“Initiative on capitalising on endogenous capacities for conflict prevention and governance”
Volume 1
Report of the Initiative’s launching workshop and Working perspectives
SAH/D(2005)554 October 2005
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Contents
CHAPTER I. REPORT ON THE INITIATIVE’S LAUNCHING WORKSHOP AND PRIORITY ACTIONS FOR 2006... 5 1. RATIONALE, FOCUS AND OBJECTIVES ...... 5 2. OPENING CEREMONY...... 7 3. PRESENTATION OF THE INITIATIVE ON CAPITALISING ON ENDOGENOUS CAPACITIES ...... 8 3.1 The Initiative within the SWAC’s Governance Programme ...... 8 3.2 The Initiative’s Role and Substance ...... 8 3.3 The various stages of the Initiative ...... 9 4. SESSIONS’ THEMES...... 11 5. PRESENTATIONS AND DISCUSSIONS ...... 12 6. RECOMMENDATIONS...... 21 6.1 Phases I and II: assessment, studies and analyses of the Initiative ...... 21 6.2 Phase III: Valorisation...... 21 7. CLOSING CEREMONY ...... 22
WORKING PERSPECTIVES: PRIORITY ACTIONS FOR 2006 ...... 23 1. IMPROVING KNOWLEDGE OF ENDOGENOUS CAPABILITIES, SUPPORT FOR THEIR DIFFUSION AND FOR STRENGTHENING THEIR USE ...... 23 2. INVOLVING THE REGION’S YOUNG PEOPLE ...... 23 3. INVOLVING WOMEN IN THE REGION AND DEVELOPING THEIR ROLE AND POSITION WITH REGARD TO UPDATING AND IMPLEMENTING ENDOGENOUS CAPACITIES IN CONFLICT PREVENTION AND GOVERNANCE...... 23 4. DEVELOPING DIALOGUE AND INFORMED DEBATE ON MODES OF GOVERNANCE ...... 24
CHAPTER II. ANNEXES ...... 25 AGENDA ...... 25 INTERVENTION OF NORMAND LAUZON, DIRECTOR, SAHEL AND WEST AFRICA CLUB (SWAC) ...... 30 SPEECH BY SUNHILT SCHUMACHER, DEPUTY DIRECTOR, SWAC SECRETARIAT ...... 35 CLOSING SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY EL HADJI THIERNO HABIB DIALLO, MINISTER OF COOPERATION ...... 38 VOTE OF THANKS ...... 41 FINAL LIST OF PARTICIPANTS ...... 42
3 Volume 2: Working documents of the Conakry’s Workshop
Session 1 « A method of prevention and regulation in West Africa: Kinship of pleasantry »
1. Kinship of pleasantry: historical origin, preventative and regulatory role in West Africa. Mr. Djibril Tamsir Niane, historian and writer ‐ Republic of Guinea. 2. The ʺMaatʺ kinship of pleasantry or the reign of the original model for social harmony; Mr. Babacar Sedikh Diouf, scholar of traditions, Union of Writers in National Languages – Senegal.
Session 2 « Endogenous culture, strategies and mechanisms of mediation »
1. African diplomacy and mediation culture in Africa. Mr. Seydina Oumar Sy, diplomat, former Minister for Foreign Affairs ‐ Senegal 2. Conflict Prevention and Mediation Experiences and Mechanisms in Forest Guinea. Mr. Tolo Beavogui, diplomat, historian – Republic of Guinea 3. Traditional mechanisms and socio‐cultural strategies for resolving conflict: the story of Aguene and Diambone. Mr. Saliou Sambou, administrateur civil, governor of Dakar – Senegal.
Session 3 « Endogenous forms and methods of governance in West Africa »
1. African political science: a few areas of discussion. Prof. Pathé Diagne, historian, linguist – Senegal. 2. African endogenous mechanisms for governance and conflict prevention. Prof. Honorat Aguessy, Anthropologist – Benin. 3. African endogenous mechanisms for governance and conflict prevention. Mr. Gani Yoroms, political scientist, National War College. Abuja – Nigeria. 4. African endogenous mechanisms for conflict prevention and settlement. Mr. Bakary Fofana, Director, CECIDE; Conakry – Guinea. 5. Endogenous African capacities in conflict governance. Prof. Basile Guissou, former Minister, director CNRST – Burkina Faso. 6. Indications from the history and culture of West African Societies on the role of women in prevention and governance. Mrs. Djibrilla Maiga, Réseau des femmes – Mali. 7. Traditional power and local governance: the case of Ghana. Emmanuel Kwesi Aning & Prosper Nii Nortey Addo 8. Traditional power and local governance: the Nigerian experience. Mr. Momoh Lawani Yésufu.
Sahel and West Africa Club Le Seine Saint-Germain, 4, boulevard des Îles, 92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux, France Postal Address: 2, rue André-Pascal- 75016 Paris, France Tel. + 33 1 45 24 90 47 - Fax. +33 1 45 24 90 31 E-mail: sahel.contact@oecd.org — Website: www.oecd.org/sah
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Chapter I. Report on the Initiative’s launching workshop and priority actions for 2006
The OECD’s Sahel and West Africa Club organised a workshop in Conakry, Guinea, from 9 to 11 March 2005 launching the “INITIATIVE ON CAPITALISING ON AFRICAN ENDOGENOUS CAPACITIES FOR GOVERNANCE AND CONFLICT PREVENTION”.
This meeting brought together approximately sixty participants – researchers, representatives of civil society, traditionalists, diplomats and State officials – from thirteen West African countries and France, where OECD Headquarters is located.
1. Rationale, focus and objectives
West Africa is a region endowed with significant material and cultural wealth. However, the use of this wealth is compromised by recurrent armed conflicts and crisis in governance that paralyse the functioning of West African states and undermine regional stability.
West African countries and societies are, among others, characterised by the trans‐nationality of certain cultural values, institutions or traditional approaches to politics. In many societies, the management of social and political contradictions linked to differences is based on a cultural code, mechanisms and strategies intended to limit conflict within the margins of balance of the collective social framework and/or that of the institution. Some social actors are exclusively custodians of predictive powers, while others are vested with preventive powers. These two functions may also be merged.
The power of mediation and/or interposition has been passed on to certain social actors (exclusively so or more than others). What are these powers and how can they help prevent and settle current conflicts?
It is appropriate to highlight the reality of these phenomena for West African societies. However, the diversity of their preventive and mediating approaches should be taken into account.
For example, between individuals and various groups there are cultural mechanisms and strategies agreed upon to simulate contradictions in order to deter potential violence that can affect their internal or neighbouring relations.
The so‐called kinship of pleasantry addresses these socio‐cultural regulatory phenomena. There are several hypotheses as to its origin. One of which is documented by historiography. The work of this initiative has sought to describe this mechanism but in such a way that clarifies its function in governance and conflict prevention.
5 In some societies, there is also a role or an interposition of power or mediation devolved to women, or to a specified category of women and/or other social components. While not limiting the issue only to the building and strengthening of peace and democracy, the interposition of power or mediation devolved to women should be highlighted and capitalised on because of their great social value and topicality.
This initiative strives to put this approach into concrete terms is set out in the orientations of the Sahel and West Africa Club’s 2005/2007 Work Plan which integrates two of the key questions below:
(i) What are the endogenous capacities of Africans as regards conflict prevention, socio‐ political regulation and governance?
(ii) How can these capacities be emphasised within the political and cultural heritage of West Africans? How can they contribute to face the challenges and manage the risks?
(iii) How can they contribute to adapting governance strategies and principles in the West African socio‐cultural and political contexts?
(iv) What adjustments could be made to enable current governance practices to support positive dynamics of change at the local, national and regional levels?
The SWAC Secretariat draws from the assumption that Heads of State, governments, party leaders and other actors in West Africa are for the most part aware of the precepts of good political and economic governance which are generally recognised. However, the effectiveness of these principles, through their appropriation and application, is often problematic. Many factors could explain this situation, of which the issue of their adaptation to the African socio‐ cultural context is one of the most important.
The reference to African cultures and societies does not always guarantee good governance practices. But it emphasises that their history, heritage and current usages still need closer examination.
The participants were invited to identify enduring conflict prevention principles, rules and practices, which could also be used within a system of balanced governance.
The following questions were raised to focus the workshop’s discussions on these concerns:
• What are the strategic resources provided by the cultural heritage of West African societies with regard to conflict prevention and socio‐political regulation? • What are the strategies needed to capitalise on the region’s endogenous capacities?
Four main objectives were proposed to the workshop participants:
1) Identify endogenous capacities as regards governance; 2) Bring to the forefront endogenous conflict prevention mechanisms and strategies; 3) Indicate the types of actions likely to capitalise on these mechanisms and strategies; 4) Propose strategies in order to implement them.
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2. Opening ceremony
The workshop was declared open on 9 March 2005 in Conakry at the Mariador Palace Hotel. The opening ceremony was presided over by the Guinean authorities, represented by Mr. Kiridi BANGOURA, Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, and Mr. El Hadji Thierno Habib DIALLO, Minister of Cooperation.
Representatives of the G8 countries and the European Union present in Conakry as well as ECOWAS member countries’ ambassadors also attended the opening ceremony.
Representatives from thirteen countries (Burkina Faso, Benin, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal), three international institutions, six research institutes and civil society were also present.
In their opening speeches, the two Guinean Ministers emphasised the following, among other issues:
- The importance of conflict prevention based on the endogenous capacities of African societies; - The need to pay great attention to the analytical approach to conflict not only in its impact but also its significance; - The need to avoid isolating the local and endogenous from the global dimension; - The relevance of nation‐building in the region today and the challenges that this brings, notably in the importance of promoting the rule of law ; - The need for economic development to succeed by combining domestic and endogenous possibilities with an opening towards the outside world and with the support of international cooperation.
Mr. Normand Lauzon, Director of the Sahel and West Africa Club/OECD thanked the Guinean authorities for their warm welcome and for their participation at the workshop and then presented the Sahel and West Africa Club (SWAC) Secretariat’s work. He emphasised the Club’s commitment to balanced development in the region, its role as an interface between OECD Member countries and West African States and actors. He also broached the major challenges facing the region including the vital question of where and how will the 430 million inhabitants live in 15 years.
To help clarify this perspective through its analysis, provide support to actors and to the region’s capacity to handle its own problems, the Club du Sahel, which in 2001 became the Sahel and West Africa Club, is organised into four units. The “Governance, Conflict Dynamics, Peace and Security” Unit is in charge of the development and implementation of the initiative on capitalising on endogenous capacities for Governance and Conflict Prevention.
7 3. Presentation of the Initiative on capitalising on endogenous capacities
This Initiative was introduced by Mr. Massaër DIALLO, Head of the Governance, Conflict Dynamics, Peace and Security Unit. He presented the initiative within the context of the Sahel and West Africa Club Secretariat’s Work Plan and then described its structure and defined the different stages in its implementation.
3.1 The Initiative within the SWAC’s Governance Programme
During the period 2005‐2007, the Governance and Conflict Prevention Programme is focusing on four areas:
1) The ECOWAS Supplementary Protocol on Democracy and Good Governance, whose ratification and implementation is an important objective.
2) Work on Capitalising on African Endogenous Capacities for Governance and Conflict Prevention Initiative.
3) Network‐coordinated actions, dialogue and advocacy for democratic governance of the security sector in West Africa.
4) Co‐organising a Forum on political parties, the media and civil society in West Africa.
3.2 The Initiative’s Role and Substance
Mr. Diallo’s presentation highlighted three key points:
1°‐ Contextualising governance
Mr. Diallo underscored that it is essential to examine concepts and principles within West African socio‐cultural, political and historical frameworks which for a very long time have been characterised by values, practices, institutions and various traditions.
Taking into account the West African context is not an alibi for poor governance practices based on cultural and civilisation differences. It targets the need to identify the constraints and incidences among the forms and modes of governance and conflict prevention.
2°‐ Involving African actors and notably those in West Africa
Governance issues must not be perceived simply as an exogenous conditionality for financing but also an intrinsic need for societies, countries, and regional institutions which require stability, balance and performance in order to establish democracy, sustainable peace, poverty reduction and attaining social well‐being. The underscoring of governance stakes must facilitate the involvement of various types of actors in the (re)discovering and capitalisation on good practices and endogenous capacities.
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3°‐ The need to operationalise governance issues by:
a) Promoting dialogue between what is endogenous and what is exogenous and capitalising on internal endogenous capacities while supporting the promotion of a sustainable dynamic and good governance.
b) Establishing synergies between four levels of governance, i.e.:
• Global governance by the UN and multilateral organisations (World Bank, IMF, WTO) encouraging poverty reduction strategies and the fight against insecurity and underdevelopment; • Regional governance (ECOWAS, African Union); • National governance at State‐level; • Local governance involving locally elected officials, local institutions, civil society and citizens.
This coordination is needed to provide Africa and its western region all the chances and opportunities to mobilise optimally all of its governance capacities to assist the development of peace and democracy. In the context of globalisation, endogenous capacities and governance must be highlighted, strengthened and capitalised on, for these are part of Africa’s institutional and political heritage, bequeathed by its history and culture. These capacities are not only reduced to traditional heritage but also incorporate the political social and cultural experiences of the last 50 years with lessons from which actors can learn.
3.3 The various stages of the Initiative
The Initiative’s implementation is envisaged in three phases:
3.3.1 Assessment of the present situation Endogenous principles, rules, mechanisms and strategies enabling conflict prevention and sustainable and effective practices of good governance must be identified and highlighted. The workshop launching the initiative in Conakry constitutes an important first step. The assessment aims among others to be aware of the current level of understanding of the forms and endogenous modes of governance and conflict prevention. This must lead to recommendations concerning the types and nature of possible work needed to strengthen and broaden this understanding. The assessment must help shed more light on the degree of intensity and practicality of the identified capacities within the current West African socio‐ political contexts. A meeting of experts can contribute, if needed, to the finalisation of this first phase.
3.3.2 Studies and analyses, informed debate: — Studies may be carried out on the specific and common aspects of governance and the prevention of violent conflicts among different societies in the region. These studies must help capitalise on the experience and knowledge of various actors as regards their status and function.
9 — Consultation or restitution workshops, if needed, would also ensure or contribute to the attainment of such an objective while mobilising various complementary expertise.
The kinship of pleasantry system will possibly be addressed in these workshops only with a view to endogenous governance.
— Informed debates which have a four‐fold objective: Put forward the result of the work carried out on endogenous governance capacities as a basis for strategic thinking and regional actors’ validation; Involve regional actors in the capitalisation activities; Develop a dialogue between endogenous and exogenous modes of governance; Provide OECD Member countries with a better understanding and an awareness of African potentials and capacities in this sector.
The following issues, among others could be part of an informed debate:
a) The reality and level of effectiveness of some African traditional conflict prevention mechanisms and strategies; b) The contribution of endogenous mediation capacities in seeking solutions to crises which are currently affecting West Africa; c) African traditional powers and national and local political governance. In order to build a system adapted to democratic governance, obstacles and assets within the surviving structures and mechanisms from West African traditional power must be identified; d) Democratic citizenship put to the test of cultural diversity; e) Endogenous motivating and mobilising levers of various populations in poverty reduction; f) The democratic principle of majority and the tradition of consensus: the impact of socio‐cultural data on the rooting of democracy in West Africa; g) Public goods, national interest and communities’ solidarity: governance put to the test of socio‐cultural facts.
3.3.3 Capitalisation strategy The forms and capitalisation strategies on African heritage must be identified as regards conflict prevention and governance which are likely to reverberate and involve actors of the region within their various positions and roles.
In many of the region’s endogenous political systems, Africa’s social and cultural traditions are marked by the importance of participatory and consensual approaches, for instance, while dealing with community‐related issues. These qualities must be emphasised within the context of strengthening of democracy, the need for inclusion as regards governance and the involvement of the young in active citizenship.
With adequate data made available from historical experience, various activities will be able to contribute to capitalising on endogenous achievements, notably by:
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− Advocacy and awareness‐raising activities supporting civil society and aimed in particular at the youth and women; − The dissemination of various scientific and cultural information mediums carried out on the capacities and successful prevention experiences and endogenous governance; − Collaboration with ECOWAS, the region’s civil society, research institutes and the media will contribute at the regional level to the dissemination of the results and their appropriation by most of the actors including states and communities; − Restitution meetings, exchanges and capitalisation involving regional, sub‐regional, national and local actors could be envisaged.
The Conakry Workshop is the first activity in the launching of this Initiative and is one of the first phases of an assessment to be carried out.
4. Sessions’ themes
The workshop was divided into four sessions at which documents were presented for each theme. A discussion followed the presentation of each document; the sessions examined the following themes:
First session: Conflict prevention and regulation method in West Africa: Kinship of Pleasantry;
Second session: Endogenous culture, strategies and mechanisms of mediation;
Third session: Endogenous forms and methods of governance in West Africa;
Fourth session: Synthesis discussion and development of a strategy capitalising on endogenous capacities for conflict prevention and governance.
These themes served as a framework to develop presentations focusing on the following issues:
1) Origin and roles of kinship of pleasantry; 2) Specificity of African diplomacy; 3) Capitalising on Africa’s culture of mediation including at the diplomatic level; 4) Women’s roles in conflict prevention and governance through history; 5) Managing political power: a few indications from history; 6) Traditional governance and conflict prevention mechanisms in West Africa; 7) Endogenous types of governance in West Africa; 8) Traditional power and local governance through the examples of Nigeria and Ghana.
11 5. Presentations and discussions
Introductory statements which were made available in advance served as the basis to introduce the various themes addressed at the meeting.
Session One:
9 “Kinship of pleasantry: A prevention and regulation method in West Africa”
Mr. Saliou SAMBOU, civil administrator, Governor of Dakar, Senegal, provided a paper reporting on the “Aguène et Diambogne” association experience which was supported by Senegal. It illustrates the values and principles of the cousinship of pleasantry in order to develop a socio‐cultural mediation and how it can contribute to finding a peaceful solution to the Casamance crisis.
The other documents addressed the following issues:
- “Kinship of pleasantry: historical origin, preventive and regulatory function in West Africa” by Mr. Djibril Tamsir NIANE, Historian and writer. - “Kinship of pleasantry within the Senegambia” by Mr. Babacar Sedikh DIOUF, Serere Tradition Expert.
Most conflicts in Africa arise due to poor governance, social injustice, cultural frustrations and rivalries or greed linked to political power. The analysis of conflicts so as to understand their origins as well as their dynamics in order to find a solution must give great importance to the understanding and encouragement strategies for peace based on African values. These analyses can contribute, as they have in incidents in the past at various levels, to the resolution of crises which affect democracy, peace and development in the region.
In the Mano River region, women played a decisive role in settling conflicts by making the most of the central role vested in them by African society.
This is also the tradition that the “Aguene et Diambogne” association tries to perpetuate in Senegal through its annual event revitalising the values of interethnic fraternity called the “festival of origins”.
Successive documents put forward by Messrs. NIANE and DIOUF set out that what was called kinship of pleasantry was one way of preventing and managing crises. Its origins are very difficult to determine. Some place it in ancient Egypt, while others date it to the Ghana Empire.
According to Mr. NIANE, its institutionalisation dates back to 1236 and the Mali Empire after Soundjata Keita’s (becoming sovereign) victory over Soumaoro Kanté.
Kinship of Pleasantry can be found in all African languages in the region: it is called “Kal” in Wolof, “Dendiraagal” in Pular and “Sanankuya” in Bambara. Indeed, given the diverse names by which it is known, kinship of pleasantry has an almost regional dimension in West Africa.
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The concept conveys African values/references such as the recognition of others, a sense of belonging to the community, ethics of sharing and respect for the other’s dignity.
In the Serer language, the term that indicates the cousinship of pleasantry signifies both governance and the State itself. This close semantic equivalent highlights the socio‐political dimension of this phenomenon which goes beyond the simple traditional pleasantries. Humour helps maintain conviviality in social relations exposed to possible tensions. Mr. DIOUF adopted the definition of the “kinship of pleasantry” given by Mr. Raphaël NDIAYE, according to whom it is a “set of friendly and special ties established by the Ancestors, which function on the basis of courteous humour and mockery”.
This type of relationship functions between members of the same family, between clans, ethnic groups and peoples. This rapprochement strategy is illustrated by an equivalent system between African surnames which are basically the same and synonymous yet spelled differently.
“The kinship of pleasantry is also a factor of social integration and harmonisation, whose basis is economics. It governs the succession of certain societies in the best interests of the family, reduces violence and overcomes aggressiveness”. Its main role is the group’s cohesion.
The kinship of pleasantry is “today undoubtedly at the root of a West African citizenship that allows some people, thanks to the equivalence of their surnames, to cross borders, as they have several passports” which means not being excluded because of their differences.
9 Key ideas structured the first session’s discussion:
The following key issues and ideas emerged from a very rich discussion by the participants, based on their personal experiences as well as on African history, ethnology, comparative anthropology, sociology and oral literature.
Do we need to find a common term in African languages to define kinship of pleasantry which is proof both of the recognition of cultural diversity as well as that of shared values?
There is a need for a common understanding on the contents of the concept of kinship of pleasantry, its integration in the reality of socio‐cultural ties while avoiding any ‘domestication’, which may divert it from its functions.
Kinship of pleasantry is a mode of cohabitation, the outcome of a sacred pact between ethnic groups, and its dynamics should be envisaged at the pan‐African level, despite its specificities.
Could new alliances or pacts be set up between ethnic groups on the same basis in order to extend or spread the scope of peaceful relations?
This concept developed with the migration and displacement of people within countries and between different countries. However, we need to examine why this aspect of community life – a traditional African value – has faded with time.
13 Why do African mediation methods seem non‐operational in the face of current conflicts?
Kinship of pleasantry is both a social dynamic and an economic development tool. Some hypotheses attribute its origins to the emergence of a system that prevents frustration and contributes to the balanced production and management of goods in traditional society.
Session Two:
9 “Endogenous culture, strategies and mechanisms of mediation”
The following themes were addressed:
“Diplomacy and culture of mediation: To what extent has African diplomacy integrated the endogenous culture of mediation? How to capitalise on this heritage?” by Mr. Seydina Oumar SY, diplomat.
“Experiences and mechanisms of conflict prevention and mediation in Guinée forestière”, by Mr. Tolo BEAVOGUI, teacher, former diplomat.
“Indications on the role of women in conflict prevention and governance in the history of West African societies”, by Mrs. Djibrila MAÏGA.
According to Seydina Oumar SY, “African philosophy is based on understanding each other, speaking the same language and demonstrating such understanding through alliances, games, kinships of pleasantry, respecting each other and peaceful coexistence.”
Most African societies are based on ethnic groups whose cohesion is sometimes maintained through alliances that enable them to reduce the risk of conflict. Thus, different traditional mechanisms are used at both community and State levels. These are “palaver” (long discussions) or dialogue.
Africa’s crisis management method involves all components of society. Women and secret societies play an important role in the conflict settlement process. As for mediation, it is only when traditional mechanisms fail that a third party, whose wisdom, neutrality and sense of balance are undeniable, is called in. Examples of successful mediation are those by Ahmed Sékou Touré between General Eyadema and Colonel Mathieu Kérékou, incorporating knowledge about their habits and customs, and those by Togo, Niger, Senegal and Guinea during the territorial conflict between Mali and Upper Volta (now Burkina Faso).
According to Mr. SY, African diplomacy can draw even more from the strategic approaches and resources provided by West African societal mediation culture.
For Mr. Tolo BEAVOGUI, Guinée forestière is a perfect illustration of the kind of ethnic plurality, cultural diversity and linguistic community that often characterise African States. It harbours an inextricable mixture of clans and languages. Affected by destabilising conflictsin the neighbouring countries, it shares its borders with Sierra Leone to the East, Liberia to the South and Côte d’Ivoire to the North.
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The Liberian conflict led to its destabilisation, damaged the environment and triggered the displacement of a large number of people with a high concentration of refugees in the area. Foreign interference, rivalries between neighbouring leaders and atrocities committed by rival militia have put friendly relations between different communities under pressure.
Various traditional educational mechanisms, such as the “sande” for women or the “poro” for men, have always contributed considerably to settling conflicts that emerged between communities. Furthermore, pacts were signed between the sages in order to reaffirm the communities’ solidarity.
Mrs. Djibrilla MAÏGA draws examples from the sub‐region’s history needed to illustrate the existence of a long tradition involving women in conflict resolution and prevention. Thus from Sogolon Konde, the mother of Soundiata Keita emperor of Mail to Aline Sitoé Diatta, and more recently in Casamance Senegal, women have played a predominant role in the family and in society. They are the guardians of tradition and hold mystical powers. The multiple roles they play make them the cement that holds society together and vital actors in the search for solutions to the crises that have shook the region. They have sometimes taken the initiative, as was the case in Casamance and the Mano River countries, thereby contributing to peace‐ building in West Africa.
African diplomacy has used traditional conflict prevention and resolution mechanisms. However, these have shown their limitations in the intra‐State conflicts that undermine the continent, often arising due to poor governance, the crisis of the nation‐State and the lack of what Senghor called “the collective determination to live a shared life”. Such was the case in Côte d’Ivoire, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Due to the complexity of current conflicts in Africa, the international community needs to be involved in their settlement; but a constructive updating of the domestic conflict settlement capacities of societies seeking sustainable solutions is also required.
9 Key ideas structuring the second session’s discussion:
It is important to draw on lessons learned from history as regards mediation in Africa;
Most conflicts are different than they were in the past and often occur between the States and their citizens – how can traditional mechanisms help them find a solution?
The search for truth at all levels is crucial for conflict resolution (as regards causes, antecedent, and stakes);
A typology of conflicts needs to be developed for mediation methods to be more effective and better adapted;
Actors and strategies have to be identified and defined within their respective local, national and regional sectors;
15 Crisis management calls for an accepted moral upright and recognised authority, whereas Africa is facing an enormous leadership crisis;
Endogenous capacities should also include intelligentsia and the diaspora;
Taking into account the role of women in African society, their responsibility and their place in conflicts must not be overlooked;
Mothers and wives should be present during any mediation process so that their concerns are better taken into account in modalities of exit from crisis;
An historical assessment of the struggle between communities is also necessary (communities established due to immigration and so‐called native communities, e.g. in Liberia);
The knowledge of reality on the ground and conflicts’ history in the region must be improved consistently in order to better understand the situations and contribute to identifying possible exits from crisis; Education on citizenship and the culture of peace should be encouraged;
The failure of mediation efforts is often due to lack of trust, unwillingness to compromise and insincerity between protagonists, how can endogenous approaches be capitalised upon and contribute to resolving this problem?
The influence of the former colonial powers sometimes makes mediation difficult.
Session Three:
9 “Endogenous forms and methods of governance in West Africa”
Among the themes addressed:
“Mechanisms and forms of inclusion in the management of political power” by Mr. Pathé DIAGNE, Historian and Linguist.
“Endogenous capacities of conflict management”, by Professor Basile GUISSOU.
“Endogenous types of governance and prevention”. Three documents were presented on this subject by: Professor Honorat AGUESSY, Dr. Gani YOROM and Mr. Bakary FOFANA.
“Traditional power and Local Governance in West Africa” for which two documents were presented: Dr. M.L. YESUFU introduced the case of Nigeria; Mr. Prosper Nii ADDO broached the case of Ghana.
Professor DIAGNE emphasised certain distinctive traits as regards African political traditions. African diplomacy, considered to be based on contact and dialogue, favours personal relations. It advocates forgiveness and reconciliation.
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Reiterating the concept of kinship of pleasantry, Mr. DIAGNE defined it as follows: “The best way of managing differences and diversity in the social and political fields, it allows taboos to be broken and establishes an emotional communication relationship.”
The main characteristic of the African State, according to Mr. DIAGNE, is that it has provided for counter‐powers of metaphysical or ethical origin as regulators for governance. The traditional African political system organises the balance between power and the legality of the exercise of such power. “That is why”, states Mr. DIAGNE, “the current constitutional framework does not really fit well within Africa’s sociological space and can only be understood in the framework of the patronage system of governance tactics of certain political authorities”. He suggests a clear separation between executive, legislative and judicial powers is necessary to improve the management of the African State.
According to Professor Honorat AGUESSY, exogenous and endogenous forms of governance and conflict prevention exist concomitantly in African societies.
The practice of “Donkpe” in Benin illustrates this concern. It is a traditional form of governance that governs and provides norms to the society’s associative life. It also helps prevent conflicts based on the organisation of age groups and other community groups into a hierarchy.
While the main function of governance is to prevent various types of injustice, whether economic, social, cultural or political, it should also include all aspects of democracy.
Dr. Gani YOROMS underlines the fact that since independence, in order to meet the needs of governance, African States have implemented strategies that only aggravated the situation, as they failed to take local realities into account.
Hence, it is a matter of urgency to examine how traditional levers of governance can be adapted to current‐day realities. Among others, these include religious rituals, matrimonial alliances, love, forgiveness, oaths of fidelity, advice from elders, etc.
According to Dr. YOROMS, societies need ideology, development and security in order to establish their social system. This makes governance a social contract that enables the elite and those governed to live in a State that recognises the rule of law.
Colonisation has had disastrous consequences on most African societies. In the current context of globalisation, Africans urgently need to:
- Re‐examine existing models of democracy; - Use traditional entities, such as the Council of Elders ; - Advocate the inclusive approach, taking all components and factors into account; - Swear an oath of fidelity instead of swearing on holy books.
According to Dr. YOROMS, the prerequisites are to:
- Accept that current mechanisms are inadequate; - Review African constitutions and allow people to appropriate them; - Share power and accept political alternation.
17 For Dr. YOROMS, the Council of Elders set up by ECOWAS and the Peer Review Mechanism is a very important step forward.
Mr. Bakary FOFANA argued against the image of violence attached to Africa and remarked that it had been imposed on the continent by the vicissitudes of history through the slave trade, colonisation and the imperfections of post‐colonial States.
In his view, African civilisation advocates the values of tolerance, non‐violence, dialogue, compromise and peaceful coexistence. These values flow through all its traditions and are expressed through its folk wisdom.
Broaching the issue of conflict prevention, he acknowledged the existence of certain mechanisms such as secret societies as well as endogamous and exogamous alliances, which have considerably reduced the risk of conflict by creating solidarity chains. With regard to conflict management, different methods have been used, depending on the type of conflict concerned: mediation, negotiation, “palaver” and visits by plenipotentiaries.
These mechanisms are able to settle conflicts within our modern societies – they just have to be adapted to the context. But a real political will to do so is necessary for this to happen.
While referring to the Mossi kingdom, Professor Basile L. GUISSOU noted that each clan, tribe or village had a place and a specific role in the search for social cohesion and peace. According to him, there are two levels of governance:
- The official, state level, geared towards public opinion; - The “informal”, unofficial level, strictly limited to indigenous capacities, as the local people are the true possessors of local know‐how and knowledge with regard to conflict governance.
According to Professor GUISSOU, the above endogenous African potentials of conflict management and governance are most often confined to an informal space, whereas in India and Asia, linguistic and cultural diversity and ensuing skills and traditions are considered a source of wealth.
Ghana’s experience in the use of endogenous knowledge in conflict prevention and the establishment of governance parameters is highly interesting. According to Mr. Prosper Nii Nortey ADDO, dyarchy between traditional power and local governance since the pre‐colonial period and well after it, led to a rising awareness as regards the role chiefs – who were the traditional repositories of authority and power – could play in local governance. Conflicts in Ghana are of low intensity. They are basically due to issues of succession, land‐related conflicts and conflicts between ethnic or religious groups, which call for mediation by traditional actors.
Furthermore, the 1992 Constitution strengthened the chiefs’ power by recognising their social legitimacy and contributed to better coordination between traditional and modern structures, although the rivalries that sometimes continue to exist between the traditional structures themselves and between the State and traditional structures cannot be overlooked.
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These structures have stood the test of time, although their power may have gradually been eroded. National, regional and local levels of authority needed to be established, and yet, endogenous conflict prevention skills still have to be improved.
According to Dr. Momoh Lawani YESUFU, Nigeria also opted for federal, national and local levels of governance.
Language and the distribution of cola nuts are some of the unification and harmony tools between Nigerian social groups.
The 1979 constitution assigned areas of expertise to the local government, but the debt burden led to an increasing limitation of traditional power. A dialogue between actors is called for, to make the system more effective.
9 Key ideas structured the third session’s discussion:
The absence of local leadership has accentuated the lack of reference points in our societies; There is a conflict between legitimacy and legality of governments; Efforts should not be limited solely to prevention and governance. Deterrence and repression also form part of governance’s tools; Exogenous factors considerably limit traditional power; Is there an African model of democracy? There can be no development without peace; Crisis settlement should not be limited to top‐level actors and the holding of elections. It should be preceded by a process aimed at building trust between communities; Law and order and civil power are deteriorating; Are international laws appropriate to local African realities? Governance should also be a conflict prevention method; The nation‐State crisis is weakening the continent; Governance should be set in an all‐embracing framework. We are now facing a general state of disarray and a value crisis that will not spare Africa; The resurgence of traditional chieftainships may prove to be a hindrance to good governance. The disappearance of rituals that used to enable people to tell the king what they thought is another lost mode of governance; The existence of Presidential electors in Africa promotes corruption and should be seen as a hindrance to democracy; Why have some countries done away with traditional chieftainships? Could this also have contributed to the loss of points of reference among today’s youth? What place do the youth occupy in governance mechanisms and conflict settlement?
19 The Fourth Session:
9 The Initiative’s work
Following the three sessions, the final discussions focused on the validation and implementation of the Initiative on capitalising on African endogenous capacities for governance and conflict prevention.
Mr. Massaër Diallo introduced this section on future prospects.
The following questions served as the framework for the workshop:
How can the concept of kinships of pleasantry in the new West African social and political contexts be operationalised given the major conflicts and problems in governance? How can the understanding and impact of certain values which promote successful and well‐managed coexistence between different neighbouring groups be strengthened? How can strategies and principles of good governance be adapted to West African socio‐cultural contexts and enrich these strategies by capitalising on endogenous contributions? What role can national languages play in the appropriation of national policies and the improvement of governance? How can endogenous governance mechanisms and strategies be extended to the greater public while being adjusted at every governance level? For each strategy, who are the actors and what are the fields and respective local, national and regional levels that could effectively benefit from the existing endogenous capital? How can citizenship be enriched by incorporating diverse ethnic groups, minorities and communities in building democracy? How can we enable African citizens to learn about their rights but also play their roles in building democracy that serves the people? How to involve the youth in learning about endogenous values and strategies? How does this fit in within the education system? How and in what way can traditional modes of management be incorporated into local governance?
These questions which introduced the debate have been taken as indications relating to work orientations and actions foreseen in order to implement the various phases of the initiative.
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6. Recommendations
6.1 Phases I and II: assessment, studies and analyses of the Initiative
Participants made the following recommendations:
1) Identify local actors who are the repositories of endogenous knowledge on issues of governance and conflict prevention;
2) Collect documents and testimonies for wider dissemination of information on endogenous capacities;
3) Emphasise the importance and roles women play in traditional systems of governance;
4) Study the most relevant forms of conceptualising and naming kinships of pleasantry, based on its endogenous names;
5) Acknowledge and report on the existing dualism between local endogenous governance and so‐called Western‐type governance;
6) Start an inventory of the achievements of endogenous governance modes;
7) Examine how traditional social regulation mechanisms can serve regional bodies such as ECOWAS?
6.2 Phase III: Valorisation
Participants made the following recommendations:
1) The socio‐cultural and historical environment needs to be taken into account while drafting African constitutions in order to reach consensus and ensure the sustainable support of all actors and all components of society;
2) Encourage the State to rely on endogenous political values and traditions in order to have a more inclusive approach;
3) Prevent any excessive bureaucratisation of State bodies, which could widen the gap between the State and its citizens;
4) Return to participative traditions by implementing a decentralised democracy supported by populations’ cultural mechanisms and their rights as citizens;
5) Promote and develop multi‐faceted inter‐generational dialogue;
6) Involve the youth in formal and informal education networks and encourage them to re‐appropriate values favouring peace, solidarity, respect for differences and to participate in a joint effort towards development;
7) Promote a regional media network that projects a different image of Africa and which incorporates the promotion of its endogenous capacities;
21 8) Increase the role of civil society;
9) Examine how regional cultures can help bring international community’s post‐ conflict agendas to fruition;
10) Define priority areas and sectors for action in the implementation of the Initiative;
11) Conduct reviews at each stage of the process.
7. Closing Ceremony
Mr. El Hadji Thierno Habib DIALLO, Minister of Cooperation, chaired the Closing Ceremony which took place with Mr. Michel KAMANO, President of the Economic and Social Counsel and Mrs. Hadja Aïssatou Bella DIALLO, Minister of Communication present.
During their conclusion, the Sahel and West Africa Club’s Director, Mr. Normand LAUZON and the Club’s Deputy Director, Mrs. Sunhilt SCHUMACHER (see Annex) emphasised the two types of governance co‐existing in Africa: endogenous, on one hand and exogenous and modern based on that of Western countries. According to Mr. Lauzon and Mrs. Schumacher Africa needs endogenity in its development process. They also reiterated that the Club’s action is based on a “better understanding and dissemination of endogenous systems”. As underlined by Mrs. SCHUMACHER, “This can be a useful contribution to a better understanding of Africa, in particular as concerns dialogue with aid agencies”.
The closing speech was given by Mr. DIALLO, Minister of Cooperation, which was preceded by the reading by His Excellency, Mr. Seydina Oumar SY of the Acknowledgements by the participants to the Guinean government and people.
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Working perspectives: priority actions for 2006 As regards the implementation of the Initiative on capitalising on endogenous capacities for conflict prevention and governance
1. Improving knowledge of endogenous capabilities, support for their diffusion and for strengthening their use
A meeting of experts will be held so that a number of the issues that were touched on during the launching workshop can be further examined. The work undertaken will enrich the already available data.
As a contribution to disseminating and transferring African cultural heritage regarding mechanisms, strategies and capabilities concerning governance and conflict prevention, an Intergenerational Forum for sharing and capitalising on endogenous capacities will enable young people in the region to come into contact with those possessing knowledge, skills and abilities. Leading figures from civil society and from the worlds of research, education, culture and politics, who are acknowledged leaders in this area in West Africa, will be involved in this Forum. Coverage by the region’s media will contribute towards involving actors who will not be attending this Intergenerational Forum.
2. Involving the region’s young people
A meeting on citizenship and the involvement of young people in the region in building peace and democracy will be organised. It will address issues concerning a new generation taking over from the previous one and young people’s involvement in a context of a crisis of sociocultural values.
Coordination of young people coming from the Forum on Political Parties, the Media and Civil Society in West Africa will be associated with this activity.
3. Involving women in the region and developing their role and position with regard to updating and implementing endogenous capacities in conflict prevention and governance
A workshop will be organised which will have two objectives:
- Increasing the understanding and information on the position and role of women in terms of endogenous aspects of governance and conflict prevention. - Encouraging and synergising various women’s initiatives in this area.
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The Women’s Group established at the Gorée workshop, extended to include women participants at the Conakry Workshop on Governance and those of various other SWAC meetings in West Africa will be involved with implementing this activity and in follow‐up actions.
4. Developing dialogue and informed debate on modes of governance
In association with partners in the region who are organised or mobilised around issues of governance and the sectors of interest to the OECD, informed discussions will be organised in West Africa and at the SWAC’s headquarters on the various themes covered by the initiative’s launching workshop.
These activities will also be opportunities for setting up a dialogue on various exogenous and endogenous modes of governance.
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Chapter II. Annexes
Agenda
I. Introduction
West Africa is a region endowed with abundant material and cultural resources, whose utilisation is compromised by recurrent armed conflict and crisis in governance that, among others, paralyse the functioning of the States and pose a threat to stability.
West African countries and societies are, among other things, characterised by the trans‐ nationality of certain cultural values, institutions or traditional approaches to politics. In many societies, the management of social and political contradictions linked to differences (interests, conditions or references) depends on a code, certain mechanisms and strategies meant to contain the reality of conflict within the limits of the balance of the collective social fabric and/or that of the institution. Some of the social stakeholders are, in certain cases, exclusive custodians of the power of early warning, and others custodians of the power of prevention. The same actors can also hold both functions.
The power of mediation and/or interposition has also devolved on certain social actors (exclusively so or more than others). What are the powers of mediation and/or interposition? To what extent and how can this contribute to the prevention and resolution of present‐day conflict? It would be appropriate here to highlight the reality of the phenomena of the management of social and political contradictions in West African societies. However, we should also take the diversity of their preventive and mediating approaches into account.
For instance, beyond social, ethnic, technical or labour policy divisions, mechanisms and strategies in which individuals and human groups related to and/or in a situation of coexistence are called upon to participate in a social interplay defined by strict rules whose final outcome is to end violence through violence.
What is known as a kinship of pleasantry comes under this phenomenon. There are many hypotheses as to its origin. One such hypothesis is documented by historiography. This phenomenon should be taken into account, but in a way that clarifies its function in governance and conflict prevention.
In certain societies, women too – or a specified category of women and/or other social components – are vested with a role or a power of interposition or mediation.
Without limiting the approaches necessary or useful for building peace and democracy in a region with these features, they should be highlighted and brought into focus, to the extent that they are practiced and to the extent of their effectiveness.
This approach is set out in the orientations of the Sahel and West Africa Club’s 2005/2007 Work Plan which identifies the following key questions:
1) What is the endogenous capacity of Africans in regard to conflict prevention, socio‐ political regulation and governance?
25 2) How can the capacity be highlighted in the political and cultural heritage of West Africans? How can it contribute to face the challenges and manage the risks? 3) How can it contribute to adapting governance strategies and principles in the West African socio‐cultural and political contexts? 4) What adjustments could be made to enable current governance practices to support positive dynamics of change at the local, national and regional levels?
To include these issues in the perspective of capitalising on endogenous African capacities as regards conflict prevention and governance, the SWAC Secretariat is organising a workshop in Conakry, Guinea, on 9‐11 March 2005.
II. Issues
It goes without saying that most of political actors (statesmen, rulers and party leaders) are aware of the principles of good political and economic governance. However, the efficiency of these principles, depending on their ownership and effective application, is often problematic. There are numerous factors that can shed light on this situation. One of these factors is their adaptation in the African socio‐cultural context.
Reference to African cultures and societies does not always guarantee good governance practices. One should also question their history, heritage and current practices. To what extent and how these African cultures and society drive the principles, rules, and potential or current practices should be examined as regards conflict prevention and balanced governance.
• What are the strategic resources brought by the cultural heritage of West African societies with regard to conflict prevention and socio‐political regulation? • How can they be used to bring about a new approach to crisis prevention and good governance in the region? • What are the strategies needed to capitalise on the region’s endogenous capacities?
III. Objectives
1) Identify endogenous capacities as regards governance; 2) Bring to the forefront endogenous conflict prevention mechanisms and strategies; 3) Indicate the types of actions likely to capitalise on them 4) Propose strategies in order to implement them.
IV. Practical details
The workshop will be held at the Hotel Mariador Palace in Conakry, on 9‐11 March 2005. It will be divided into thematic sessions, each session having a panel of speakers followed by an open discussion. The conclusions will be disseminated within in the framework of initiative’s follow up. They will also be used to finalise the development of the Governance and Conflict Prevention Programme of the OECD’s Sahel and West African Club.
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WEDNESDAY, 9 MARCH 2005
08:30 – 09:00 Welcome participants
09:00 – 10:15 Opening ceremony under the chairmanship of the Honourable Minister representing the Government of the Republic of Guinea
09:00 ‐ 09:20 Presentation by the OECD’s Sahel and West African Club (SWAC) by Normand Lauzon, Director of the SWAC Secretariat
09:20 ‐ 09:35 Presentation of the initiative to capitalise on endogenous African capacities by Mr Massaër Diallo, Head of Governance, Conflict Dynamics, Peace and Security Unit
09:35 ‐ 10:00 Opening speech by his Honourable Mr. Kidiri Bangoura, Minister of Territorial Administration and Decentralisation
10:00‐10:10 Adjournment of session
10:10 – 10:30 Coffee break
10:30 – 13:30 Session One: A method of prevention and regulation in West Africa: Kinship of pleasantry
Chairman: Mr Mandjou Sow, Chairman OGDH, Republic of Guinea Rapporteur: Mr Mangoné Niang, Director – Cehlto, African Union – Niamey
10:30 – 11:15 Kinship of pleasantry: Historical origin, preventive and regulatory function in the West African region Mr. Djibril Tamsir Niane, historian and writer – Republic of Guinea
11:15 – 12:00 Kinship of pleasantry within the Senegambian region Mr. Babakar Sedikh Diouf, scholar of traditions, Union of Writers in National Languages – Senegal.
12:00 – 13:00 Debate
13:00 – 14:30 Lunch
14:30 ‐ 18:30 Session Two: Endogenous culture, strategies and mechanisms of mediation
Chairman: Mr Diouldé Laya, historian, Cehlto – Niger. Rapporteur: Mrs Memunatu Pratt, University of Sierra Leone
14:30 – 15:15 Diplomacy and culture of mediation: To what extent has African diplomacy integrated the endogenous culture of mediation? How to capitalise on this heritage? Mr. Seydina Oumar Sy, diplomat, Former Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senegal
27 15:15 ‐ 16:00 Experiences and mechanisms of conflict prevention in Guinée forestière Mr. Tolo Beavogui, diplomat, historian – Republic of Guinea
16:00 – 16:15 Coffee break
16:15 – 16:45 Traditional socio‐cultural strategies and mechanisms in conflict resolution: The experience of the Aguène e Diambogne Association in Casamance Mr. Saliou Sambou, civil administrator, Governor of Dakar, Senegal
16:45 ‐ 18:15 Debate
19:30 Welcome Cocktail
THURSDAY, 10 MARCH 2005
Session Three: Endogenous forms and methods of governance in West Africa Chairman: Mr Boubakar Moussa Bâ, political analyst – Mauritania Rapporteur: Mr Oumar Ndongo, Mano River NGO Forum – Sierra Leone
09:00 – 13:00 Endogenous forms of governance and conflict prevention in West Africa
09:00 ‐ 09:30 Mechanisms and forms of inclusion in the management of political power: lessons from African history Pathé Diagne, historian, linguist – Senegal
09:30 ‐ 12:15 Endogenous types of governance and prevention
09:30 ‐ 10:00 Mr. Aguessy Honorat, anthropologist – Benin
10:00 ‐ 10:30 Mr. Gani Yoroms, political scientist, National War College. Abuja – Nigeria
10:30 ‐ 11:00 Mr. Bakary Fofana, CECIDE, Conakry – Guinea
11:00 ‐ 11:15 Coffee Break
11:15 ‐ 11:45: Mr. Basile Guissou, former minister, Director CNRST – Burkina Faso
11:45 – 13:30 Debate
13:30 – 14:30 Lunch
14:30 ‐ 15:00 Lessons from history and culture on the place and role of women in governance and conflict prevention Mrs. Djibrilla Maiga, Women’s network – Mali
15:00 ‐ 16:00 Discussion
16:00 ‐ 16:15 Coffee Break
16:15 ‐ 18:30 Visit to a historic and cultural site
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FRIDAY, 11 MARCH 2005
Session Four: Discussion on the reports and capitalisation strategies Chairperson: Mrs. Thérèze Keïta, sociologist – Niger Moderator: Mr. Massaër Diallo, SWAC Secretariat Rapporteur: Mrs. Juliette Khady Sow, Jurist – Senegal
09:00 ‐ 11:00 Presentation and discussion on session reports
11:00 – 11:15 Coffee break
11:15 – 13:00 Introduction and discussion on strategic orientations of the Initiative to capitalise on endogenous capacities for governance and conflict prevention in West Africa
13:00 – 14:30 Lunch
14:30 – 16:30 Closing ceremony presided by the Honourable Minister
14:30 ‐ 15:00 Presentation of the conclusions of the workshop
15:00 ‐ 15:45 Discussion
15:45 ‐ 16:00 Address by Mrs Sunhilt Schumacher, Deputy Director, SWAC Secretariat
16:00 ‐ 16:30 Closing address by the Honourable El Hadji Thierno Habib Diallo, Minister of Cooperation.
29 Intervention of Normand Lauzon, Director, Sahel and West Africa Club (SWAC)
Ministers, Distinguished participants, Dear friends and colleagues,
1. Importance of your participation at this meeting
I am very pleased to be among you today participating at this meeting on capitalising on endogenous capacities for conflict prevention and governance. This is a very important link – very often neglected – indeed totally ignored in the complex chain of conflict prevention and exit from crises.
I am delighted, that despite your busy schedules, you have accepted our invitation to participate in these exchanges, exchanges geared towards concrete action on the ground. You represent a tremendous amount of experience on the ground as well as in such sectors as research, diplomacy and development. You come from various backgrounds of West African society. We have not produced a framework document for this meeting but you have been invited to provide brief written contributions based on what you have experienced and that’s what you have done. We wanted this meeting to bring your experiences to the forefront rather than offer you “ready to wear” or “ready to think” answers. Your open and direct exchanges anchored in reality and the knowledge of the setting must enable the cause for peace and security in the region to be moved forward.
2. Guinea, Conakry as the choice for the meeting place
We are pleased to find ourselves today in Guinea for this meeting. I would like to sincerely thank the Guinean government for their welcome and substantive and logistical support. It is not by chance that we have chosen to hold this meeting in Guinea. For many years this country has been surrounded by countries at various stages of conflict. This country has endured population movements. It has been affected by tremors in the cross‐border areas linked to conflicts in the sub‐region. And no country is sheltered from the spreading of the effects of crisis. We think that despite its own difficulties, Guinea has not remained inactive in seeking solutions. It has moreover been a host country to displaced people in the sub‐region with all of the economic and social consequences that such pressure implies.
3. The Sahel and West Africa Club
I would now like to present the Sahel and West Africa Club and summarise certain aspects of our perspective of the region and its ongoing evolution over the last decades.
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The Club du Sahel was created in 1976 by Member countries of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in collaboration with African leaders from Sahelian countries as a forum for the international community to discuss and encourage strong support over the long‐term for countries in the Sahel region, victims of the drought.
In 2001, taking into account the interdependence and complementarity of the Sahel with other West African countries, the Sahel Club’s Strategy and Policy Group decided to expand the Club’s geographic coverage to encompass the whole of West Africa. The Club then became the Sahel and West Africa Club.
The Club works within a network consisting of West African government representatives, civil society, the private sector as well as development and research agencies. The Club also works in close collaboration with West African development partners and with international and regional organisations notably ROPPA, the CILSS, the WAEMU, and ECOWAS, its principal partner in the region as a whole. As a member of the OECD Development Cluster, the Club has also developed synergies with other OECD Directorates.
The Club’s activities cover West Africa, composed of seventeen countries stretching from Cape Verde to the west to Chad in the east. They include fifteen ECOWAS member countries plus Mauritania and Chad. Cameroon is also taken into account given its geographical location. This region covers a surface area of 7 800 000 km2, equivalent to 21 times the surface area of Japan, 2 times that of the European Union and approximately 85% of Canada or the United States. Fourteen of these countries belong to the group of Least Developed Countries (LDC), with a GDP per capita in the order of US$ 350/year.
Until the end of the 19th century, demographic growth in West Africa stagnated, but he population has grown from 40 million in 1930 to 85 million in 1960. In 2003, there were approximately 290 million inhabitants representing 4.6% of the world population (6 billion 314 million), approximately 43% of the population of Sub‐Saharan Africa (673 million), 64% of the population of the European Union, roughly equivalent to that of the United States, 2.2 times that of Japan and 9 times the population of Canada. Hence, four decades of unprecedented, dynamic urbanisation in West Africa is not surprising. The urban population has risen from 15 to 45% of the total population. The equivalent evolution in Western Europe took a century and a half.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the massive investment efforts were not sufficient to provide the region with the socio‐economic infrastructure indispensable to its long‐term development. This situation continued for the next 25 years at a time when the region needed even more significant investment to generate a level of economic growth that could have helped meet two challenges: improve the living conditions while addressing the needs of a rapidly expanding population. This issue has become central to the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) strategy. The Club’s Secretariat will attach a high priority in the coming years to putting the following question on the forefront of the development agenda for the region: where and how will the approximately 430 million West African live in 2020?
While taking into account the problems and challenges of the region, the Sahel and West Africa Club Secretariat along with its African partners has developed a prospective vision of West Africa which focuses on the identification and promotion of the dynamics of change as well as the drivers of change. Over the last four decades, West Africa has experienced
31 significant transformation, and should not be perceived as a stagnant region but rather as a region in constant evolution, and capable of significant adaptation and progress.
The media coverage of events in West Africa often presents a pessimistic vision of the region. However, the dynamics of change observed over the long‐term show a very different reality. Over the last two decades the region has undergone significant social, cultural institutional and political changes: new modes of governance; shift from a single‐party to a multi‐party system; changes in the respective roles of the State and the private sector; expansion of the employment‐generating informal sector; macro‐economic and structural adjustments; economic liberalisation; changes in the configuration and the role of the media; emergence of civil society’s role in its professional or community‐based representative organisations; evolution of women’s rights in society and their changing role in public affairs; predominance of youth in society; higher priority for local development and the regional integration process; affirmation and strengthening of regional international organisations (WAEMU, ECOWAS, the CILSS) and regional initiatives (water resource management for the major rivers, NEPAD); formulation and implementation of programmes to combat poverty; adoption of the Millennium Development Goals by the countries of the region; contributions from the diasporas to help support their native regions.
The purpose here is not to say that “everything is going well” but rather to recognise the considerable efforts made by West Africans with the support of their development partners. These changes have certainly not taken place without being confronted by severe problems. They have been impeded by problems related to governance, human security, national and international strategies and policies, new pandemics, ill‐adapted training systems, the slow development of the local private sector, tensions and conflicts often resulting from rapid changes in societies and the environment in which these societies are evolving.
The SWAC would like to recall that the demographic shocks endured by West Africa in the past but which still continue, as well as by Sub‐Saharan Africa, have not been observed anywhere else. No other region in the world at any period of time has known such demographic growth 1 . Moreover, no other region has undergone such demographic expansion while at the same time entering into a global world. To date, foreign direct investment in West Africa is still under 0.3% of total foreign direct investment (FDI), and the region’s share of world trade is still extremely low (under 1%). Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) is still relatively small in comparison to the real needs of the region. It represented less than 5% of the regional GDP in 2001, which, on a per capita basis, amounts to 17 dollars2. Low levels of international transfers, high public debt in many countries (in relation to repayment capacities), persistent problems for countries of the region to mobilise internal savings and budgetary resources are adding measurably to the challenges of meeting the social, environmental and economic goals of sustainable, equitable development.
1 Examining this subject in his book Afriques noires, Roland Pourtier states “Human history has never seen such an increase in population on such a huge continental scale. And it is going to continue for a long time. Nowhere has the expression “population explosion” been more appropriate.” (2001 – Carré géographique – Hachette Supérieur). 2 With major differences from one country to the next.
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In view of all of this, it should not be surprising that the majority of West African countries will be unable to attain the Millennium Development Goals. To achieve these goals, the countries in the region must mobilise substantial internal and external resources, on a per capita basis, in order to finance the necessary socio‐economic investments. To ensure improved living conditions in West Africa and greater security for all, it is necessary for the region itself and the international community to intensify their actions now in support of the dynamics of change in West Africa. Maintaining the status quo would not only have severe consequences for future generations but would also eventually imply higher costs for the international community. This means that an innovative, continuous partnership with West Africa must be everyone’s responsibility.
Attached to the OECD, the Club’s Secretariat is financed through voluntary contributions from a large number of OECD countries. The Club is led by a Secretariat composed of a small technical team based in Paris. It benefits from the support of a network of partners from inside and outside the region.
Its work plan is subject to approval by its Strategy and Policy Group (SPG), the SWAC’s Board of Directors, comprising of representatives from contributing countries with the participation of West African countries as well as the main regional partner institutions and networks. The SPG meets twice a year to examine the work accomplished by the Secretariat and approve its annual and multi‐annual work programmes. The SPG is chaired by a personality designated by its members for a period of a limited duration.
As a facilitator, moderator, leader of open constructive exchanges, the Club plays a bridging role, an interface between West African actors and OECD Member countries. The Club Secretariat’s main objectives are to:
9 Help identify strategic questions related to medium‐ and long‐term development in West Africa; 9 Contribute to mobilising and strengthening African capacities within a network approach; 9 Support initiatives and efforts by West Africans to promote medium‐ and long‐term development in the region; 9 Facilitate exchanges between regional actors and OECD Member countries; 9 Promote constructive debates that lead to innovative decisions within and outside the region aimed at building a better future for the region.
These decisions concern notably the policy enabling environment; concrete actions to be undertaken on the ground; mobilisation and allocation of resources; implementation of new partnerships leading to immediate results and paving the way for a better future. The Club’s Secretariat concentrates its efforts on four areas of interest for the region itself as well as that of the international community. The work programmes to be carried out in each of these areas are consistent with the concerns for the future of the region expressed notably in the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), in the Vision of the African Union and in the partnership agreement recently finalised between the Club’s Secretariat and ECOWAS’ Secretariat.
33 The Club’s four areas of concentration
9 Medium‐ and Long‐Term Development Perspectives 9 Agricultural Transformation and Sustainable Development 9 Local Development and the Process of Regional Integration 9 Governance, Conflict Dynamics, Peace and Security
4. Conclusions
As you can conclude from my presentation, the theme on which we will have exchanges over the next few days is at the heart of the Sahel and West Africa Club’s concerns. It seems essential to us that each society be aware of its specificity, history, and endogenous capacities to better confront the current challenges and thus better prepare the ground for future generations.
I am sure that our exchange of views and experiences will lead to identifying concrete actions on the ground … actions anchored in West African society’s experiences which are likely to improve conflict prevention and promote better well‐being and security for all. Endogenous capacities must be taken into account and capitalised on in conflict prevention and management. How can we do this, within what framework and according to what concrete intervention modalities on the ground? These are some of the questions that will be addressed over the next two days in our exchanges and informed debates.
Thank you.
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Speech by Sunhilt Schumacher, Deputy Director, SWAC Secretariat
Minister, Participants at this workshop,
It is a great pleasure for me to speak to you after having listened to you attentively over the last two and a half days. These last days have been filled with information, analyses, debates, different, even contrary, points of view. I have learned a lot.
At the beginning of this workshop, you all heard Normand Lauzon, the Director of the Sahel and West Africa Club Secretariat, who spoke to you about, among other things, the role, mandate and objectives of the Club, of which I have had the pleasure of being a member for over five years. I am speaking to you not only as member of the Club Secretariat, but also as a non‐African who has travelled widely throughout Africa for over 30 years and who has always been committed to having a better understanding of Africa and to contributing to the continent’s development.
I also speak to you from a woman’s standpoint since the different interventions have led me to believe that there are specific stakes concerning the gender issue, that is to say the role of man and woman in African society and its link with development. Finally I speak to you as someone who communicates in French although it is not my mother‐tongue and with all that entails (as an aside to explain why sometimes my prose may not be perfect).
Normand Lauzon, in his introductory speech, mentioned that the SWAC Secretariat has invited you so to discuss with you, give you the floor and listen to you. That’s what we have done over these last days with much interest and attention. It seems to me that this workshop has been an opportunity to provoke strategic thinking between Africans themselves.
What is going to emerge from listening attentively to you?
Some observations transpiring from this seminar:
My observations are not complete, they are not going to repeat the very useful and in‐depth reports presented; I would like rather to call to mind and emphasise the statements that I deemed particularly significant in terms of strategic thinking for the next step of our initiative.
Therefore my observations and statements are not in order:
- In Africa, a system of traditional governance exists which is recognised by and guides the population. This governance is based on certain values and looks towards social cohesion, stability, the management of numerous communities, to enter into dialogue, a “checks and balances” system of power. You have raised a new African concept of governance which takes into account this dimension. - Women have their place in this traditional governance system; we have learned the woman’s ideal role in the past and the values that she conveys but I have also heard from one participant that “the woman may not have rights but has a place in African society”. Thus we must take the complexity of the current context into account in
35 our remarks and avoid romanticism. I wonder even if the women within the framework of this new concept of African governance have not a lot to gain… - There is a dualism indeed co‐existence between endogenous governance and that can be called “imposed” modern or that expressed by western countries which does not supplement endogenous governance but rather collides with it. This situation creates enormous loss of efficiency and presents a lack of credibility of Africans as regards donors and vice versa. Africans must make the external world know (especially donors) that Africa was not a void – that vital and deep‐rooted endogenous systems existed ‐ before the arrival of the colonial powers. I again cite “Africa cannot cast aside its endogenous resources and the failure of most development aid programmes are due to just that. Are we going to continue to play this game?” - It was said that an African identity must be reconstructed while going back to its roots and teaching its history and values notably to the young. Within this context you spoke of the absence of an African vision. - Within this context, local languages play a key role, what they involve in terms of African identity. What are their place and role in the current African society? - Dialogue with the younger generation is essential as it concerns the understanding and perception of traditional values. - It has been said that the democratic model copied from the western model must be re‐ examined in order for its appropriation by Africans to truly succeed. - Concerning the kinship of pleasantry, a traditional system, that according to you is very well‐used in Africa, allows communities in a remarkable way to be linked and preserves social stability at some level. The presentations have illustrated the vitality and the virtues of this system within society, but also its limits as regards conflict prevention. Some raised questions nevertheless whether this tradition risks also being a form of social exclusion which goes no further than a privileged limited circle. - As regards the prevention and management of conflicts, I notice that beyond those which exist at the core of society, there are those between the population and the State with all of the problems of modern power’s legitimacy and being accepted by the population. The endogenous means do not seem able to settle such conflicts.
Some leads to pursue following the results of this workshop
- To develop initiatives aimed at the youth and within the framework of an intergenerational dialogue; - Raise awareness and find inspiration from the examples of Ghana and Nigeria as regards the involvement of traditional authorities in conflict management; - Introduce African history in school teachings; - In the area of decentralisation policy, involve and define the role of traditional authorities; - Examine the role and place of local languages in Africa.
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The great challenge of these leads which have emerged from the interventions and debates at this workshop will obviously be for these themes and recommendations to be turned into concrete actions and identify appropriate and committed actors to bring these initiatives forward…
As concerns the SWAC Secretariat, much of our work intersects with these leads mentioned and must create positive synergies, such as:
The SWAC Secretariat works on the dissemination of a more balanced perception of Africa which relies more on the realities of African society and its rapid transformation process which is also constitutes conflicts. A better understanding and dissemination of endogenous systems can be a useful contribution by the SWAC Secretariat for a better understanding of Africa notably as regards dialogue with donors.
Our undertaking with ECOWAS aims to help develop a West African vision based on a review of retro‐ and prospective studies and a panel discussion with eminent West African personalities, organised by the SWAC Secretariat with ECOWAS at the end of May.
The work on the relationship between land and conflict can prompt the strategic thinking on local governance as well as The programme on cross‐border cooperation would be able to be incorporated into the strategic thinking on the kinship of pleasantry.
My colleague, Massaër Diallo, has explained to you the next steps within our “governance and conflict” programme
I can only assure you that the SWAC Secretariat considers this initiative set in motion by this workshop as a process during which we will be able to build the methodology together. The ball is now in our court as it is in yours. I would like to emphasise our commitment and our availability to continue to work on this initiative and persevere in our efforts to convince our donors to support us in this approach.
Finally, I would like to thank the participants for their committed and competent work, the Guinean Government for hosting us and the warm and generous welcome that we have received.
I do not want to forget the interpreters without whom we would have a difficult time establishing the useful bridges between Anglophone and Francophone participants.
I now need only to wish you a safe voyage back to your respective countries and à bientôt.
Thank you.
37 Closing speech by His Excellency El Hadji Thierno Habib Diallo, Minister of Cooperation
Ladies and Gentlemen,
You have come to the end of three (3) days’ intensive sessions devoted to the Initiative on Capitalising on Endogenous Capacities for Conflict Prevention and Governance in West Africa.
This workshop has brought together eminent figures from a variety of cultural backgrounds from 12 countries and 18 institutions.
The workshop’s aims were to identify our own governance‐building capacities, to highlight and assess internal processes and strategies for conflict prevention, to identify ways of developing them and, above all, to put forward implementation strategies.
Proceedings were held in a spirit of free and frank discussions, enabling participants to assess the scale and complexity of the issues they considered. This is a reflection of both the quality of the workshop’s proceedings and the experience of those taking part.
The workshop’s three (3) main sessions focused on:
- Kinship of pleasantry as a prevention and regulation tool for West Africa; - Culture, strategies and endogenous mediation processes; - Endogenous conventions and practices concerning governance in West Africa;
Discussion of these issues has resulted in a set of recommendations focusing on strategies for developing internal capabilities which contribute to the causes of good governance and conflict resolution in Africa. What has emerged from these discussions is that, in many societies, the management of social and political contradictions related to various differences is based on a code governing the mechanisms and strategies designed to contain conflicts within the scope of the existing social and institutional collective framework.
Your discussions have highlighted strong and close links between conflict prevention and governance, a good understanding of the causes of the crises affecting the sub‐region and the capabilities required to organise the responses needed to keep them in check (etc.).
In particular, you have considered how governance can be improved. The nature of the world today means that the need for improved governance is unavoidable – in terms of maintaining peace, its contribution to the continuity and stability of institutions and in supporting growth and reform.
You have equally shown that there is a need to continue to think in a more comprehensive way about conflict‐prevention capacity building and improving governance.
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In this respect, networks that provide information on the positive aspects of traditional societies should be extended and diversified and, through education, should raise awareness of these aspects among young people and the media.
Finally, your discussions have demonstrated the need to develop national and trans‐regional strategies along with relevant action plans which the Sahel and West Africa Club Secretariat ought to help implement within the framework of its 2005‐2007 work plan.
Our sub‐region’s many traditional endogenous capacities for helping to prevent conflict and for promoting governance should be developed. It is appropriate now for the process that has been set in motion to be managed and strengthened and to ensure that matters are properly followed up in the areas that have been identified.
Thus I urge the Sahel and West Africa Club Secretariat to ensure that the workshop’s conclusions and recommendations are adequately followed up and disseminated in an accessible manner in all the region’s countries.
Ladies and Gentleman,
I would like to thank the Sahel Club’s Director and Secretariat for taking the initiative in organising this meeting at Conakry and to thank all of the participants for the quality of the work that has been accomplished over the last three (3) days. Guinea has been delighted to host this workshop because its people believe in – and are firmly committed to – the values that have been at the heart of your discussions. Guinea has inherited the traditions represented by the great Mandingo empires and the theocracy that ruled Futa, along with those of the forest and coastal kingdoms that make us a microcosm of the region; Guinea is committed to peace, dialogue and tolerance, and proud of its “Africanness”.
It may well be that our best means of taking part in what is known as universal civilisation is primarily through asserting who we are and demonstrating this through our cultures and identities.
In this way, not only will we bring our own contribution to the world’s cultural heritage but we will also earn greater respect and esteem from other countries.
Thank you all for providing us with a means of bringing out our individual and collective talents and for highlighting our capabilities in this area.
Let us all use them properly for the good of our people.
As the session ends I want, on behalf of the organisers, to thank the interpreters and support personnel who have been with us over the last three days.
In wishing you a safe journey back to your respective countries I would like to thank you, on behalf of General Lansana CONTE, President of the Republic, for your participation and involvement in these proceedings, and I hope that it will not be too long before we see you again in Conakry.
39 On this note, I declare the Initiative on Capitalising on Endogenous Capacities for Conflict Prevention and Governance workshop closed.
Long Live International Cooperation,
Long Live African Integration.
Thank you.
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Vote of thanks
At the conclusion of the proceedings for the “Initiative to Develop Internal Capabilities for Conflict Prevention and Governance” (organised between the 9th and 11th of March at Conakry by the Sahel and West Africa Club Secretariat/OECD in collaboration with the Ministry of Cooperation), participants from 12 countries, 3 international institutes, 6 research institutes, and 9 representatives of civil society wish to express their sincere thanks to the people and authorities of the Republic of Guinea for the facilities accorded to all the delegates and for the generous and warm hospitality that they received. They especially want to thank His Excellency Lansana CONTE, President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, the Ministers of Cooperation, Territorial Administration and Decentralisation, Economy and Finance, Trade, the Minister of Information and the President of the Economic and Social Council.
41 Final list of participants
I. PAYS REPRESENTÉS
Burkina Faso
Mme Clarisse MERINDOL Tel : (226) 76 59 79 58 Secrétariat Général Fax : (226) 50 33 50 95 Ministère de la Promotion des Droits de l’Homme Email : [email protected] 11 B.P. 852 Ouagadougou 11
Cap Vert
Mme Filomena SILVA Tel : (238) 262 98 62 Directrice Fax : (238) 262 86 61 Journal ASEMANA Email : [email protected] Praia
Côte d’Ivoire
M. Lanciné SYLLA Tel : (225) 22 44 02 98 (Bur) Université de Cocody Tél : (225) 22 41 40 15 (dom) Faculté des Sciences de l’Homme et de la Société Email : [email protected] Institut d’Ethnosociologie Email : [email protected] 22 BP 535 Abidjan 22
M. Yacouba KONATE Tél /fax : (225) 22 43 07 06 08 BP 2042 Mobile : (225) 05 62 52 04 Abidjan 08 Email : [email protected]
Gambia
Mme Fatou KINTEH Tel: (220)449 50 71 (off) National Expert - Social Protection Tel: (220)449 50 74 (off) FASE Project Tel: (220) 437 03 00 (Home) UNDP Fax: (220) 449 47 58 Cape Point Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Guinée
M. Djibril Tamsir NIANE Tel : (224) 29 71 41 BP 6826 E-mail : [email protected] Conakry
Mme Djénabou Koumanthio DIALLO DIENG Tel: (224) 11 57 15 84 Directrice Email: [email protected] Musée du Fouta Labé
M. Tolo BEAVOGUI Tel: (224) 11 27 75 77 Historien Conakry
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Mali
M. Zeini MOULAYE Tel : (223) 220 79 61 Consultant Indépendant Tel :: (223) 671 66 97 Bamako Email : [email protected]
Mauritanie
M. Boubacar BA Tel : (222) 646 98 00 Consultant Indépendant Tel : (221) 825 79 55 Nouakchott Tel : (221) 630 26 00 Email : [email protected]
Sierra Leone
Mrs Memunatu PRATT Tél : (232) 76 604 716 Chef de Département E-mail : [email protected] Peace Studies University of Fourah Bay College Freetown
Sénégal
M. Babacar Sedikh DIOUF Tel: (221) 558 07 74 Dakar Tél: (221) 837 71 16 (dom) Email : [email protected] Email: [email protected]
M. Seydina Omar SY Tel: (221) 824 33 68 BP 5301 Tel: (221) 637 62 45 Dakar Fann E-mail: [email protected]
M. Pathé DIAGNE Tel : (221) 820 03 55 Dakar Fax : (221) 825 65 33 Email : [email protected]
II. GOUVERNEMENT ET ORGANISATIONS INTERNATIONALES
Gouvernement de la République de Guinée
M. Kidiri BANGOURA Ministre de l’Administration Territotiale et de la Décentralisation Conakry
M. Cheikou Yaya DIALLO Conseiller Technique Ministère de la Coopération Conakry
M. Abdoul Aziz BAH Chef de Cabinet Ministère de la Coopération Conakry
43 M. C. E. GAMY Conseiller Economique Ministère de la Coopération Conakry
M. Alpha Yaya DIALLO Directeur national de l’intégration Ministère de la Coopération Conakry
M. Mohamed KEITA Attaché de Cabinet Ministère de la Coopération Conakry
M. Mohamed Lamine BAH Attaché de Cabinet Ministère de la Coopération Conakry
Union Africaine
M. Mangone NIANG Tel : (227) 73 54 14 Centre d’études lingustiques et historique de tradition orale Tel : (227) 73 21 09 (CELHTO) Fax : (227) 73 36 54 Directeur Email : [email protected] BP 878 Niamey Niger
M. Djouldé LAYA Tel : (227) 73 54 14 CELHTO Tel : (227) 73 21 09 BP 878 Fax : (227) 73 36 54 Niamey Email : [email protected] Niger
Union Européenne
M. David DOMINIQUE Tél: (224) 13 40 48 70 Représentant résident Tel: (322) 298 88 10 Conakry Email: [email protected] Guinée
III. ORGANISATIONS DE LA SOCIETE CIVILE
Coalition des femmes leaders pour la paix en Côte d’Ivoire
Mme Aya Thérèse YOMAN NDRI Tel: (225) 05099417 Plate forme de la Société civile pour la Paix (OFEP) Tel: (225) 22 43 13 26 BP 142 Fax: (225) 20 33 52 14 Abidjan Email .yoman-thérè[email protected]. Côte d’Ivoire
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Organisation guinéenne de défense des droits de l’homme et du citoyen (OGDH)
M. Thierno Maadjou SOW Tel: (224) 42 24 63 Président Tel: (224) 13 40 11 20 (Mob. Sow) BP 4968 Tel: (224) 11 52 99 27 Conakry Email: [email protected] Guinée Email : [email protected]
M. Abdoul Gadiry DIALLO Tel: (224) 11 34 17 71 (Mob.Diallo) BP 4968 Tel: (224) 41 23 85 Conakry Email: [email protected] Guinée Email: [email protected]
M. Mamadou Malal DIALLO Tel: (224) 54 84 66 BP 4968 Email: [email protected] Conakry Email: [email protected] Guinée
M. Mamadou Lamine BAH Tel: (224) 11 26 95 24 BP 4968 Tel: (224) 41 23 85 Conakry Email: [email protected] Guinée Email: [email protected]
Aide et Action
M. Thierno DIAOUNE Tel: (224) 25 46 43 Directeur Tel: (224) 25 00 45 Conakry Tel: (224) 25 14 49 Guinée Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
Alliance pour refonder la gouvernance en Afrique
M. El Hadji Mor Lissa DIENG Tel: (221) 869 27 40 Secrétaire Général Tel: (221) 605 17 34 Bamako Fax : (221) 824 57 55 Mali Email: [email protected]
Comité régional de la Solidarité des femmes pour la Paix en Casamance
Mme Seynabou MALE Tel : (221) 654 40 69 Coordinatrice Te (221) 991 56 46 (bureau) BP 483 Tel : (221) 991 16 27 Ziguinchor Tél : (22) 991 20 84 / (221) 635 74 84 Sénégal Email : [email protected] E-mail : [email protected]
Conseil National des Organisations de la Société Civile
M. Bakary FOFANA Tél: (224) 13 40 45 99 Conakry Tel : (224) 21 35 25 (mob) Guinée Tel: (224) 25 69 75 (mob) Email: [email protected]
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Forum pour la Paix dans l’Union du Fleuve Mano
Dr. Omar NDONGO Tel : (232) 76 73 89 88 Directeur Tel : (232) 22 224 198 Delco House Email : [email protected] Lightfoot Boston street Email : [email protected] Freetown Sierra Leone
Organisation des Femmes pour le Développement (OFEDSAA)
Mme Thérèse KEITA – MAI MANGA Tel : (227) 74 00 91 Sociologue, Conseillère technique au Cabinet du Président de Tel : (227) 93 75 40 / (227) 97 43 62 la République Tel / Fax : (227) 72 20 13 Présidente Email : [email protected] BP 10798 Email : [email protected] Niamey Niger
Fédération des Réseaux de Femmes Africaines pour la Paix
Dr. Mariam Djibrilla MAIGA Tel : (223) 220 77 00 Vice Présidente Tel : (223) 679 91 30 BP – E 1576 Tel : (223) 679 85 04 Bamako Email : [email protected] Mali
INSTITUTIONS DE RECHERCHE
Institut de Développement et d’échanges endogènes
M. Honorat AGUESSY Tél : (229) 34 16 11 03 BP 0301 Tel : (229) 94 73 90 (mob) Cotonou Fax : (229) 30 01 93 Bénin Email : [email protected]
Kofi Anan International Peacekeeping Training Centre (KAIPTC)
M. Prosper Nii NORTEY ADDO Tél : (233) 21 718 202/3 (ext 2006) PMB CT 210, Cantonments Mobile : (233) 244 63 26 94 Accra Fax : (233) 21 71 82 01 Ghana Email : [email protected] Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]
African Security Dialogue Research
Ms. Emma BIRIKORANG Tel : (233) 21 51 05 15 BO : LG 347 Tel : (233) 244 71 22 14 Legon, Email : [email protected] Ghana Email : [email protected]
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Centre For Peace Research & Conflict Resolution – National War College
M. Gani YOROMS Tel : (234) 80 33 11 56 42 (Home) Herbert Macaulay Way (North) Tel: (234) 804 268 46 20 PMB 323 Tel : (234) 802 32 22 922 Abuja Tel: (234) 234 9 234 76 06 Nigeria Email: [email protected]
National Institute for Policy and Strategie Studies
Dr. M. L YESUFU Tel : (243) 80 34 53 71 31 Kuru Tel: (234) 80 44 11 47 11 PMB 2024 Tel: (234) 73 281051 Bukuru Email: [email protected] Nigeria
Institut d’Etudes politiques et stratégiques (IEPS)
Mme Juliette Khady SOW Tél : (221) 842 00 69 Directrice Exécutive Tél : (221) 889 13 92 BP 15 Gorée Tél : (221) 632 62 22 Sénégal Fax : (221) 842 00 69 Email : [email protected]
V. CLUB DU SAHEL ET DE L’AFRIQUE DE l’OUEST / OCDE Le Seine Saint-Germain », Bâtiment A 4, Boulevard des Îles 92130 Issy-les-Moulineaux France
M. Normand LAUZON Tel : (331) 45 24 90 13 Directeur Fax : (331) 45 24 90 31 Email : [email protected]
Mme Sunhilt SCHUMACHER Tel : (331) 45 24 96 19 Directrice Adjointe Fax : (331) 45 24 90 31 Email : [email protected] M. Massaër DIALLO Tel : (331) 45 24 96 28 Chef Unité Gouvernance, Dynamiques des Conflits, Paix et Tel : (221) 637 97 45 Sécurité Fax : (331) 45 24 90 31 Email : [email protected]; Email : [email protected]
Mme Soura DIOP Tel : (331) 45 24 90 47 Assistante de recherche et administration Fax : (331) 45 24 90 31 Unité Gouvernance, Dynamiques des Conflits, Paix et Sécurité Email : [email protected]
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