[WSF-Discuss] African March for dignity : As African Social Forum opens in Niamey

[CACIM]

African March for dignity : As African Social Forum opens in Niamey

*Author:* Suleiman Mustapha , J.Lyndon Ponnie

*Date Written:* 27 November 2008

*Primary Category:* *Africa General*<http://www.africafiles.org/afgeneral.asp>

*Document Origin:* Flamme d'Afrique

*Secondary Category:* *Economic
Justice*<http://www.africafiles.org/ecjustice.asp>

*Source URL:* *http://flamme.panos-ao.org* <http://flamme.panos-ao.org/>

*Key Words:* Niger, World Social Forum, globalization, subsidies,



*African Charter Article #10:* Every individual shall have the right to free
association provided that they abide by the law. (*Click for full
text...)*<http://www.africafiles.org/article.asp?ID=19537>


*Summary & Comment:* The African Social Forum, modelled on World Social
Forum, opened Nov 25th in Niamaye, Niger. Anti-globalization was a main
theme along with Pan Africanism. There were some initial problems in
organzing a huge crowd, especially re translation into English (see second
article here) JK.





*African March for dignity : As African Social Forum opens in Niamey*

*by *Suleiman Mustapha , J.Lyndon Ponnie



*1. African March for dignity : As African Social Forum opens in Niamey **
**2. Social forum at a disappointing start **
*************************************
*http://flamme.panos-ao.org/spip.php?article415*<http://flamme.panos-ao.org/spip.php?article415>

*1. African March for dignity : As African Social Forum opens in Niamey*

They were in their thousands, coming from across Niger and other parts of
the Africa and marched in the main streets of Niamey singing one
chorus-hunger, diseases, suffering, deprivation, economic stagnation,
discrimination and human rights violations ; all caused by globalization.
The marchers assembled at the Toumo Square and moved another square at the
front of the National Assembly building, where the forum was officially
opened. The 5th edition of the African Social Forum, a replica of the World
Social Forum opened, with speeches from organizers and other
anti-globalization personalities.

Under the Theme : "Another Africa Is Possible", the Africa Social Forum will
for the next three days hear debates on how to deal with the issue of
Globalization which participants considered the reincarnation of the
colonization of the African continent. Shouting slogans, the marchers
described capitalism as evil and a violation of the fundamental rights of
the mass majority of the world's people who are unable to compete with
powerful economics that are pushing draconian economic policies down the
throats of people in least developed countries.

The African Social Forum was created as an arm of the World Social Forum in
Africa. The World Social Forum was established in Brazil as an antidote to
the World Economic Forum which was established by the West and other
powerful countries of the world. Singing anti-globalization catch-phrases,
the marchers including women, youths, handicaps and the elderly, called for
the abolition of globalization and demanded a halt to bad trade policies by
the West and the Group of 8. The marchers said it was unconceivable that
people living in least developed countries of the world that survive on
subsistence agriculture, would compete with their counterparts from the West
who enjoy subsidies from their governments. They said in as much as another
world was possible, another Africa was also possible but under equal rights
and dignity.

A member of the organizing committee of the Niamey forum, Abdourahmane
Ousmane, said the turnout of over 25,000 people mainly from Niger, is a
clear manifestation of the opposition of the ordinary people to
globalization. Ousmane said people have died in Africa from hunger, from
simple treatable illnesses, without any assistance from the West, but just
recently they were able to pump billions of dollars into failed banks while
people continue to go hungry in Africa. This is the time for African to take
charge of their own destiny and kill globalization out.

Speaking to journalists at the opening of the forum yesterday, TraorOusmane
noted that the forum is an opportunity for Nigeriens and others to fully
understand the impact of globalization in Africa. According to him, Europe
and the US have called for free market but are now doing everything to
interfere with this process. He stated that this is time for the people to
regulate the market and not market regulating the people.

Africa is a victim of global warming, starvation, and wars caused by
competing world powers. Aids is also consuming the productive youths of
Africa, with little being done by the developed world to give victims access
to antivirus drugs to extend their lives. Rich in natural resources,
including oil, diamond, timber, gold, uranium, iron ore, etc, Africa has
continued to suffer the nightmare of its own riches due to manipulation from
developed countries.

The Niamey Forum, amongst other things, will highlight the many problems
faced by the continent and other developing countries. According to the
agenda of the forum, several speakers including: Moussa Tchangari, of the
Niamey organizing committee ; Taoufik Ben Abdallah, of the Africa Social
Forum Secretariat ; Mohau Pheko, of Voice of Women ; Aminata e, coordinator
of the caravan and Ibrahim Diori, amongst others, will deliver papers on how
to deal with the burning problems of Africa.

During the three days, organizers say 70 workshops will be held where other
speakers will address a horde of other issues including the challenges of
building democracy in Africa, Africa in world geopolitics, Africa in the arc
of crisis and migration. Hosting the 5th edition of the African Social
Forum, Niger is a landlocked country named after the Niger River, and one of
the poorest and least developed countries in the world with over 80% of its
territory covered from the Sahara desert. The country's economy is
c.(modelled on World Social Forumoncentrated around subsistence agriculture
and export of uranium ore.

*************************

*2. Social forum at a disappointing start*

It was billed to be the biggest mobilization of Social Movements from around
the Continent of Africa and other parts of the world. Yes, it was expected
to mobilize the mass social movements from the continent in one country, one
capital, and under one roof to unite and take stock of the problems that
confronts Africa under the theme "Africa in the Arc of crises" with the
slogan another Africa is possible as the supposed Africa Social Forum got
underway in Niamey, the capital of Niger. But alas, what was supposed to be
a convergence forum turned out to be a point of departure and disconnection.
This is because the organizers of the forum disappointed many delegates
especially from South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi, Zimbabwe and other who
had turned out in their numbers to participate in this important forum.

First, the main speakers and the moderators were all French, and there were
no translators for the English delegates who converged at a point looking
for translators to do the interpretation for them. In fact, English speaking
journalists who had traveled far and near to cover this all important
programme were the worst casualties of the poorly organized forum - their
problem, language barrier, lack of courtesies and not keeping with time.
They were completely cut out of the forum; there was nobody to take care of
their interest, and no protocol or ushers to direct participants around.

Sitting arrangements was another big minus for the organizers. Delegates who
had gone to the forum hall expected to be hosted in conference and meeting
halls were rather all packed in a big basketball gymnasium with the main
speakers on high table with delegates and participants moving around to find
sitting places while the forum was underway in French and just French. There
was no discipline and order, as people move about freely the conference room
aimlessly as if there was nothing at stake. At a point, organizers had to
buss school children to the conference place occupy the empty seats left by
some English delegates who had boycotted the forum as a sign of protest
against poor arrangement of the forum. In,fact, this can only be compared to
a marketplace.

Again, most of the conference halls earmarked to host the workshops were
completely empty and had to be called off because there were no
participants. Some English delegates, who spoke to journalists on condition
of anonymity, complain that the organizers did not look beyond Niger and it
appeared to them that the forum was more Nigerien affair than for Africa.
Another hitch was that publicity for the forum was low keyed as many people
in Niger were not aware of the forum and media participation was not
visible. As journalists arrived in Niger for the forum, they observed that
most of the media channels did not carry news items on the forum as there
was nothing happening in the country.

This had to be explained by some journalists; and many joined the March
midway just for the fun of it. Last but not the least, food was not easily
found to buy.
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