 THE FRANCO - AFRICAN SUMMIT 2001 IN YAOUNDE
The challenge of Globalisation, this was the main topic of this conference even though the death of the former President of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Laurent Désiré Kabila, was very much in the minds of some of the members of the delegations present in Yaoundé, and was the subject of unofficial meetings while the official Summit went ahead.
 AFRICA AND THE CHALLENGES OF GLOBALIZATION
As part of the preparations for the 21st Conference of Heads of State of Africa and France, a symposium on the theme “Africa and the challenges of globalisation” was held in Yaounde on the 28th and 29th August 2000. This same theme, which was chosen for the Franco-African Summit of the 17th, 18th and 19th of January 2001 held in Yaoundé, was also deliberated upon during the symposium which, from the 11th to 13th of September brought together in the capital 2000 experts, resource personnel as well as other participants from Africa and other parts of the world.
Also present among this congregated assembly of some of the most important African heads of state, was the French President, Jacques Chirac. In this time of prosperity in Europe and particularly in France, there is a real hope in Africa for a “show of solidarity” as asked a few months ago by his Excellency, Paul Biya, President of Cameroon, during his address to the United Nations Assembly in New York. This meant that a large part of the delegations in Yaoundé expected a commitment by the 4th most powerful country in the world with regards to African debt.
During these meetings, globalisation was perceived both as an opportunity and a threat to Africa. It opens up new opportunities for the continent, but at the same time raises some disturbing questions: these issues were the focus of the summit and continue to be primary concerns for the development of the African Continent:
OPPORTUNITIES DUE TO GLOBALIZATION
These are the main factors that globalization is going to re-enforce at the political level: The spread of democracy and an increase in human rights, rule of law, good governance, peace and security as the common heritage of humanity. In the field of the economy: Growth and poverty alleviation as a consequence of opening up to the world economy as well as more substantial funding for development. In the field of scientific and technical research:New information and communication technologies for the use in production and trade, more efficient use of time and space, as well as promoting the presence and expression of African culture.
NEGATIVE ASPECTS FOR AFRICAN COUNTRIES:
Among all the aspects shown as a wall against the development of the continent the conference underlined the following problems, this is not exhaustive but still in a sense the main problem that Africa face with since at least two decades:
Economic and cultural marginalization; Digital gap with the rest of the world (even in Asia and in the poorest part of India for example, there is a better access to the NTIC, new technologies for information and communication); Development of poverty and escalation of conflicts (as in Ivory Coast, Algeria, Congo Kinshasa an Brazzaville, Guinea Conakry, Sierra Leone, Angola, Mozambique…), Propagation of major pandemics such as AIDS, Paludism, cholera, yellow fever, dysentery; Imposition of monolithic thinking in a multisectoral context, this is due to the escape of most of the youth well educated, among the best 90% of them are working in Canada, USA, or Europe.
RECOMMENDATIONS AND STRATEGIES
This ambivalent context places African States in the face of diverse challenges that were identified by the participants, who in turn made some recommendations and drew up a 10-point strategy.
PEACE AND SECURITY:
Human and institutional capacity-building in relation to peace building and peace restoration; Formation of a corps of African negotiators; Setting up of regional training structures; Integration of a sectoral peace and security programme in development strategies
CHALLENGES RELATED TO RIGHT, POWER, THE BUILDING OF THE STATE AND OF A VIABLE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY;
Greater commitment by African States to promote and control the effectiveness of pluralist democracy, good governance and the rule of law; The institution of the African Court of Human Rights, within the context of acknowledgement of the universality of human rights, greater participation of African experts in the creation an implementation of the new globalise law.
ECONOMIC CHALLENGES:
Cancellation of the external debt of African States and directing capital flows toward Africa in order to relaunch development and growth on the continent; Formation and appropriate use of human capital; Identification of nerve centres of investment likely to bring about the competitive national integration of African economies within the context of globalisation.
RESEARCH, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY:
Financing of research and science from a combination of public and private resources (1% of GDP for each State); Promotion of a culture of science and technology from early childhood and reinforcement of access by women to scientific and technical knowledge; Creation in African countries of centres for valorising research findings; Putting up the fight against AIDS as an absolute priority in each country
CHALLENGES IN THE AREA OF CULTURE AND SOCIAL POLICIES:
Creation of a Global Ethics Committee with a view to giving a human face to globalisation; Renovation of the educational apparatus and development of cultural industries corresponding to African realities and to the demands of registration at the level; Promotion of national policies of youth and childhood protection, in relation to international cooperation, against all forms of violence, sound training and greater participation of the youth and women in public life.
PROMOTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE ON AN AFRICAN SCALE NOTABLY FOR IMPROVING ACCESS TO JUSTICE TO INFORMATION AND CITIZEN PARTICIPATION:
On a international scale, on the one hand, militate for an ecological credit vis-à-vis States of the north; on the other hand, extend the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court to economic crimes.
CHALLENGES IN THE AREA OF COMMUNICATION:
Use of new information and communication technologies to better disseminate the national contents of information and to affirm African presence in the world; Extension of comity networks, taking into account ethical considerations; Reinforcement and improvement of the capacity of public service media to implement the editorial policies of integration and protection of minority cultures
Renewed attachment of the media to freedom and responsibility
CHALLENGES IN THE AREA OF REGIONAL INTEGRATION AND AFRICAN UNITY:
Signing and notification of the Constituent Act of African Unity by African State; Greater participation of African States and cooperation partners in renewing infrastructure and projects relating to regional integration.
CHALLENGES IN THE AREA OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
Given that international cooperation should have as finality for African States the reinforcement of their institutional and human capacity, the strengthening of the private sector and civil society, the reinforcement of infrastructural capacities, the reinforcement of the capacity of the agricultural sector; Further development of centralized cooperation; Cooperation between donors as a factor of reinforcing development assistance
CHALLENGES RELATED TO AFRICA-FRANCE COOPERATION WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBALIZATION:
Reinforcement of Africa-France cooperation in the direction of mutually beneficial and shared obligations
GUIDELINES FOR DEVELOPMENT
Among all these subjects involving certainly a part of the future of the continent, there is a need to enforce the efforts on some specific aspects, underlined during the 21stconference in Yaoundé as it has been the case in Paris during the 20thconference in Le Louvres, and before as well. These subjects are first of all the transparency, and at the same level the need of security to permit the development.
As the environment and the facts appeared again this summit happened during a serious crisis in Democratic Republic of Congo with the murder of the former President. Kabila, thus who defeated less than 5 years ago the crocodile of the continent Mobutu Cesse Seko and became the incarnation of hope for the people of one of the giant of Africa, died in one of this demonstration of violence so well known around here.
This explain in a way why the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr Kofi Annan, laid emphasis on the growing concern about mounting tensions and the proliferation of crises on the Africa continent. He invited participants to reflect together on possible global solutions, it has been the case with the events that happened in Democratic Republic of Congo, but in marge of the summit other questions were in the process of being resolved.
Discussions focused particularly on maintaining the peace, on the role of the OAU and sub-regional organizations, on curbing small arms trafficking and on elimination of antipersonnel mines in pursuit of efforts initiated by the Ottawa Conference. The requirements of reconstruction following a conflict, as well as the link between questions of security and of development were also the subject of a special review. The Heads of State naturally seized the opportunity offered by this Conference to review pressing topical issues.
The situation in the Great Lakes region held the attention of the Conference for long. Participants listened to each Head of State and of delegation of the countries involved present their respective positions in a frank and open manner. Heads of State and of delegations also lauded the progress made in West Africa by ECOWAS with respect to establishing a sub-regional body responsible for prevention, management and settlement of conflicts.
They were also pleased with the expressed desire of the governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea to seek a peaceful solution to their dispute, and the agreement that happened few weeks ago after a war that let behind thousands of death, and the rest of the population of both countries in a very difficult position speaking about the poverty.
Bearing in mind the demands of African youths, their responsibilities and duties towards them, Heads of State and of delegations reaffirmed their commitment to peace, to security and to the stability of the country, without which they would not be able to totally devote their attention to the development of their countries, with the support from the international community.
The Heads of State, of government and delegations also underscored the following principles:
Pursue efforts underway to adapt training of human resources and manpower resources of the public service to the needs and means of the State. Implement budgetary policies that reflect priority given to the setting up of democratic institutions, support to social development programmes that reduce military spending; Respect for the principles of transparency and accountability at all levels of the State. Put in place a feasible environment for economic activity and investment. In this regard, they hailed the entry into force of the treaty on the harmonization of business law in Africa, a perfect example of regional integration. The promotion of a strong policy in support of the private sector, private entrepreneurship in the formal and informal sectors. The Head of State, of Government and Delegation reasserted their resolve to work together for stability and security in Africa by supporting the ongoing process aimed at providing Africa with peace preservation mechanisms.
They reiterated their support to the mechanisms for the prevention, management and resolution of conflict and in particular those of the OUA, as well as the utilization of sub-regional structures with the vocation of ensuring a better prevention of crisis and better pooling of efforts under the aegis of the United Nations. The Heads of State also launched an appeal to all partners of Africa to listen to the continent in matters of direct interest and to lend it appropriate assistance in its development efforts. They also reasserted their commitment to the efforts deployed in mine clearing and anti-personnel mines. The condemned the use of child soldiers and those involved in such practice.
With a view to lending support to efforts already made and those to be made in future for the attainment of the above goals, the Heads of State, of Government and Delegations again reaffirmed the need for developed countries to demonstrate greater solidarity with developing countries. The expressed satisfaction at the special initiative for Africa launched by the secretary- General of the UN, and the proposal to implement a new global partnership for development by the group of the seven most industrialized countries during their last Summit in Lyon. They Head of State, of Government and Delegation underscored that by deciding not to put to question official development assistance, the G7 Summit of Lyon had renewed its vision of relations between partners in development based on mutual interest. They noted that at summit developed countries and multilateral institutions affirmed their determination to further improve on the conditions for the settlement of the debt of very poor countries and stressed the need to do this as soon as possible. In this prospect, the debt owed to members of the Paris Club will be the subject of more favourable treatment.
Furthermore, the Heads of State, of Government and Delegations hailed the commitment taken in Lyon by the most developed countries to maintain for as long as necessary, the Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility (ESAF) of the Bretton-Woods institutions. Lastly, they noted the intention of the G7 countries to make special efforts for Sub-Saharan Africa and to concentrate aid on the poorest countries that have limited access to capital markets. They expressed the wish that such concentration should not penalize countries that have made efforts to improve on their economic and financial situation.
In the face of the alarming rate at which the AIDS epidemic spreads in Africa, Heads of State and of Delegations expressed their full and total support for the proposals made on the initiative of the President of the French Republic, with respect to establishing a solidarity Fund for AIDS control.
LIST OF THE COUNTRIES AND DELEGATIONS REPRESENTED AT THE FRANCO/AFRICAN SUMMIT OF YAOUNDE 2001
Here after you will find the list of the countries invited during the Franco-African Summit 2001 in Yaoundé. Almost all these countries were represented.
Abdelaziz Bouteflikha, president of Algéria, President Patassé of the Centre African Republic, President Eyadema of the Togolese Republic, and President Omar Bongo from the Congolese Republic, the oldest generation was there with Paul Biya of course and is 18 years as President of Cameroon.
They were among the newest generation: the youngest Abdoulaye Wade from Senegal, the presence of Mohammed VI king of Morocco, as well as the presence of Laurent Gbagbo new President of the Ivory Coast Republic, new as the President of Ghana recently elected, Mr Kufuor.
CENTRAL AFRICA
ANGOLA:
leader: HE José Edouard Dos Santos
Date of taking office: 21/09/79
Area 1 246 700 Km2
Population: 11 099 770 inhabitants
GNP: 5500 millions $
Capital: Luanda
BURUNDI:
leader: HE Major Pierre Buyoya
Date of taking office: October 1994
Area 27 834 Km2
Population: 6 422 680 inhabitants
GNP: 1200 millions $
Capital: Bujumbura
CAMEROON:
leader: HE Paul Biya
Date of taking office: 6/11/82
Area 475 442 Km2
Population: 15 000 000 inhabitants
GNP: 8110 millions $
Capital: Yaoundé
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC
leader: HE Ange Félix Patassé
Date of taking office: 20/10/93
Area 622 984 Km2
Population: 3 343 900 inhabitants
GNP: 900 millions $
Capital: Bangui
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
leader: former: Laurent Désiré Kabila
murdered the day before the Summit
transition: his son Josef Kabila
Date of taking office: 24/05/97
Area: 2 345 885 Km2
Population: 45 233 680 inhabitants
GNP: 7700 millions $
Capital: Kinshasa
REPUBLIC OF CONGO
leader: HE Général Denis Sassou Nguesso
Date of taking office: October 1997
Area 342 000 Km2
Population: 2 705 290 inhabitants
GNP: 1670 millions $
Capital: Brazzaville
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TCHAD
leader: HE Idriss Deby
Date of taking office: 02/12/90
Area 1 284 000 Km2
Population: 6 610 870 inhabitants
GNP: 1100 millions $
Capital: N’djamena
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
leader: HE Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbazogo
Date of taking office: 04/08/1979
Area 28 051 Km2
Population: 410 350 inhabitants
GNP: 360 millions $
Capital: Malabo
GABON
leader: HE El Hadj Omar Bongo
Date of taking office: 28/11/1967
Area 268 000 Km2
Population: 1 125 000 inhabitants
GNP: 4400 millions $
Capital: Libreville
RWANDA
leader: HE Paul Kagame
Date of taking office: April 2000
Area 260 338 Km2
Population: 6 627 000 inhabitants
GNP: 3200 millions $
Capital: Kigali
SAO TOME AND PRINCIPE
leader: HE Miguel Trovoada
Date of taking office: 23/03/91
Area 1001 Km2
Population: 135 270 inhabitants
GNP: 50 millions $
Capital: Sao Tomé
HORN OF AFRICA
DJIBOUTI
leader: HE Ismaël Omar Guelleh
Date of taking office: 07/05/1999
Area 23 000 Km2
Population: 618 680 inhabitants
GNP: millions $
Capital: Djibouti
ETHIOPIA
leaders: HE Negasso Gidada ( Président )
HE.Meles Zenaoui (Prime Minister )
Date of taking office: 22/08/1995
They took office together
Area 1 097 100 Km2
Population: 58 233 770 inhabitants
GNP: 5800 millions $
Capital: Addis Abeba
ERITHREA
leader: HE Issayas Afeworki
Date of taking office: May 1993
Area 117 600 Km2
Population: 3 698 430 inhabitants
GNP: 640 millions $
Capital: Asmara
SOUDAN
leader: HE Général Omar
Hassan El-Béchir
Date of taking office: 30/06/1993
Area 2 505 813 Km2
Population: 27 272 130 inhabitants
GNP: 10 360 millions $
Capital: Karthoum
SOUTHERN AFRICA
BOTSWANA
leader: HE Festus G. Mogae
Date of taking office: 01/04/11998
Area 582 000 Km2
Population: 1 480 000 inhabitants
GNP: 5,000 millions $
Capital: Gaborone
LESOTHO
leader: HE Pakalitha Mosisili
Date of taking office: 23/05/1998
Area 30 355 Km2
Population: 2 022 890 inhabitants
GNP: 2,770 millions $
Capital:
MALAWI
leader: HE Bakili Muluzi
Date of taking office: 17/05/1994
Area 118 484 Km2
Population: 10 016 000 inhabitants
GNP: 2,770 millions $
Capital: Lilongwe
NAMIBIA
leader: HE Samuel Shafiishuna Nujoma
Date of taking office: 21/03/1990
Area 825 416 Km2
Population: 15 843 800 inhabitants
GNP: 3,490 millions $
Capital: Windhoek
SOUTH AFRICA
leader: HE Thabo Mbeki
Date of taking office: 16/06/1999
Area 1 221 037 Km2
Population: 37 643 000 inhabitants
GNP: 128,230 millions $
Capital: Pretoria
SWAZILAND
leader: His Majesty Lestsie III
Date of taking office: 07/02/1996
Area 17 363 Km2
Population: 926 100 inhabitants
GNP: 1,150 millions $
Capital: Mbabane
INDIAN OCEAN
COMOROS
leader: HE Col. Assou Mani Azzali
Date of taking office: April 1999
Area 1 862 Km2
Population: 504 680 inhabitants
GNP: 20 millions $
Capital: Moroni
MADAGASCAR
leader: HE Admiral Didier Ratsiraka
Date of taking office: 10/02/1997
Area 587 041 Km2
Population: 13 704 620 inhabitants
GNP: 3,450 millions $
Capital: Antananarivo
MAURITIUS
leader: HE Cassam Uteem ( Président ) and HE.Navin Ramgoolam ( PM )
Date of taking office:
Président =30/06/1992
Prime Minister = 15/06/1996
Area 2040 Km2
Population: 1 134 000 inhabitants
GNP: 4180 millions $
Capital: Port Louis
SEYCHELLES
leader: HE France Albert René
Date of taking office: 05/06/1977
Area 453 Km2
Population: 76 670 inhabitants
GNP: 530 millions $
Capital: Victoria
EAST AFRICA
KENYA
leader: HE Daniel Arap Moï
Date of taking office: 22/08/1978
Area 582 646 Km2
Population: 27 363 550 inhabitants
GNP: 10 110 millions $
Capital: Nairobi
MOZAMBIQUE
leader: HE Joaquim Alberto Chissano
Date of taking office: 04/01/1987
Area 799 380 Km2
Population: 18 028 000 inhabitants
GNP: 2110 millions $
Capital: Maputo
TANZANIA
leader: HE Benjamin William Mkapa
Date of taking office: 23/11/1995
Area 945 087 Km2
Population: 30 493 860 inhabitants
GNP: 658 millions $
Capital: Dodoma
UGANDA
leader: HE Yoweri Kaguta Museveni
Date of taking office: 29/01/1986
Area 236 036 Km2
Population: 19 740 830 inhabitants
GNP: 6670 millions $
Capital: Kampala
ZAMBIA
leader: HE Frederick Titus Chiluba
Date of taking office: 01/11/1987
Area 752 614 Km2
Population: 9 214 800 inhabitants
GNP: 3800 millions $
Capital: Lusaka
ZIMBABWE
leader: HE Robert Gabriel Mugabe
Date of taking office: 01/11/1987
Area 390 580 Km2
Population: 11 247 950 inhabitants
GNP: 7480 millions $
Capital: Harare
NORTH AFRICA
ALGERIA
leader: HE Abdelaliz Bouteflika
Date of taking office: 15/04/1999
Area 2 381 740 Km2
Population: 28 733 550 inhabitants
GNP: 44 510 millions $
Capital: Alger
EGYPT
leader: HE Mohamed Hosni Moubarak
Date of taking office: 06/01/1981
Area 1 001 440 Km2
Population: 61 000 000 inhabitants
GNP: 73 810 millions $
Capital: Cairo
LYBIAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA
leader: HE Colonel Muammar Khadafi
Date of taking office: 01/09/1969
Area 1 759 540 Km2
Population: 5 200 000 inhabitants
GNP: 28 100 millions $
Capital: Tripoli
MOROCCO
leader: His Majesty King Mohamed VI
Date of taking office: 25/07/1999
Area 10850 Km2
Population: 29 900 000 inhabitants
GNP: 34 800 millions $
Capital: Rabat Salé
TUNISIA
leader: HE Zine El Abine Ben Ali
Date of taking office: 01/11/1987
Area 162 155 Km2
Population: 9 131 820 inhabitants
GNP: 17 780 millions $
Capital: Tunis
WEST AFRICA
BENIN
leader: HE Matthieu Kerekou
Date of taking office: Maarch 1996
Area 112 622 Km2
Population: 5 631 620 inhabitants
GNP: 2080 millions $
Capital: Porto Novo
BURKHINA FASO
leader: HE Captain Blaise Compaore
Date of taking office: 17/10/1987
Area 274 200 Km2
Population: 10 668 590 inhabitants
GNP: 2380 millions $
Capital: Ouagadougou
CAPE VERDE
leader: HE Antoine Mascarenhas Monteiro
Date of taking office: 17/02/1991
Area 4033 Km2
Population: 390 000 inhabitants
GNP: 400 millions $
Capital: Praia
COTE D’IVOIRE
leader: HE Laurent Gbagbo
Date of taking office: 26/10/2000
Area 322 462 Km2
Population: 14 347 000 inhabitants
GNP: 9620 millions $
Capital: Abidjan
GAMBIA
leader: HE Lt. Yahya Jammeh
Date of taking office: July 1994
Area 11 295 Km2
Population: 1 146 880 inhabitants
GNP: 370 millions $
Capital: Banjul
GHANA
leader: HE John Agyekum Kufuor
Date of taking office: 07/01/2001
Area 238 537 Km2
Population: 17 521 800 inhabitants
GNP: 6570 millions $
Capital: Accra
GUINEA BISSAU
leader: HE Kumba Yala
Date of taking office: 14/05/1998
Area 36 125 Km2
Population: 1 093 810 inhabitants
GNP: 330 millions $
Capital: Bissau
GUINEA CONAKRY
leader: HE Général Lansana Conte
Date of taking office: 05/04/1984
Area 245 857 Km2
Population: 6 560 000 inhabitants
GNP: 3800 millions $
Capital: Conakry
LIBERIA
leader: HE Charles Taylor
Date of taking office: 19/07/1997
Area 97 754 Km2
Population: 3 000 000 inhabitants
GNP: 620 millions $
Capital: Monrovia
MALI
leader: HE Alpha oumar Konare
Date of taking office: 02/06/1992
Area 1 240 190 Km2
Population: 10 600 000 inhabitants
GNP: 2450 millions $
Capital: Bamako
MAURITANIA
leader: HE Lt. Col.Maaouya
Ould Sidi Ahmed Taya
Date of taking office: 13/12/1984
Area 1 030 700 Km2
Population: 2 300 000 inhabitants
GNP: 1030 millions $
Capital: Nouakchott
NIGER
leader: HE Mamadou Tandja
Date of taking office: 09/04/1992
Area 1 267 000 Km2
Population: 9 335 410 inhabitants
GNP: 1,840 millions $
Capital: Niamey
NIGERIA
leader: HE Général Olusegun Obasanjo
Date of taking office: 25/05/1998
Area 923 768 Km2
Population: 114 568 100 inhabitants
GNP: 35 680 millions $
Capital: Abuja
SENEGAL
leader: HE Abdoulaye Wade
Date of taking office: 03/04/2000
Area 196 192 Km2
Population: 8 534 180 inhabitants
GNP: 4690 millions $
Capital: Dakar
SIERRA LEONE
leader: HE Ahmad Tejan Kabbah
Date of taking office: 17/03/1996
Area 71 740 Km2
Population: 4 630 000 inhabitants
GNP: 1090 millions $
Capital: Freetown
TOGO
leader: HE Général Gnassingbe Eyadema
Date of taking office: 13/01/1967
Area 56 785 Km2
Population: 4 300 000 inhabitants
GNP: 1330 millions $
Capital: Lomé |
