christian Council (UJCC), is contained in the Uganda National Conflict Prevention and Peace-building Policy draft expected to be officially endorsed by government before the end of the year.

The Executive Secretary of Uganda Joint Christian council, Rev Silvester Arinaitwe Rwomukubwe, (L) with as Archbishop Stanley Ntagali (R) PHOTO BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA

“The policy aims at promoting a culture of peace among all Ugandans in successive generations,” UJCC executive secretary Sylvester Arinaitwe said, while addressing various stakeholders at a consultative meeting in Nsambya, Kampala, yesterday.

“The policy will be used to identify, prevent, manage and transform conflict and comprehensively for sustainable and equitable development and harmonious co-existence,” Fr Arinaitwe added.

“This honourable job will be executed by an authority either a council or commission depending what will be agreed upon.”

He said the document compiled jointly by government and the UJCC will act as a tool of reference for conflict resolution.

“We want to offer Ugandans a peace gift on the International Peace Day scheduled for September 21 by launching the policy,” Fr Arinaitwe.

“However, it will have to be endorsed by Cabinet before being tabled to Parliament as a Bill for consideration into law.” The draft is being advocated for by UJCC and the Office of the Prime Minister.

Ms Mary Adhiambo Mbeo, a programme specialist on Gender issues in the UN, backed the establishment of the authority, saying unresolved election conflict results into war, something that Uganda should avoid.

“I had first-hand experience during the Darfur war and I would not like such an incident to happen here in Uganda,” she said.

How should elections be organized in a true democracy?

CPNN receives more and more articles from Africa about initiatives that contest the European model of “winner-takes-all” elections, and demand that elections should only be part of a broader democratic process that seeks consensus and compromise.

This fits with the pre-colonial systems of justice in Africa, when there was no monotheism and no single supreme god, no single supreme law, no single “truth” provided by divine intervention, but rather a compromise among many different “gods,” perspectives and “truths” arrived at through a process of mediation, for example, the “palabra.”

Here are some of the articles:

Ghana Youth Coalition wants politicians to commit to peace in 2012

Women’s World in Nationwide Sensitization [Sierra Leone]

Varsities vouch for peace ahead of general elections (Kenya)

Zimbabwe: Christian denominations launch peace initiative

Rethinking Post-Election Peacebuilding in Africa

Nigeria: Why we facilitated Abuja peace accord —Ben Obi

Uganda: Government to Set Up Election Conflict Resolution Body

. DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION .

An article by A. D. McKenzie, Inter Press Service (reprinted by permission)

When some 40,000 delegates, including dozens of heads of state, descend on Paris for the United Nations Climate Change Conference later this year, a group of African women mayors plan to be there and make their voices heard on a range of issues, including electrification.

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo with African women mayors who are calling for greater attention to communities without electricity, given the inextricable link between climate change and energy. Credit: A.D. McKenzie

The mayors, representing both small and big towns on the continent, are calling for greater attention to communities without electricity, given the inextricable link between climate change and energy.

“In my commune, only one-fifth of the people have access to electricity, and this of course hampers development,” Marie Pascale Mbock Mioumnde, mayor of Nguibassal in Cameroon, told a recent meeting of women mayors in Paris.

Mbock Mioumnde was one of 18 women mayors at last month’s meeting, hosted by Paris mayor Anne Hildalgo and France’s former environment minister Jean-Louis Borloo, who now heads the Fondation Énergies pour l’Afrique (Energy for Africa Foundation).

Organisers said the meeting was called to highlight Africa’s energy challenges in the run-up to COP 21 (the 21st session of the Conference of the Parties to the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change), which will take place from Nov. 30 to Dec. 11 and which has the French political class scrambling to show its environmental credentials.

Mbock Mioumnde told IPS in an interview that clean, renewable energy was a priority for Africa, and that political leaders were looking at various means of electrification including hydropower and photovoltaic energy and, but not necessarily, wind power – a feature in many parts of France.

“We plan to maintain this contact and this network of women mayors to see what we can accomplish,” said Mbock Mioumnde. “As mayors we’re closer to the population, and when we work together, there’s hope.”

Hidalgo, the first woman to hold the office of Paris mayor, said she wanted to support the African representatives’ appeal for “sustainable electrification”, considering that two-thirds of Africa’s population, “particularly the most vulnerable, don’t have access to electricity.”

Currently president of the International Association of Francophone Mayors (AIMF), Hidalgo said it was essential to find ways to speed up electrification in Africa, using clean technology that respects the environment and the health of citizens.

The mayors meeting in Paris in April also called for the creation of an “African agency devoted to this issue” that would be in charge of implementing the complete electrification of the continent by 2025.

Present at the conference were several representatives of France’s big energy companies such as GDF Suez – an indication that France sees a continued business angle for itself – but the gathering also attracted NGOs which have been working independently to set up solar-power installations in various African countries.

“I’m happy that women are organising on this issue. We need solidarity,” said Hidalgo, who has been urging Paris residents to become involved in climate action, in a city that has come late to environmental awareness, especially compared with many German and Swiss towns.

(Article continued on right side of this page)

(Click here for an article in French about this event.)

How can culture of peace be developed at the municipal level?

(Article continued from left side of this page)

“The Climate Change Conference is a decisive summit for the planet’s leaders and decision-makers to reach an agreement,” Hidalgo stressed.

Climate change issues have an undeniable gender component because women are especially affected by lack of access to clean sources of energy.

Ethiopian-born, Kenya-based scientist Dr Segenet Kelemu, who was a winner of the 2014 L’Oréal-UNESCO Awards for Women in Science, spoke for example of growing up in a rural village in Ethiopia with no electricity, no running water and no indoor plumbing.

“I went out to collect firewood, to fetch water and to take farm produce to market. Somehow, all the back-breaking tasks in Africa are reserved for women and children,” she told a reporter.

This gender component was also raised at a meeting May 7-8 in Addis Ababa, where leaders of a dozen African countries agreed on 12 recommendations to improve the regional response to climate change.

The recommendations included increasing local technological research and development; reinforcing infrastructure for renewable energy, transportation and water; and “mainstreaming gender-responsive climate change actions”.

The meeting was part of a series of ‘Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF)’ workshops being convened though June 2015 in Asia, Latin America, the Pacific and the Middle East.

The CVF was established to offer a South-South cooperation platform for vulnerable countries to deal with issues of climate change.

In Paris, Hidalgo’s approach includes gathering as many stakeholders as possible together to reach consensus before the U.N. summit. With Ignazio Marino, the mayor of Rome, Italy, she also invited mayors of the “capitals and big towns” of the 28 member states of the European Union to a gathering in March.

The mayors, representing some 60 million inhabitants, stressed that the “fight against climate change is a priority for our towns and the well-being of our citizens.”

Hidalgo’s office is now working on a project to have 1,000 mayors from around the world present at COP 21, a spokesperson told IPS. The stakes are high because the French government wants the summit to be a success, with a new global agreement on combating climate change.

Borloo, who was environment minister in the administration of former president Nicolas Sarkozy, used to advocate for France’s “climate justice” proposal, aimed at giving financial aid to poor countries to combat climate change.

Calling for a “climate justice plan” to allow poor countries to “adapt, achieve growth, get out of poverty and have access to energy,” Borloo was a key French player at COP 15 in Copenhagen in 2009, but that conference ended in disarray. The question now is: will a greater involvement of women leaders and mayors make COP 21 a success?

(Thank you to Janet Hudgins, the CPNN reporter for this article.)