{"id":5878,"date":"2022-02-18T05:41:37","date_gmt":"2022-02-18T05:41:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/esaff.org\/index-php\/?p=5878"},"modified":"2022-02-18T05:53:34","modified_gmt":"2022-02-18T05:53:34","slug":"whatever-is-done-for-africa-without-the-african-people-is-not-for-africa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/esaff.org\/index-php\/whatever-is-done-for-africa-without-the-african-people-is-not-for-africa\/","title":{"rendered":"Whatever is done for Africa without the African people is not for Africa."},"content":{"rendered":"

A joint declaration of Social Movements and Peasant farmers, Faith-Based Organisations and CSOs was delivered at the African People\u2019s Summit ahead of the 6th EU-Africa Summit, demanding more space for CSO and measures to guarantee land justice and the transition to agroecology.<\/p>\n

Context<\/strong><\/p>\n

We, members of a broad alliance of social and peasants[1]<\/sup><\/a> movements, faith-based organisations and civil society[2]<\/sup><\/a> across Africa and Europe, observe with great apprehension as the EU and the African Union hold their 6th<\/sup> summit. Over the last 20 years of partnership, we have not seen any significant added benefit from this partnership, which has failed to improve the livelihoods of African rural communities. This partnership and similar ones with other regions of the world have shown themselves to be shadow structures that facilitate the grabbing of land, the plundering of natural resources, ongoing corporate impunity with the complicity of national and international authorities, and aggressive market expansion that comes at the expense of people\u2019s prosperity and habitats.<\/p>\n

We are saddened to observe that these issues of utmost urgency for Africa rarely make it to the centre of the negotiation table of the Summit discussions. Otherwise, how could we explain that food systems and agriculture and responding to Covid-19 were not part of the themes initially proposed for the Summit?<\/p>\n

Notwithstanding the message of promoting a relationship of equals by the EU leaders, we observe with concern that the legacy of colonialism, now transformed into some kind of corporate-led neo-colonialism, and substantial power asymmetries persist, which continues to tilt the partnership in favour of the EU. It is disturbing and problematic that there is no meaningful effort on the part of the EU to deal with this painful and sad past. A different approach is needed for a more transformative relationship between the two continents. The terrorism and conflicts in the Sahel and other regions of Africa and the forced migration of young Africans crossing the Mediterranean Sea are products of extreme poverty, inequality, climate emergency and economic downturns[3]<\/sup><\/a>.<\/p>\n

We echo the essential words of late Bishop Desmond Tutu and say that we Africans are not interested in picking up crumbs of compassion. We want and demand the full menu of rights.<\/p>\n

African Peoples\u2019 Vision<\/strong><\/p>\n

We reject partnerships that address the symptoms rather than the real needs of African people and their vision of a world where all can enjoy their fair share of the gifts of creation. We envision a culture of solidarity and democratisation of ubuntu,<\/em> where the people \u2013 the poor, youth and women \u2013 and the environment are at the heart of economic and social policies. We want Africa to define and shape its relations with other regions and world powers. Still, above all, that puts the dignity and wellbeing of all Africans at the centre of its policymaking.<\/p>\n

Convinced that African People deserve better consideration in the partnership, we recommend European and African leaders take the following points into account:<\/p>\n