Jubilee 2000 Afrika Coalition

• Introduction
• Accra Declaration
• Strategy
• Afrika Campaign Calendar

Introduction

The JUBILEE 2000 AFRIKA CAMPAIGN was launched in Accra, Ghana, 16^th to 18^th April 1998. According to one of the organisers Kofi Mawuli Klu, "it means that Afrika has now fully come with her own perspective into the fast expanding global movement for the cancellation of the Debt of impoverished countries of the World as one of the most meaningful Acts of Grace to celebrate the Dawn of the New Millenium."

Held under the theme "UHURU Resurgence: Against Debt Bondage for total Afrikan Redemption", the Conference was attended by Representatives of a diverse range of mainly Afrikan organisations that are working on Debt and its associated problems in twenty seven (27) countries, including Angola, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Congo, Congo Democratic Republic, Ghana, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zimbabwe.

The Conference key-note speech was delivered by the Most Revd. Njongonkulu Ndungane, the Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, the successor to Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Archbishop Ndungane struck the main chord of the Conference, as reflected in its historic Communiqué, the Accra Declaration of 18^th April 1998, when he said: "Contrary to general assumptions ..., the rich are not paying the poor. The poor end up paying the rich. These enormous debts, and the way in which they divert money and resources from other more productive development in Africa, lead to unhealthy relationships of dependency between African governments and their creditors. ...This is a Kairos moment for Africa. We stand at the threshold of a New Millenium. We should pledge ourselves to work vigorously and earnestly in the first instance for the cancellation of the international debt which would give Africa an opportunity for a fresh start. This is in accordance with a biblical injunction of profound significance, not just to Christianity, but to Humanity as a whole. ... Above all, we should sound the trumpet of Jubilee and declare Liberty throughout the Land"

The conference drew up a clear and resounding . It noted the historical reasons for the debt crisis, its impact on ordinary people and the responsibility of the International Financial Institutions and African governments for the debts. It called for the setting up of national coalitions throughout Africa to raise ordinary people's awareness of the debts. Furthermore it called for the immediate and unconditional cancellation of the debts, democratisation and accountability of international financial institutions and African Governments, the channelling of debt cancellation into social services and the restructuring of international trade and investment to benefit ordinary people.

Since the Accra conference, a number of National Coalitions have been launched in Uganda, Ghana, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria and Zambia. In Kenya, there have been public meetings and petition signing. In Uganda, 40,000 newspapers were distributed to coincide with Bill Clinton's visit to Africa in April.

Proposed Strategy for Jubilee 2000 Afrika Campaign

The Vision

The Accra Declaration at the Jubilee 2000 Afrika Conference, held in Accra in April 1998, laid out the vision for the J2000 AFRICAMPAIGN. The aim is the “elimination of the debt burden so that Afrika will have the opportunity of harnessing her human and natural resources for development and transformation as we enter the 21^st Millennium.” The broader vision is through debt cancellation, to promote the independent development of civil society throughout Afrika. Only through genuine people's empowerment, will Afrikan civil society be able to effectively hold governments and other elements of the state machinery accountable to the masses, particularly in such vital matters of socio-economic and political decision-making as debt and loan transactions.

Structures of the J2000 AFRICAMPAIGN

Currently the Protem Steering Board, made up of a Representative each of the five original founding member-organisations, is striving to broaden the provisional leadership of the J2000 AFRICAMPAIGN and build membership of the Campaign. The five founding member-organisations are AFRIKUJIMA Foundation International (AFI), UMOJAFRIKA, Student Movement for Afrikan Unity (SMAU), Friends of Kwame Nkrumah International (FOKNI), and the Pan-Afrikan Labour International Solidarity Network (PALISON).

As stated in our initial documents circulated during the Launching Conference, we propose the following structure. Representatives from Pan-Afrikan organisations and Jubilee 2000 National Coalitions will join a General Council that will elect the Steering Board of the J2000 AFRICAMPAIGN. Each Pan-Afrikan organisation with members in three or more countries is entitled to appoint one Representative. Each properly constituted National Coalition is entitled to two Representatives (preferably male and female), to serve on the General Council of our J2000 AFRICAMPAIGN. All Pan-Afrikan Organisations and National Coalitions will need to officially register at the Secretariat based in Accra.

After the Accra Conference, MOYO WA TAIFA Pan-Afrikan Women's Grassroots Network in formally joined the J2000 AFRICAMPAIGN. We expect the All-African Council of Churches (AACC), the All-African Students Union (AASU), the Organisation of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU) and similar Pan-Afrikan organisations to follow.

It is envisaged that such formative processes should result in the holding of the first Annual General Assembly of the J2000 AFRICAMPAIGN in May 1999. At the AGM, an Executive Board will be democratically elected by properly-mandated Delegates. Ms. Graça Machel, one of those eminent Afrikan campaigners for debt cancellation (who is being invited to serve as an Honorary Co-President of the J2000 AFRICAMPAIGN), has agreed to host our 1^st Annual General Assembly in May 1999 in Maputo, Mozambique.

The Protem Steering Board will continue providing an All-Afrikan leadership for the J2000 AFRICAMPAIGN until the currently on-going formative processes result in the proper establishment of a well-constituted autonomous Pan-Afrikan Jubilee 2000 Network.

Building National Coalitions

The Accra Declaration called “for the formation of Jubilee 2000 National Coalitions across the Continent embracing the whole spectrum of civil society”. Initial steps are now being made by at least two, and often more, organisations that nominate Representatives to constitute an Interim Convening Caucus (ICC). These ICCs have registered with the Afrika Secretariat in Accra and are bringing organisations and forces together to launch the J2000 AFRICAMPAIGN National Coalition in their particular Afrikan country. The aim is to transform the ICC into a democratically-elected J2000 National Coalition. This is right now happening in Ghana, Angola, Cameroon, Congo Democratic Republic, Cote d'Ivoire, Nigeria, Mozambique, South Africa, Uganda and some other Afrikan countries. We hope you are among those involved in developing this process in your own country.

Current Make-up of J2000 AFRICAMPAIGN

Honorary Chairman: Most Reverend Njongonkulu Ndungane, Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa

Chair: Francisco Filomeno Vieira Lopes, Liga Africana, Angola

Vice-Chairpersons: Professor Wangari Maathai, Greenbelt Movement, Kenya; Ms. Leoni Abo, Democratic Republic of Congo; Dr. David DuBois, Egypt/USA.

International Coordinator: Kofi Mawuli Klu, Friends of Kwame Nkrumah International (FOKNI), Ghana/UK.

Members: Rotimi Sankore, UMOJAFRIKA Movement of Afrikan People's Unity (U-MAPU), Nigeria; Linda K. Ndebele, Student Movement for Afrikan Unity (SMAU), Azania/South Africa; Ms. Malika Ayo Bediako, AFRIKUJIMA Foundation International, Ghana/Jamaica/UK; Toure Moussa Zeguen, Pan-Afrikan Labour International Solidarity Network (PALISON), Cote d'Ivoire/UK.

Honourary Co-Presidents (invited):

Ms. Graça Machel (Mozambique), Emeritus Archbishop Desmond Tutu (South Africa), Mwalimu Julius Nyerere (Tanzania), Ahmed Ben Bella (Algeria), Antoine Gizenga (Democratic Republic of Congo), Luis Cabral (Guinea-Bissau), Professor Kwesi Dickson (President, All-African Council of Churches – AACC), Bishop Charles Palmer-Buckle (Catholic Bishop of Koforidua, Ghana), Alhaji Hassan Sunmonu (Secretary-General, Organisation of African Trade Union Unity – OATUU), Professor Adebayo Adedeji (African Centre for Development Strategy, Nigeria), Professor Dani Wadada Nabudere (Afrika Studies Centre, Uganda), Youssouf N'Dour (Senegal/France), Haile Gerima (Ethiopia), Mrs. Sankara (Burkina Faso), Mrs. Vera Chirwa (Malawi), Ms. Miriam Makeba (South Africa), Ms. Ama Ata Aidoo (Ghana), Nawal El Saadawi (Egypt), Mumia Abu-Jamal (USA), Mrs. Coretta Scott-King (USA), Denzel Washington (USA), Ms. Assata Shakur (Cuba), Abdias do Nascimento (Brazil).

Honorary Auxiliary Commissioners (invited):

Dennis Brutus (South Africa/USA), Stevie Wonder (Ghana/USA), Bade Onimode (Nigeria), Johnny Hansen (Ghana), Bishop Mandlate (Mozambique), Zie Gariyo (Uganda), Micere Githae Mugo (Kenya), Madjiguene Cisse (Senegal/France), Rev. Hewlette Andrew (UK), Adjoa Aiyetoro (USA).

We shall welcome any more suggestions for our Protem Steering Board to consider for appointment to such Honorary positions from all well-meaning quarters to the benefit of our whole J2000 AFRICAMPAIGN.

J2000 AFRICAMPAIGN Secretariat

The administrative and organisational facilitation centre of the J2000 AFRICAMPAIGN is our Secretariat based in Accra, Ghana. It will be answerable to the Steering Board of the J2000 AFRICAMPAIGN. This Accra base of the J2000 AFRICAMPAIGN Secretariat is to be developed into a permanent All-Afrikan People-to-Peoples Campaigning Centre on Debt (AAPPCCOD), which shall be resourced with as many public learning, information, communications, technological and other campaigning facilities in as many languages used throughout Africa as can possibly be made available. We are currently Fund-raising to ensure this is fully resourced.

The J2000 AFRICAMPAIGN Secretariat at present comprises of:-

Principal Organising Secretary (Head): Ms. Affiong Limene Southey (Nigeria/Cameroon);

Rapporteur-General: Akoto Ampaw (Ghana)

Corresponding Members: Gnake Lagoke (Cote d'Ivoire); Anna Faria (Angola);

Volunteers Monitor: yet to be confirmed;

External Liaison Desk Officer: yet to be confirmed.

Two Volunteers who are to be selected from those currently being trained in Ghana will be serving as Office and Field Assistants respectively to the Principal Organising Secretary. Due to communication difficulties and the need to fully involve the Black Diaspora in the campaign, the External Liaison Desk officer will be based at the UK Jubilee 2000 Secretariat. Its aim will be to liaise with the Afrika Secretariat, fundraise for the Afrika Campaign, build links with Black organisations and international coalitions and promote the Afrika Campaign within the global Jubilee 2000 movement.

Programme of Events

We have produced a Calendar of J2000 AFRICAMPAIGN which indicate the range of activities we are planning to organise, depending on our Fund-raising outcomes. We are planning two large-scale popular events: the Jubilee 2000 International Lobby of the 1999 Summit of the OAU, as well as the year 2000 March on the headquarters of the UNO in New York, USA .

The Accra Declaration of 18^th April 1998, raised among its demands the crucial point that “organisations of civil society be actively consulted and involved by both lending institutions and Afrikan Governments in loan transactions”. To achieve this objective, the five original founding member-organisations of the J2000 AFRICAMPAIGN are inviting all others interested to join them in carrying out what they have chosen to call the AFRIKURUNZI International Programme of Democratic Strengthening of Afrikan Civil Society (AFRIKURUNZI-IPDESACS).

We are also drawing inspiration from the 18^th April 1998 Accra Declaration consideration that the root-causes of the Debt problem for Afrika “lie in the History of Slavery and Colonialism”. We are highlighting the proposed 30^th July – 1^st August 1999 “OKRAFRIKA Commemoration: Celebrating the Afrikan Soul of Black Folks (embracing the Act of Repentance and Hope) to coincide with the re-burial of the remains of enslaved Afrikans in Ghana from the USA”. This is consistent with the original Jubilee 2000 foundation standpoint of highlighting the comparisons and drawing the parallels between the epoch-making historic struggles to abolish Chattel and Debt Slavery.

Closely related to this is also the question of the South African debts of Apartheid and how it relates to the general problem of the odious debts burdening the whole of Afrika as a result of the holocausts of enslavement, colonialism and neocolonialism. We are planning to have Seminars on this matter, starting in Europe in September 1998, continuing with the Americas in October 1998, and leading to a global event in Durban, South Africa, in November 1998.

We welcome comments and thoughts on this strategy.

(KOFI MAWULI KLU)
International Coordinator,
JUBILEE 2000 AFRIKA CAMPAIGN
(J2000 AFRICAMPAIGN).
28 July 1998

Afrika Campaign Calendar

INTERNATIONAL DIARY KEY DATES

1998

1^st – 31^st October SANKOFA Black History Month Focus on “Chattel and Debt Slavery: Parallels of the Real Black Millenium Experience”, United Kingdom.

1-4 October Jubilee 2000 Coalition USA & 50 Years Is Enough meetings in Washington, DC, USA.

5-7 October World Bank & IMF meetings, Washington, DC, USA.

10^th – 11^th October Afrika-Europe International Seminar on the Afrikan Debt Legacy of Apartheid, Colonialism and Enslavement, London, United Kingdom.

14^th – 16th October Various meetings in Vienna linked to the Austrian Presidency of the European Union (EU). European Network for Information and Action on Southern Africa (ENIASA) will hold a two day meeting with four topics, one of which is debt and Jubilee.

16 October World Food Day.

16^th – 18^th October BLACKALEIDOSCOPE OF HUMAN RIGHTS: A SANKOFEST Black History Month Presence at the AMNESTY International Human Rights Festival (in celebration of the 50^th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights - UDHR), London, United Kingdom.

17 October International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

October Afrika-America International Seminar on the Afrikan Debt Legacy of Apartheid, Colonialism and Enslavement, USA.

24 October United Nations Day.

18^th – 25^th October One World Week on “Shaping Our Landscapes”.

7^th - 9^th November African-European Green Conference, Nairobi, Kenya.

9^th – 11^th November Launch of the Jubilee 2000 Latin American Campaign in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

13 November One day meeting in Bern, Switzerland, on the stolen wealth of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (former Zaire); will include the debt issue.

15-17 November Provisional Jubilee 2000 Coalition international meeting in Rome, Italy, linked to

18-20 November Eurodad meeting Rome, Italy.

27th November 400 Days to the Millennium

1^st- 2^nd December Jubilee 2000 Afrika Campaign Policy Seminar and Workshops, Harare, Zimbabwe.

5^th – 15^th December Commemoration of the 40^th Anniversary of the 1^st All-Afrikan People's Conference.

3 –14 December World Council of Churches, Harare

10 December UN Human Rights Day (50^th anniversary of Universal Declaration on Human Rights).

16^th December South African Heroes Day Commemoration of the 160^th Anniversary of Dingane's Day, in connection with the Battle of Income.

December 1 Year to Go – KWANZA/New Year Resolution Pledges?

1999

22^nd – 24^th January Global Seminar and Rally on the Afrikan Debt Legacy of Apartheid, Colonialism and Enslavement, Durban, South Africa.

Commemoration of the 120^th Anniversary of the 22^nd January 1879 Battle of Isandhlwana. Formal Launching of the AFRIKURUNZI International Programme for the Democratic Strengthening of Afrikan Civil Society (AFRIKURUNZI-IPDESACS).

30th – 31st January Anti-Racist Movement Conference on Europe Against the Racism of Third World Debt Bondage.

January – June German Presidency of the European Union (EU).

February Black History Month USA. SANKOFA Brothers and Sisters Groundings in the USA (Educational Tour for a USA Outdooring of the Jubilee 2000 Afrika Campaign).

March Comic Relief – Message from Mandela

Release of Jubilee 2000 Album?

300 Days to go to the Millennium (7^th)

Possible Meeting of Governments, Civil Society Leaders, Mandela in Debtors Meeting.

Peoples' Summit of Europe for Afrika (PESEFA). Launch of the Peoples' International NGO Lobby on Afrika (PINGOLA), possibly conjointly with the USA National Summit On Africa. Re-Launch of the African Alternative Framework to Structural Adjustment Programmes (AAF-SAP). Inauguration of the All-Afrikan People's Independent OmbudsCommission (AAPINOC).

6^th April International Day of Action in Remembrance of Afrikan Freedom-Fighting Student and Youth Matyrs (in commemoration of the 20^th Anniversary of the hanging of Solomon Mahlangu in Pretoria, South Africa).

April World Bank/ IMF Meetings

May Annual General Assembly of the Jubilee 2000 Afrika Campaign in Maputo, Mozambique.

May/June Jubilee 2000 International Lobby of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).

16^th June Anniversary of the Soweto Uprising of 1976 in South Africa. International Day of Student and Youth Action for Truthful Education on Afrika.

June EU Summit, Germany.

200 Days to the Millennium (15^th)

19^th June G8 Summit, Koln (Cologne), Germany.

30^th July – 1^st August OKRAFRIKA Commemoration: Celebrating the Afrikan Soul of Black Folks (embracing the Act of Repentance and Hope) to coincide with the re-burial of the remains of enslaved Afrikans in Ghana from the USA. 165^th Anniversary of the coming into effect of the 1833 Abolition of Slavery Act of the British Parliament.

29^th-30^th August Cancel the Debt Carnival, London, United Kingdom.

August Possible International Pop Concert. AFRIKUJIMA Launch of the AFRIK'UHURU International Annual Concert Appeal.

September Possible International Conference to thrash out Debt Cancellation Proposals ( along the lines of the Ottawa Conference for Landmines).

World Bank/IMF Meetings

Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Durban South Africa –

17^th – 21^st September International Celebration of the 90^th Anniversary of the Birth of Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah led by the Friends of Kwame Nkrumah International (FOKNI). Main Event in conjunction with the Pan-Afrikan Forum of Ghana (PAFOG) in Accra, Ghana.

1^st-31^st October SANKOFA Black History Month Focus on “Black Freedom Fighting Against Debt Bondage into the New Millenium ”.

12^th – 14^th November Ken Saro-Wiwa (Nigeria), Vuyisile Mini, Wilson Khayinga and Zinakile Mkaba (SACTU/ANC, South Africa) Memorial Event (linked to the 115^th Anniversary of the Berlin Conference on the Partition of Africa).

9^th – 11^th December Human Rights and International Law on Debt Conference (towards an International Insolvency Law), Yaounde, Cameroon. Convenor (mandated by the Jubilee 2000 Afrika Campaign): Dennis Brutus, Honorary Auxiliary Commissioner, J2000 AFRICAMPAIGN; Member, AMNESTY International Board.

December 1 Year to Go – KWANZA/New Year Resolution Pledges?

2000:

January AFRIMAPAMBAZUKO: The Afrikan New Millenium Dawn-Vision Experience.

February Black History Month USA. SANKOFA Brothers and Sisters Groundings in the USA (Educational Tour for a USA Follow-up Exposition of the Jubilee 2000 Afrika Campaign).

21^st March 40^th Anniversary of the Sharpeville Massacre in which 69 people were killed and many more injured in apartheid South Africa.

April World Bank/IMF Meetings

June G8 Summit, Tokyo, Japan.

August Redemption Song Carnival Against Debt Bondage, London, United Kingdom.

September World Bank/IMF Meetings

1^st-31^st October SANKOFA Black History Month Focus on “The Black Vision of a New Millenium Fresh Start Out of Debt Bondage”.

6^th- 15^th October PAN-AFRIK'MANCHESTER 2000 Commemoration of the 55^th Anniversary of the 5^th Pan-African Congress, Manchester, UK.

November USA Elections.

November Peoples of the South and Friends of the Third World in a One World Jubilee March for Global Justice upon the Headquarters of the United Nations Organisation (UNO), New York, USA.

December KWANZA/Jubilee 2000 International Thanksgiving Celebrations.