Dakar
07 July 2008
A conference of groups that say they represent poor Africans hasconvened in Mali, in an effort to provide a contrast to the activitiesof the G8 meeting in Japan. The meeting's participants say their voiceis more representative of the African continent. Brent Latham has morefrom our West and Central Africa bureau in Dakar.
Debate at the so-called People's Forum began in the city of Katibougou, 50 kilometers outside the Malian capital Bamako.
Themeeting, last held in 2005, aims to give a voice to Africa's poor, whoorganizers say are generally ignored by the G8, even though discussionsin Japan actually centered on Africa's problems.
This year'sPeople's Forum has attracted more than 1,000 participants from aroundAfrica, as well as observers from Europe and the United States, saysobserver Alexandre Foulon.
"The general idea, the People's Forumgoal, is to elaborate on the proposed alternatives to the G8," he explained."The organizers call it the 'Summit of the Poor.' They are debatingissues such as women's [roles], development in Africa, the food crisis,and cost of life."
Foulon says that participants include representatives of farmers, labor unions, migrant groups, and NGOs.
Themeeting takes place at a university where agricultural studies aretaught. Foulon says the agricultural crisis in West Africa has reducedenrollment there from a peak of 8,000 students several years ago, tojust 400 today.
Lasene Sedibe, director of the Mali-basedAssociation of Organizations of Professional Farmers, says that whilethe conference will directly address issues like food prices andagriculture on the continent, the goal is also to send a message to theG8 leaders.
He says that rich countries have the right tospeak about Africa in its absence, but that a big problem has beenoutsiders deciding what is good for the continent without theparticipation of Africans. At the conference, he says, Africans havedecided to figure out for themselves what is good for them.
Sedibesays he hopes that G8 leaders will consider the points of view oforganizations like his, which are seldom represented at the gatheringsof rich countries.
He says that those at the conference have adifferent vision of many things, including international and nationalgovernance, and humanitarian affairs. For that reason, he says, theyneed another place to meet, where they have the right to make thedecisions that affect their lives.
Other farmers at the summitsaid they were feeling very discouraged. They say the cotton they areproducing is being sold for very little, as they try to compete againstU.S. cotton growers who get subsidies from the U.S. government.
The"Summit of the Poor" will continue through Wednesday, concurrent to themeeting of the G8 leaders in Japan. The Japanese hosts also invitedthe leaders of seven African countries to take part in the sessionregarding Africa.