Following the reactions of the different allies to the initial proposal for an African initiative in the Alliance for the year 2000 and to the discussions between David Gakunzi and Gustavo Marin, we are submitting a new proposal enhanced by reactions and suggestions from every side. This proposal should serve as the basis of our program of action for 2000 and 2001.

This new project has been written before a meeting of an organisation committee that will be held in Bujumbura on the 15 of February, 2000. You will see that we seek to make specific proposals. There are two reasons behind this: the first is so we can be sure of the program's feasibility. True, we must count on financial and above all human resources. However, we think that with only few resources but efficient organization and a good amount of will, which we all share, this program is within our reach. The other reason is more practical. We must share the work. You will see that we give several names of managers. Obviously, these are proposals. You will tell us if you can take on the responsibility we propose for you. It is quite likely that we have forgotten some names. Please tell us if this is so, since we need every willing hand.

In brief, we above all seek to set in motion a passionate and realistic movement. We look forward to receiving your reactions.

1. Activities to be carried out:

• a peace caravan
• setting up communication tools
  (web, electronic forum, press agency, a review, a video clip)
• 4 regional conferences and a continental conference

2. Who does what, how and when?

A) The movement will be built around the caravan

The Caravan will leave Robben Island, South Africa, on June 26^th 2000 (the anniversary of the South African Freedom Charter) and arrive at Arusha on June 21^st 2001 (date of the 2001 Continental Assemblies organized by the Alliance for a Responsible and United World. There will be other meetings on other continents on this same date).

For reasons of efficiency, the caravan will be divided into five sections but they are all linked, each one being the responsibility of one or more allies. The role of the managers will be above all to define the itinerary in detail, ensure media coverage of the caravan, and find places to stay in each capital crossed. The caravan will cross the city visited on foot. The number of participants in each section will depend on the mobilization of the Allies. Obviously, there is no question of setting up a cumbersome and heavy machine, but to make a symbolic impact in the countries crossed. The manager must also take care to pass on the Caravan's two symbols to the Allies of the next section. The two symbols are a flame (or better another symbol) and the new African Freedom Charter that will be written by us throughout the stages of the caravan's journey and at the meetings that will be held as it progresses.

First section: Robben Island to Luanda, passing via Cape Town, Maputo, Harare, and Lusaka. This itinerary will start by boat from Robben Island to the mainland and then continue on foot to the center of Cape Town. The Allies will continue by bus to the train linking South Africa with Mozambique. This train was long used to transport Mozambican workers to the South African mines. The rest of the itinerary will be traveled by bus.

Clayton Lillienfeldt from South Africa is responsible for this section.

The first section will be important. The first step is always important. Allies from all over the world will join with their African colleagues for the first march. The starting signal for the caravan will be given by Nelson Mandela. A meeting on political renewal will be organized to occur at the same time. We must give special attention to new social movements in Africa: women, farmers, young people, urban movements, cultural movements, etc.

Second section: Cotonou, Lomé, Accra, Abidjan, Monrovia. This itinerary will be made along the coast by bus. It would be interesting for the Allies to stop at a university or other public place in each town crossed.

The itinerary manager is Théophile Amouzou from Togo with Markoua Dadjo and Gustave Assah. Louise Yanga will certainly be part of this team too.

During this second itinerary, we shall take stock on the youth, education and health workshops (focusing in particular on AIDS).

Third section: Island of Gorée, Dakar, Nouakchott, Bamako. This itinerary will be taken on the Bamako-Dakar train. Here emphasis will be given to the contribution of farmers to the Alliance.

The manager is be Bara Goudiaby from Sénégal with the assistance of Aliou Sall and other allies in the sub-region. A close collaboration will have to be set up with the Third World Forum facilated by Samir Amin in Dakar. This forum can also contribute to the whole process because it is also active in other regions of Africa.

The subject of the itinerary meeting will be the economy, focusing on farmers' issues, government decentralization and regional integration. For this issue we can count on the support of the APM-Africa network which is also active in other areas of the continent.

Fourth section: This itinerary stretches from Algiers to Khartoum.

The managers are Nadia Aïssaoui, Nacéra Aknak and Mounir Bencharif.

The journey will be the occasion to speak of the values, culture and art workshop.

Fifth section: Addis Ababa, Nairobi, Kampala, Kigali, Bujumbura, Arusha. This section will be traveled by bus.

Managers: Michael Ochieng from Kenya and the coordinators of the Martin Luther King International Center (CIMLK) at Bujumbura.

This last stage will be the occasion for organizing the 2001 Event in Africa.

B) What are we starting-up from now to June 26^th 2000?

1. An electronic forum to finalize this proposal. It’s already active in the server run by Funredes which is in charge of all the electronic forums of the Alliance. It’s address is: africa-alliance@funredes.org. We can then continue our dialogues collectively. This forum will be coordinated by David Gakunzi and Clayton Lillienfeldt.

2. A WEB site: this site will allow the Allies to communicate with each other and with other partners, diffuse information on the caravan, etc. This site will be organized by Aurélien Atidegla and Michael Owiso. It should be operational by the end of March 2000.

3. The "African Charter of Freedom". We propose that Markoua Dadjo, Bapuwa Mwamba and Gerald Wanjohi write a draft of this charter.

4. The video clip. Innocent Muhozi of Bujumbura is responsible for filming this, so that it will be ready for diffusion by May 2000.

5. The entire artistic part of the Caravan could be coordinated by Marilyn Douala-Bell of Doual’Art from Cameroun, Michael Owiso and John Kariru from Kenya.

6. In order to make the Caravan a success, it requires extensive local and international media coverage. Zubéida Jaffer from South Africa and Bapuwa Mwamba will assist us with this task.

7. The Renaissance Review will be coordinated by David Gakunzi in collaboration with Clayton Lillienfeldt. It should be supported by a wider editorial committee. The French version will be available at the end of January 2000.

8. Constitution of a sponsorship committee: Touré Kunda, Francis Bebey, Nelson Mandela, ATT, Desmond Tutu. These people and others must be contacted from February 2000 onwards with the document presenting the Caravan's technical, cultural and political aspects.

9. Launching of a Press Agency: We have already stocked articles to last three months, with an in-depth article per week. The Agency will give analyses made by Africans and Africans friends on crucial issues concerning the continent. These analyses will be sent by email and will also be diffused on the web. This agency will also be assisted by a large editorial team.

10. Meeting of a technical team at Bujumbura on February 15, 2000 to finalize the technical aspects of the program.

David Gakunzi and Gustavo Marin
January 2000

Return to Top