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Bureaucrats, Gatekeepers and the Attempt to Sabotage the African Diaspora 6th Region Elections

“Civil Society is NOT government. So why are people talking about governing administrations, high councils, formalized and legalized Pan African Networks (PANs), and other such complicated and formal structures while trying to elect the 20 African Diaspora civil society representatives for AU ECOSOCC????? Why has AU ECOSOCC issued a “cease and desist” letter against the African Diaspora organizations attempting to organize itself and choose its 20 representatives as per the ECOSOCC statutes????

WHAT’S GOING ON?????”

___________________________________________________________

It was a simple instruction. In July of 2004, the Statute of The African Union’s Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) was adopted by the Heads of State and Government at the Third Ordinary Session of the Assembly. Article 5 section 3 stated,

"African Diaspora organizations shall establish an appropriate process for determining modalities for elections and elect twenty (20) CSO's to the ECOSOCC General Assembly"

Notice it says “African Diaspora Organizations” - PLURAL! Clearly, it was meant that no one single African Diaspora organization was meant to determine an apporpriate “process for determing modalities for elections”. It was meant to be a GROUP project of the African Diaspora done in the spirit of UBUNTU.

The African Union webpage announcing the launch of ECOSOCC stated,

"The impulse is not for the African Union to organize civil society. Rather the organizing principle of the ECOSOCC of the African Union is one in which civil society would organize themselves to work with the Organization.The distinctive character of the African Union's ECOSOCC is that it is an opportunity for African civil society to play an active role in charting the future of the Continent, organizing itself in partnership with African governments to contribute to the principles, policies and programmes of the Union."

More recently, in late October, 2024,the 81st Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) passed its RESOLUTION IN PREPARATION FOR THE AU THEME FOR 2025 “JUSTICE FOR AFRICANS AND PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT THROUGH REPARATIONS” THROUGH CONSULTATIONS ON AFRO DESCENDANTS, INDIGENOUS/ETHNIC ANCESTRY, REPARATIONS AND THE 6th REGION OF THE AFRICAN UNION. ACHPR/Res.616 (LXXXI) 2024 THAT resolution stated,

“Urges the African Diaspora organizations to establish an appropriate process for determining modalities for elections and elect twenty (20) CSOs to the AU ECOSOCC General Assembly, in conformity with Article 5 (3) of the States of AU ECOSOCC, and to cooperate with the African Commission, AU ECOSSOC, the AU Member States and other relevant stakeholders to make the AU Theme of the Year 2025 a success.”

Civil Society is NOT government. So why are people talking about governing administrations, high councils, formalized and legalized Pan African Networks (PANs), and other such complicated and formal structures while trying to elect the 20 African Diaspora civil society representatives for AU ECOSOCC????? Why has AU ECOSOCC issued a “cease and desist” letter against the African Diaspora organizations attempting to organize itself and choose its 20 representatives as per the ECOSOCC statutes????

WHAT’S GOING ON?????

Now let’s consider. On November 20th, the following letter announcing the African Diaspora’s “AU 6th Region Elections” was sent to Mr. William Carew, Head of the AU ECOSOCC Secretariat, explaining that,

“ We felt compelled to move forward with this process since the ECOSOCC Call for Application for Elections into the 4th Permanent General Assembly excludes the AU 6th region and left  them with no framework or process under the Article 3(q) Amendment that officially, “invite(s) and encourage(s) the full participation of Africans in the Diaspora in the building of the African Union in its capacity as an important part of our Continent.”

The next day, Mr. Carew sent the following cease and desist letter:

The letter clearly reveals what we, in good faith, believed to be a huge misunderstanding by the AU, which seemed to think we were claiming to represent the AU or AU ECOSOCC or that we had some kind of partnership or mandate from them beyond the ECOSOCC Statute Article 5 Section 3. Thus, I immediately sent a follow-up letter emphasizing,

“Neither I, the nine regional coordinators, or anyone connected with the African Diaspora’s Town Hall Meetings to elect representatives for the AU ECOSOCC are in any way claiming to represent the AU ECOSOCC. . . . Our intention is simply to follow this statue and do the necessary work so that when the legal framework is approved, we will be ready to fully participate in the 4th General Assembly. . . . We stand to be guided by the approved Framework and in the meantime call on you to see our effort as complimentary, with no threat to the AU ECOSOCC or the Mother body  the AU. We look forward to seeking common understanding in the spirit of Ubuntu. . . .Towards that end, we would like to have a Zoom meeting with you tomorrow.”

In addition, I noticed, curiosly, that Mr. Carew ended his letter by stating, “Furthermore, to avoid any misunderstanding, we want to clarify that your statement claiming you contributed to ‘the legal framework for the Diaspora’s inclusion’ is inaccurate. Neither the AU nor ECOSOCC contracted you as a consultant or in any other capacity to develop a legal framework”. Either Mr. Carew honestly did not know of my contributions to the process for establishing the legal framework or the Diaspora’s inclusion, or it was a deliberate attempt to discredit me by painting me as some sort of charlatan. Thus, I prepared (but never sent) the following facts of the matter:

So the truth, by any fair examination of the facts, is that I did contribute to ‘the legal framework for the Diaspora’s inclusion’ . So either Mr. Carew and AU ECOSOCC Secretariat was simply ignorant and unaware, or worse, was engaging in some kind of campaign against me. But why would they do that? Anyway, we asked to meet with them the following day, but instead, AU ECOSOCC published the following PUBLIC NOTICE which is essentially the same as the previous day’s cease and desist letter but without the last part about my contribution to establishing the legal framework:

So rather than have a meeting with us in the spirit of cooperation and UBUNTU, AU ECOSOCC decided to go public with its campaign to stop the African Diaspora 6th Region from conducting its election in violation of its own pronouncements! Mr. Carew uses the word “unauthorized” but we reply that the African Diaspora is to organize itself and presents its representatives. It was never for the AU to “authorize” “an appropriate process for determining modalities for elections”. That is the right and responsibility of African Diaspora ORGANIZATIONS…… Again, I immediately sent another letter to Mr. William Carew:

Let’s consider now:

On October 22, 2024 a CONSULTATIVE MEETING HELD WITH CHAIR OF WORKING GROUP ON INDIGENOUS POPULATIONS AND MINORITIES IN AFRICA produced the following advice:

“Hold a truly representative gathering of the African Diaspora, hash it out amongst yourself, and come to the Roundtable with your 20 representatives. Following that, bring a resolution to a 9th PAC to be held in 2025. With the Commission and 9th PAC authority, it will then be brought to the AU Summit.”

On November 12, 2024 instructions were given for ELECTING THE AFRICAN DIASPORA/AU 6TH REGION REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE AFRICAN UNION ECONOMIC SOCIAL AND CULTURAL COUNCIL (AU-ECOSOCC).

“We, the 250 million members of the African Diaspora, can finally begin our FORMAL inclusion in the African Union as its 6th Region during the African Union themed year for 2025 - Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations - by completing the following: 1. A Coordinator from each of the 9 regions of  the AU 6th Region -  Brazil, United States, Caribbean, South America, Europe, Middle East, Central America, Canada, and Asia & Oceania - will host weekly “6th Region Representation Town Hall” Zoom meetings. That’s a total of 4 meetings for each of 9 regions or 36 Zoom meetings. The goal is to get 400 to 600 participants involved in each region or 3,600 to 5,400 total people that would satisfy the criteria “truly representative gathering of the African Diaspora.” The purpose  of these first four Town Hall Zoom meetings is to invite all individuals and organizations to the process, provide the relevant information and invite them to nominate candidates to represent the region.”

On November 15, both the African Diaspora Union (AFRIDU) and State of the African Diaspora (SOAD) sent official letters of endorsement. 

On November 17, a TOWN HALL MEETING SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES ELECTIONS PROCESS FOR AFRICAN DIASPORA REPRESENTATIVES TO THE AU-ECOSOCC 4TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY .

On November 20, Siphiwe Baleka as sends a letter to AU ECOSOCC Head of Secretariat William Carew informing him of the parallel elections process for the 6th Region since it was excluded from the ECOSOCC Call for Application for Elections into the 4th Permanent General Assembly

On November 21, the Pan African Council sent an official letter of endorsement and William Carew, Head of AU ECOSOCC Secretariat sends “URGENT NOTICE TO CEASE AND DESIST UNAUTHORIZED PROCESS OF THE SO-CALLED “AU 6TH REGION ELECTIONS FOR ECOSOCC”

On November 24, the Caribbean Regional Coordinator for the Caribbean posted a flyer for a Caribbean Town Hall Meeting, to which David Comissiong, the Barbados Ambassador to CARICOM commented, “Really? Surely this is some type of sick comedy show ?” Why would the Ambassador and Chair of the Caribbean Pan African Network (CPAN) not appreciate a mobilization effort that would include the people he represents so that they can have representation? What was CPAN’s response to the AU ECOSOCC’s exclusion of the 6th Region to its 4th General Assembly? What was CPAN doing to mobilize THE PEOPLE about this? If we are all on the same team with the same goal - getting our representatives seated in ECOSOCC - why would the Ambassador not welcome such help????

On November 25, AU ECOSSOCC published PUBLIC NOTICE: Unauthorized Activities of the So-Called “AU 6th Region Elections for ECOSOCC” Ref.: ECOSOCC/02/01/407.24 and Ambassador Comissiong was the first to spread it in a chat group. That same day, Siphiwe Baleka responded with a letter and a press release.

By November 27, the mobilization of the Regional WhatsApp groups had 823 Members - 302 from Caribbean, 118 from the USA, 81 from South America, 84 from Europe, 188 from Central America, 7 from Asia/Oceania, 14 from Canada, 10 from Middle East and 19 from Brazil.

On Thursday, November 28, The Caribbean Regional WhatsApp group was taken down by WhatsApp administration. It was later reinstated after a great effort from the Caribbean Regional Coordinator.

On Saturday, November 30, the USA Regional Coordinator resigned. 

On Monday, December 2, SOAD issued a letter stating, “We are writing to formally notify you that due to the turn of events that has occurred with regard to ECOSOCC Cease and Desist, and your subsequent re-mobilization efforts, the Letter of Endorsement which was provided in the first instance, is now no longer valid.” That same day, the UNIA & ACL sent its Letter of Endorsement to the campaign. So the campaing lost one organization but gained another. . . .

And so it went. There were people who were supporting the campaign and doing positive things to unite the African Diaspora 6th Region and then there were those who tried to stop it, starting with Mr. Carew, Head of the ECOSOCC Secretariat and Ambassador Comissiong. The cease and desist letter caused some people to stand down, but actually galvanized most of those involved who re-doubled their effort to move forward with the mobilization and election procsss, deeming it something that is necessary that the African Diaspora do for itself with or without the AU. This has led to other discussions about formal structures, governance, etc., all of which is welcomed fruit…..

But finally, it is helpful to go back to the beginning to understand the true and original spirit and origin of this African Diaspora Initiative at the AU, which was largely initiated by the Government of Senegal. Listen to the Senegalease Foreign Minister at the time discuss the origin:

At the First African Union-Western Hemisphere Diaspora Forum in Washington, DC, December 17-19, 2002 the working group on DEMOCRACY, GOVERNANCE AND THE RULE OF LAW stated in their final report,

“190. We, the participants of the above-named Working Group, move that the African Diaspora establishes itself for full regional representation at the African Union.” In response, Dr Jinmi Adisa, Senior Coordinator and Head of Conference on Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation (CSSDCA), Interim Commission of the African Union stated in his closing remarks,

“We will take all your resolutions and recommendations to Chairman Essy and the Commission of the Union in Addis Ababa and through them to the Summit of the Union and while we may not be able to implement all of them immediately, you can be rest assured that they will eventually be reflected in the purposes, goals and programmes of the Union. . . .

251. The meeting also recommended that the Foundation for Democracy in Africa (FDA) serve as the coordinating body and be given the specific mandate to follow-up on the recommendations of the 1st AU-Western Hemisphere Diaspora Conference and work with the CSSDCA, enhancing the work of other African Diaspora NGOs internationally and in consultation with the AU Office in New York, within the next 18 months.”

On April 18, 2003, the African Union in conjunction with the FDA and members of WHADN, announced plans for establishing technical definitions of the Diaspora and the process of effectively integrating the Diaspora into the organs and programs of the African Union, notably the Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC). Members of WHADN and the AU delegation agreed that participants should become actively involved in this process by forwarding proposals thru the WHADN Secretariat to the AU Commission for consideration and taking ownership of the outcomes of adopted projects. It was stressed that WHADN is a network in which Diaspora organizations could freely mobilize and coordinate their interaction with the African Union on an equal basis. A WHADN electronic mailing list, newsletter and website were then created to contribute to the development of WHADN as the "functional interface mechanism with the AU."

That 18 month mandate given to FDA/WHADN woud run from December 2002 to June 2004. The African Union Technical Workshop on the Relationship With The Diaspora held in the Port of Spain, Trinidad, June 2-5 2004 stated,

“all NGOs and coalitions of NGOs in the Western Hemisphere desiring to participate in the African Union Development of the Diaspora Initiative should register with WHADN as the first step of membership in this movement.”

Thus, following these instruction, in December of 2005, the following Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed creating the AU 6th Region Education Campaign which I, as Ras Nathaniel, served as the Director.

Volume 3 of COME OUT OF HER, MY PEOPLE! 21ST CENTURY BLACK PROPHETIC FAITH AND PAN AFRICAN DIPLOMACY, gives the history of the creation of the AU 6th Region Education Campaign:

The launch of the AU 6th Region Education campaign is given on p 848 of Volume 3,

“The Western Hemisphere Africa Diaspora Network (WHADN) and the Ethiopian World Federation, Inc. Empress Manen Local #13 in Hartford, CT will host the “African Union 6th Region 2006 Education Campaign” at EWF Local #13 Headquarters on Saturday, April 1 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. The campaign was launched at Howard University on March 7 and was attended by students, academics, professionals and members of the greater Washington DC African Diaspora community including leaders from the Rastafari community, the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) and other cultural organizations. The “African Union 6th Region 2006 Education Campaign” is traveling to cities across the Western Hemisphere to generate interest and support for the African Union 6th Region Initiative from students, activists, organizers, professionals, institutions and organization in the African Diaspora. The campaign is assisting the African Union to establish the Central Diaspora Resource Skills Bank to attract talented Africans in the Diaspora to participate in the development of Africa through employment and investment. A Repatriation Census, designed to identify members of the African Diaspora who desire to return to the African continent to live, work and study, is also being conducted as part of the campaign. The two-hour program includes a documentary video detailing the transition of the Organization of African Unity to the African Union produced by WHADN for the campaign. The documentary underscores the struggle facing the intergovernmental organization as it works to create institutions and put in place systems that will harmonize standards and procedures within the continent while it completes the unification of people of African decent globally as Africa prepares for the challenges and opportunities of globalization. “The African Union has organized the continent into five regions – north, south, east, west and central Africa – and is now including the African Diaspora as the 6th Region of the African Union. This is what Marcus Garvey, Malcolm X and the Pan-African Movement was working toward – the unity of African people at home and abroad. Through the AU 6th Region Diaspora Initiative, the African Diaspora becomes institutionally linked to the African Union” said Campaign Director Ras Nathaniel, who will be appearing on “Rastafari Rising”, Thursday, March 30 from 9:00 pm to 10:30 pm on Hartford Public Access Cable Channel 5. The Western Hemisphere African Diaspora Network (WHADN) is an African Union (AU) initiative and was launched during the First African Union Western Hemisphere Diaspora Forum held in Washington, DC from December 17—19, 2002. This historical event was convened by AU and coordinated by The Foundation for Democracy in Africa.

Pages 866 to 869 then continue:

April 13, 2006 Sent to I by Ras Nathanial

THE AFRICAN UNION COMES TO TOWN

David L. Horne, PhD RUF/PAOC

Los Angeles - In 2001, the African Union (AU) succeeded the Organization of African Unity (OAU). Since then, as part of its necessary m.o. the African Union has invited us to the table to participate fully in discussions, debate and negotiations on the future of a unified Africa. Although there have been individual African Americans and Afro West Indians representing us in the OAU, and more recently in the AU during and after 2001, this is the first time in modern history that we have been so honored, respected, and acknowledged by a collective African leadership. They have made the offer, it is now up to us to get our act together so that we can accept it. This weekend in Los Angeles, at the First Annual Pan African ROUNDTABLE/FORUM, a representative from the African Union's Secretariat (called WHADN, or Western Hemisphere African Diasporan Network) will explain the African Union's position and some African Consensus decisions will be made concerning how to achieve the necessary diasporan representation. A Very Brief History For Context: The need to involve the diaspora in the relentless effort that is required to achieve a Union of African States was recognized and codified in the original Constitutive Act that established the African Union (and officially disbanded the OAU) in 2001. In 2003, and 2005, that Constitutive Act was amended and clarified regarding the diaspora, such that the operative statement now is Article 3 (q) that the AU hereby ".. invite(s) and encourage(s) the full participation of the African Diaspora as an important part of our continent, in the building of 867 the African Union." The AU is currently establishing several Diasporan Secretariats in various parts of the world to help to facilitate bringing the diasporans into this process. There is one already established for the Western Hemisphere (in Washington, D.C.) called the WHADN, one being established for Europe, and one being set up in Ghana (to assist with Ghana's Joseph Plan strategy to attract diasporans back to Ghana and to Africa as a whole). The WHADN (Western Hemisphere African Diaspora Network) out of Washington, D.C. has a mandate to help diasporans organize themselves in five sub-regions- Canada, the United States, Latin America/Central America, the Caribbean, and Brazil. The WHADN has a fully formed calendar of educational trips planned for 2006 to disseminate accurate information about the AU and the diaspora, and the trips have already started (Howard University, Harvard University, community groups in Connecticut, etc.) There have been several pivotal meetings thus far to push this agenda forward. As examples, there was a meeting of Pan African scholars in Dakar in 2004 to define and analyze the diaspora, the AU Western Hemisphere Diaspora Forum in December, 2002 (Washington, D.C.), Addis Ababa in 2003 and 2005 to approve a definition and to clarify a stronger commitment to bringing the diaspora in, two major New York gatherings in 2004-2005 to begin organizing a diasporan model, and the Pan African meeting in Atlanta two weeks ago. The issue has been engaged, just not yet resolved. What issue is that? The issue of who exactly the diaspora is and is not. We cannot accept the invitation until we first of all clarify our distinguished distinction--are we everybody Black in the world not presently living on the African continent? Are we the direct descendants of victims of the Maafa only? Are we white, brown, black and all other mixtures in between? In 2005, the AU submitted to us its own definition: "The African Diaspora are peoples of African descent and 868 heritage living outside the continent, irrespective of their citizenship and who remain committed to contribute to the development of the continent and the building of the African Union." Is this definition sufficient for us to move forward, or do we need to fine-tune it some more? The Pan African ROUNDTABLE/FORUM in Los Angeles on April 7-8th will engage in an African Consensus process to try and arrive at an effective methodology that we can use in the USA. There will be a follow-up meeting in Miami this summer, and another in Ghana towards the end of the summer. Whatever tangible results come out of these and other gatherings will quickly be submitted to all identifiable and progressive Black organizations, clubs, groups and associations in the USA for their input, then a firm decision will be made, and the invitation will be accepted. Black newspapers, radio stations and cable networks are expected to help get the word out. There are not any plans now nor will there be in the future for a single representative from the USA to discuss and negotiate our interests at AU meetings. Currently, for one AU Commission alone (ECOSOCC), there will be at least 20 representatives from the Western Hemisphere, and there are several other commissions, numerous committees and projects, and of course the All African Parliament itself. The exact number of representatives is in flux. Our priority is to come up with an agreed-upon method of selecting trusted representatives to the AU, whatever the final number, without letting ourselves drown in our own egotism, faded rivalries, inappropriate ideological assassinations, and other forms of PTSS (Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome) unreadiness. For more information, call (310) 967-5871, the RUF Hotline.

The AU6th Region Education Campaign conducted workshops in the United States, Barbados, Panama, Jamiaca, Trinidad and Honduras. With the help of Dr. David Horne, and elections process was created and agreed to and we started electing representatives and momentum was building. After three representatives had been elected,the following email exchange occured with the African Union through its Citizens and Diaspora Directorate (CIDO) which is worth reading very closely:

Three messages concerning the 6th Region of the African Union

From the AU

From: "CIDO" <cido@africa-union.org > Date: May 29, 2007 9:02:07 A M E D T To : " A U 6 t h R e g i o n E d u c a t i o n C a m p a i g n "<ras.nathaniel@yahoo.com >

Cc: Subject: Re: CIDO Re: ECOSOCC election process

Thanks for your e-mail of 24 May 2007 in response to the e-mail of the ECOSOCC Secretariat on the same. It is a mark of regard and respect that the Commission has for the enthusiasm of your organization and its apparent commitment to the Diaspora Initiative that we are also responding. Since most of the issues raised in your latest correspondence focus on the Diaspora programme and Diaspora representation in ECOSOCC, I would like to offer the following clarifications:

1.    The issue of Diaspora representation in ECOSOCC must conform to established AU rules and processes, including those pertaining to the Diaspora programme. Legislative authority for AU activities is derived from decisions of AU Executive Organs. These organs are currently the Assembly, Executive Council and where so delegated, the Permanent Representative Committee of Ambassadors, the Commission and other appropriate organs such as PAP and ECOSOCC. The mandate of those organs spells out the degree and scope of their legislative authority.

2.                    Secondly, and deriving from this, the various workshops, consultative meetings and forums and conversation pieces that you referred to do not take decisions. They are forums for deliberation that feed inputs to the Commission for consideration of the policy organs that then take decisions. The decisions can take into account, repudiate or discountenance the recommendations as they deem appropriate. For instance, the Technical Workshop held in Port of Spain put forward a series of recommendations on Modalities for enhancing partnership between the Union and the Diaspora. The most important was the definition of the Diaspora. The Executive Council at its 6th Ordinary Session in Banjul rejected the recommendation and decided to refer the issues to a Meeting of Experts of Experts of Member States (see attachment). It is important therefore, that you follow up on decisions and where, in doubt, consult with our Washington Office for such information in your region and later, CIDO and/or the ECOSOCC Secretariat in the Commission, if you require further information.

3.                It is also clear from your presentation that you perceive your mandate and authority as derived from WHADN. In this regard, you make three explicit claims as follows:

a)                  “It is our understanding that the AU established WHADN in December 2002” as the functional interface mechanism with the AU”. You cite a press release of 2003 to establish this.

b)            Therefore it was for this reason that the AU 6th Region Education Campaign that was created in December of 2005 signed a memorandum of understanding with the Western Hemisphere Diaspora Network (WHADN)

c)           The AU 6th Region Campaign did establish itself in conformity with the processes and procedures approved by the African Union as outlined in a) above.

4.          It is important to note that AU decisions are not press releases. It is also clear that you are not familiar with the origin, scope and mandate of WHADN. The AU launched its Diaspora initiative in the US with the Washington Forum in December 2002 (Please see enclosure). In his presentation to that meeting, Dr. Adisa as then Head of CSSDCA indicated a desire to establish a Network and a Steering Committee. However, political differences dictated against this and the Conference decided upon two recommendations for Coordinating Body for Western Hemisphere Diaspora as follows:

a)    The Meeting recommended that an office of the AU be established in Washington DC.

b)     The Meeting also recommended that the Foundation for Democracy in Africa serve as the coordinating body and be given the specific mandate to follow-up on the recommendations of the 1st AU-Western Hemisphere Diaspora Conference and work with the CSSDCA, enhancing the work of other African Diaspora NGOs internationally and in consultation with the AU Office in New York, within the next 18 months (December 2002 – June 2003 -[Siphiwe note - this should be June 2004]).

It follows therefore that the Foundation of Democracy, rather than WHADN, was given Secretariat responsibilities for a period of 18 months. That mandate has since expired and was never renewed. [Siphiwe note: But The African Union Technical Workshop on the Relationship With The Diaspora held in the Port of Spain, Trinidad, June 2-5 2004 stated, “all NGOs and coalitions of NGOs in the Western Hemisphere desiring to participate in the African Union Development of the Diaspora Initiative should register with WHADN as the first step of membership in this movement.”] The recommendation for the Washington Office has also been taken on Board by the Executive Council which has given it coordinating responsibilities in the US as part of its office functions. Thus I would like to reiterate the point made earlier that the AU has not designated any group as official representative of Western portions of the AU Diaspora connection. This is a matter of fact and public record.

5.            You cite the case of CPAN. CPAN was established as an official AU regional network with a mandate to organize civil society activity in the Caribbean. In this regard, it has selected 2 members for ECOSOCC.However, these members have not taken a seat in ECOSOCC and have not been included precisely because of the reasons we gave you about the need for a prior settlement on distribution and modalities for election. It is significant to note however, that CPAN has taken this in stride out of respect for the need to conform with AU processes and procedures. The advise of the Chairperson of the Commission is being considered by the appropriate organs. Dr. Adisa simply made this information available to ECOSOCC as a policy organ in his capacity as Head of the African Citizens Directorate.

6.           It seems clear therefore, that as part of the process of involvement in the Diaspora programme and ECOSOCC, it would be useful to become more conversant with AU processes and procedures. We would recommend that you get in touch with our Washington Office for more clarifications as required so that we can work in unison in conformity with AU Diaspora Initiative processes and policies. It is clear that your actions here have been pursued with the noblest of intentions but on the basis of wrong understanding. We believe that the best way of advancing your support of the AU is to amend this understanding and proceed in the appropriate fashion so that we can promote the objectives of solidarity and commonality implicit in the Diaspora initiative.

It is also necessary to state here that we recognize the efforts of WHADN to sensitize African Communities in the US and the Caribbean to the AU Diaspora Initiative. This effort was acknowledged in Executive Council Decision on the Development of the Diaspora Initiative in the African Union (Doc. Ext/EX/CL/5(III) of 2003 which states “ Request(ed) the Commission to work out modalities for mutual cooperation between the African Union and Caricom and other existing formations such as Western Hemisphere Diaspora Network (WHADN).” However, the policy framework has developed and no such modality has been agreed upon. Nor has the African Union assigned responsibility to WHADN or any other group in the US as functional interface with the African Union.

Also, in response to your question, we do not believe that the Credentials Committee can accept three representatives chosen by your organization because elections of Diaspora representatives must be in accordance with established rules and procedures, some of which are yet to be spelt out. We need to establish the procedure for election of the Diaspora representatives, the number to be assigned to each region, the process for election including a prior vetting of qualifications by the Credential Committee.

The mandate of the current interim ECOSOCC Assembly ends in December 2007 and the new Assembly is not programmed to be installed by December 2007 as you claim. This would be done, presumably in early 2008 at a date to be set by the Executive organs. Again, there is issue of the legitimacy of your elections. Have you got a mandate from other Diaspora groups in the US for the elections? What happens if another group says it has elected 4 or 5 or even 10 members for ECOSOCC? A legitimate process and procedure would enable us over some of these hurdles.

Finally, the exchange of information so far has been very enlightening. We also hope it has provided clarifications about the policy process of the African Union. The African Citizens Directorate (CIDO) and the ECOSOCC Secretariat of the AU Commission are happy to assist in this regard but we also have other and more important policy functions. We would therefore, kindly request that further request for information should be channeled through our Washington Office that has specific responsibility for the sensitization aspect of AU programme in the US. We understand also that they are planning a Roundtable sometime in the second part of the year at which the Commission would be effectively represented to further enlighten the Diaspora public. We are also copying this to Washington Office for information.

I thank you.

Mr. Wuyi Omitoogun Diaspora Officer, CIDO AU Commission

-  Chief of Staff, Bureau of the Chairperson - Permanent Representative of the AU in Washington - All members of the Interim Standing Committee of ECOSOCC - ECOSOCC, Secretariat - PrincipalCoordinator, CIDO

From Ras Nathaniel to the Rastafari Community

"We have been a child, a boy, a youth, an adult, and finally an old man. Like everyone else. Our Lord the Creator made us like everyone else. Maybe you wish to know what kind of youth We were. Well We were a very serious, very diligent, very obedient youth. We were sometimes punished, but do you know why? Because what We were made to study did not seem enough and We wished to study further. We wanted to stay on at school after lessons were over. We were loath to amuse ourselves, to go riding, to play. We didn't want to waste time on games." -- Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie I response to interview question from Oriana Fallaci, Sunday, June 24, 1973

Greetings and Rastafari Blessings to the Rastafari Family Worldwide 103 days, 12 hours, 17 minutes and 41 seconds before the Ethiopian Millennium

I received another letter from African Union officials today and have forwarded a response (see emails below). Despite the negative propaganda, Rastafari is advancing within the African Union. In reference to the AU 6th Region Education Campaign, Ms. Nadia Roguiai and Dr. Francis Ikome of the ECOSOCC Secretariat acknowledged I&I "spirited efforts and commitment to the success of both the Diaspora Initiative." Mr. Wuyi Omitoogun, Diaspora Officer, CIDO/AU Commission added,

"Thanks for your e-mail of 24 May 2007 in response to the e-mail of the ECOSOCC Secretariat on the same. It is a mark of regard and respect that the Commission has for the enthusiasm of your organization and its apparent commitment to the Diaspora Initiative that we are also responding. . . .the exchange of information so far has been very enlightening. We also hope it has provided clarifications about the policy process of the African Union. . . . It is clear that your actions here have been pursued with the noblest of intentions but on the basis of wrong understanding.

We believe that the best way of advancing your support of the AU is to amend this understanding and proceed in the appropriate fashion so that we can promote the objectives of solidarity and commonality implicit in the Diaspora initiative. . . . . We would therefore, kindly request that further request for information should be channeled through our Washington Office that has specific responsibility for the sensitization aspect of AU programme in the US."

This is another example indicative of the Statement and Plan of Action of the South Africa - African Union - Caribbean - Diaspora Conference (March 16-18, 2005) that confirmed that, "The Conference gained a new appreciation of the creative way in which the Rastafarian movement had sustained the vision of the Founders of the OAU, and promoted an African-Caribbean identity and Afro-centric values that strengthened the impulse for African liberation on both sides of the Atlantic, while serving as a positive force for Africa globally"; and "The Rastafari and other movements have served as cultural forces of integration in both the Caribbean and Africa. Their status as agents of sustaining and promoting an African-Caribbean identity and an Afro- centric value system should be recognized as a positive forceof integration." So it was not the motivations, intentions, or work that was wrong, it was the understanding of the African Union policy, procedures and pronouncements that was in error.

More specifically, as it was our understanding that the AU established the Western Hemisphere Diaspora Network (WHADN) in December 2002 ”as the functional interface mechanism with the AU”, it was for this reason that the AU 6th Region Education Campaign that was created in December of 2005 signed a memorandum of understanding with (WHADN) and thus The AU 6th Region Campaign thought itself in conformity with the processes and procedures approved by the African Union. This belief was continually affirmed by FDA/WHADN up until March of 2007 as outlined in Report to the African Diaspora RE: AU 6th Region & ECOSOCC Elections.

Thanks to Mr. Wuyi Omitoogun, it is now known that "In his presentation to that meeting, Dr. Adisa as then Head of CSSDCA indicated a desire to establish a Network and a Steering Committee. However, political differences dictated against this and the Conference decided upon two recommendations for Coordinating Body for Western Hemisphere Diaspora as follows:

a)    The Meeting recommended that an office of the AU be established in Washington DC.

b)     The Meeting also recommended that the Foundation for Democracy in Africa serve as the coordinating body and be given the specific mandate to follow-up on the recommendations of the 1st AU-WesternHemisphere Diaspora Conference and work with the CSSDCA, enhancing the work of other African Diaspora NGOs internationally and in consultation with the AU Office in New York within the next 18 months (December 2002 – June 2003).

It follows therefore that the Foundation of Democracy, rather than WHADN, was given Secretariat responsibilities for a period of 18 months. That mandate has since expired and was never renewed. Interestingly, all of this could have been clarified by Her Excellency Amina Salum Ali, The African Union Permanent Representative to the United States at the April 2006 Pan African Roundtable in Los Angeles at which I was present. Ms. Ali was invited, but did not attend due to the fact that her appointment had not yet been finalized.

For this I can be forgiven. I have contacted the AU Washington Office, as per the request of the AU Diaspora Officer, and therefore, I&I are now quite certain that I&I are proceeding appropriately and in conformity with the processes and procedures approved by the African Union.

However, how mistaken was the understanding?

Consider that, according to three separate entities -- ECOSOCC Secretariat, Diaspora Officer and CIDO, the mistake was not following a procedure that had "yet to be spelt out". At the time, the only procedure from ECOSOCC was "African Diaspora organizations shall establish an appropriate process for determining modalities for elections and elect twenty (20) CSO's to the ECOSOCC General Assembly"; [ECOSOCC Statute Article 5 section 3.]

The African Union webpage announcing the Launch of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of The African Union (ECOSOCC) states, "The impulse is not for the African Union to organize civil society. Rather the organizing principle of the ECOSOCC of the African union is one in which civil society would organize themselves to work with the Organization.The distinctive character of the African Union's ECOSOCC is that it is an opportunity for African civil society to play an active role in charting the future of the Continent, organizing itself in partnership with African governments to contribute to the principles, policies and programmes of the Union." http://www.africa-union.org/ECOSOC/ ECOSOCC%20Flyer.pdf

As I had already attended the 1st Extra- Ordinary Summit of the Assembly of the African Union in February 2003, and the Issembly for Rastafari Iniversal Education (IRIE) had, with permission of the Rastafari Family in Shashemane, initiated communication with the African Union, while being involved in the same self-organizing process initiated by the Rastafari International Theocracy Issembly in 1983 and resumed by the 2003 Global Reasoning with the purpose of "implementing formal agreements relative to African States adn the OAU" and "sending a strong message to....the AU that we want to return home", I naturally and spiritual felt called to service. I did I best to organize both the Rastafari movement and the African Diaspora at the same time in harmony, coordination and cooperation with the African Union.

I did so even vigorously, as per Sister Ijahnya's recommendation to "be quite assertive in making sure that the Rastafari quest for repatriation is placed and remains on the Network and AU priority agenda" and "vigilantly keep abreast of AU Civil Society meetings, proceedings, decisions and positions so as to make the most effective representational inputs." I definitely was very studious, assertive and vigilante during the Campaign's travels on four continents.

Further, consider that Dr. Tajudeen Abdul Raheem, General-Secretary of the Pan African Movement, Kampala (Uganda) and Co-Director of Justice Africa, said on April 7, 2005: "In the past it was difficult for civil society organisations, NGOs, private sector groups, professional associations, etc to have access to the OAU. But the ECOSOCC envisages that most organisations and even individuals will have equal access to the AU and contribute their quota to the development of Africa....

Another issue that shows the unwillingness of the AU to deal straight has to do with the role of the diaspora. The mission, vision, and strategic plan of the AU recognizes the diaspora as the 6th region of Africa in addition to the five regions on the continent itself.

The Chairperson, Alpha Konare, is particularly focused on this yet in the ECOSOCC process the Diaspora has been represented by those chosen by the whim of the AU officials. Even at the launch of the General Assembly the few diaspora persons there were mere observers. This is partly due to the unresolved political intrigues around an acceptable definition of 'diaspora'.

Self organisation is the hallmark of civil society. A situation whereby the AU decides who the leaders of ECOSOCC will be through manipulation of delegates and representation does not augur well for a union that wants the people to be involved as legitimate stakeholders. The Shenanigans at the launch of the ECOSOCC General Assembly would have made the former Stalinist countries very proudly nostalgic that their methods of 'democracy from above' continues to have appeal even without the need for a political party and cadres!"

Moreover, the first paragraph of the report, Towards A People-Driven African Union: Current Obstacles & New Opportunities, says, "This report presents research on the preparations for and conduct of African Union summits, from some of the civil society organizations currently working with the African Union to realize its own vision.

First, it concludes that, although significant space has been opened up for greater and more sustained participation by a diversity of interested groups, the promise of a people-driven African Union (AU) remains largely unfulfilled. Inadequate institutional capacity and inappropriate policies and procedures have hindered the realization of the vision that the AU should build 'a partnership between governments and all segments of civil society... to strengthen solidarity and cohesion among our peoples. . . . There are still considerable difficulties in obtaining access to information about policies and documents under discussion by AU organs, preventing effective participation by Africa's citizens in continental decision- making processes." In the section entitled ECOSOCC, the report states, "First, the structures of ECOSOCC are not sufficiently supported at the continental level…

Secondly, the process for election of ECOSOCC national chapters and continental representatives are unclear and flawed, while eligibility criteria established by the ECOSOCC Statutes exclude many civil society organizations with a contribution to make. Thirdly, despite sub- regional and national consultations, there is need to increase publicity and knowledge of ECOSOCC." Chapter 7, The Economic, Social and Cultural Council, says, "The criteria for eligibility to participate in ECOSOCC have been controversial . . . . Transparency in the selection process of these representatives is questionable.

According to some members of the Interim Standing Committee, they were invited by the AU Commission to attend the March 2005 launch because of their regional and thematic focus. Also, it appears that a number of CSO's invited had a pre-existing relationship with the AU;....However, many organization with a profile on issues relevant to the AU were not included . . . . So far, however, a lack of transparent processes and poor communications strategy leads to perceptions of ECOSOCC as a 'club of friends' and that it is packed with government supported organizations with little legitimacy in the wider civil society movement.

In particular, there is no clarity on the definition of organisations that should be on the 'electoral roll' of voters nor on the election processes that must be followed to choose the national representatives to the General Assembly." Finally, in the section entitled The African Citizens' Directorate, the report says, "The African Citizens' Directorate, known as CIDO, headed by Dr. Jinmi Adisa, is the new name and status for the former unit of the OAU Secretariat supporting the Conference for Security, Stability, Development and Cooperation in Africa (CSSDCA) It is responsible in principle with facilitation of all civil society engagement  with  the  AU  organs  and  processes,  including  in  its  constituency both African citizens in Africa and in the diasopora ....CIDO's current responsibilities fall into three areas: liaison with civil society organizations on the continent; outreach to the diaspora outside Africa; and secretariat functions for ECOSOCC....However -- perhaps for reasons of capacity which are now being addressed -- it has not advertised information about its activities or availability as a liaison point to assist civil society organizations wishing to contact the AU, either on the website or at civil society meetings other than those organizedby  the  AU  itself."  http://  www.soros. org/resources/articles_ publications/publications/ people_20070124/au_20070124.pdf

In addition, Dr. Tajudeen Abdul Raheem also writes, "Two very important meetings that will fundamentally affect the lives of all Africans, alive and those yet to be born, took place this week. Both meetings took place in South Africa. One in Durban and the other in the affluent suburb of Midrand, near Pretoria.

The first is a meeting of the Executive Council of the African Union, which consists of all the Foreign Affairs Ministers of the 53 Member states. The other is the 7th Session of the Pan African Parliament.

What is most significant about the two meetings is the agenda before them. Foreign Affairs Ministers met for final deliberations on the agenda for the forthcoming Summit of Heads of State and Governments of the Union in the first week of July in Accra, Ghana. The Summit has a one-item agenda: the United States of Africa. . . . But how many Africans know about these meetings? Of those who know how, many care? And among those who care, how many can influence the process?" [TAJUDEEN: Two meetings that will impact the lives of Africans, now and forever - theblacklist@earthlink.net] 

No one can deny that IRIE was among the very first, if not the only voice, that was informing the Rastafari Family Worldwide, and indeed, much of the African Diaspora, about the significance and progress of the proposed United States of Africa and the upcoming Grand Debate on the Union Government of the African Union.

Moreover, IRIE sought to actually influence the process by seating Ras McPherson on ECOSOCC which is mandated to submit its perspective to the Grand Debate, as well as on the Panel of the Wise of the Peace and Security Council which is also mandated to submit its perspective on the Grand Debate [see Rastafari Representation at the African Union and Rastafari Representation at the African Union: Immediate Action Needed].

Moreover, IRIE attempted to forward the establishment of a Working Group on Rastafari Populations at the African Union, but petty squabbling over the short-list of Rastafari sons and dawtas to form such a committee effectively killed that effort.

Thus, ultimately, if any mistake was made, it can not be attributed to IRIE. How can IRIE be faulted for having a "wrong understanding" and not being "more conversant with AU processes and procedures" of relevant AU organs that have "inadequate institutional capacity and inappropriate policies and procedures", that does "not advertised information about its activities or availability", has "a lack of transparent processes and poor communications strategy", has "no clarity on the definition of organisations that should be on the 'electoral roll' of voters nor on the election processes that must be followed to choose the national representatives", where there is still "considerable difficulties in obtaining access to information about policies and documents under discussion by AU organs"????

No, IRIE has made no mistake. There never was nor is there any consensus about such things, even with the AU, CIDO, ECOSOCC and the African Civil Society itself. The misunderstanding is the fault of the communicators, in this case the AU, and not the civil society organizations, including IRIE and the AU 6th Region Education Campaign.

As the Diaspora Officer rightly says, IRIE and the AU 6th Region Education Campaign's actions here have been pursued with the noblest of intentions. After four and one half years since it's first engagement with the African Union, now all of the appropriate African Union officials are consulting directly with IRIE and acknowledging its work.

The AU Diaspora Initiative to establish the 6th Region of the AU is now well known, and there is national and international awareness and debate  about     ECOSOCC   elections   among   a   wider,  more   diverse populace of the African Diaspora. This is a victory for IRIE, the AU 6th Region Education  Campaign,   Rastafari   people   and   the   African Diaspora, no matter how some misguided individuals will try to spin it.

"A noble failure may be of more value than a petty success." -- HIM Haile Selassie   I   

Most   Heartically   and   Raspectfully,   Ras Nathaniel, Coordinator, Issembly for Rastafari Iniversal Education (IRIE); Coordinator,   RNCI-USA;   Director,   AU   6th   Region   Education Campaign

And a third letter from Ras Nathaniel

Date: Wed, 30 May 2007 02:05:08 -0700 (PDT) From: AU 6th Region Education Campaign <ras.nathaniel@yahoo.com> Subject: To: AU Washington Office RE: African Diaspora Elections to ECOSOCC To: Amina Salum, CIDO, ECOSOCC ISC

Her  Excellency  Amina  Salum  Ali,  The  African  Union  Permanent   R e p r e s e n t a t i v e t o t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s A m b a s s a d o r L i l a Ratsifandrihamanana, Permanent Observer of the African Union to the United Nations African Union Mission To The United States of America1875 I Street NW Suite 580 Washington DC 20006Fax: (202) 429-7129Tel: (202) 429-7138 RE: Coordinating African Diaspora Elections toECOSOCC

Greetings,

In reference to the AU 6th Region Education Campaign's recent e-mail communications of 1 and 15 May 2007 to the ECOSOCC Interim Standing Committee, Ms. Nadia Roguiai and Dr. Francis Ikome of the ECOSOCC Secretariat stated (May 22):

"While the ECOSOCC Secretariat acknowledges your spirited efforts and commitment to the success of both the Diaspora Initiative of the African Union and the ECOSOCC, we wish to observe that it is important to ensure that this spirited effort is channelled appropriately and in conformity with the processes and procedures approved by the African Union since ECOSOCC is one of its organs. . . . It would also be important to stress that the Diaspora programme is not an ECOSOCC programme. It simply feeds into ECOSOCC. Thus, arrangements for selection of Diaspora representatives would require close coordination with the African Citizens Directorate of the Bureau of the Chairperson, which oversees the Diaspora programme. We would request that you get in touch with the Diaspora Officer in view of your commitment to the programme for further clarification and elaboration.”

Mr. Wuyi Omitoogun, Diaspora Officer, CIDO AU Commission, responded to our May 24 email on May 29, stating

"Thanks for your e- mail of 24 May 2007 in response to the e-mail of the ECOSOCC Secretariat on the same. It is a mark of regard and respect that the Commission has for the enthusiasm of your organization and its apparent commitment to the Diaspora Initiative that we are also responding. . . .the exchange of information so far has been very enlightening. We also hope it has provided clarifications about the policy process of the African Union. . . .

It is clear that your actions here have been pursued with the noblest of intentions but on the basis of wrong understanding. We believe that the best way of advancing your support of the AU is to amend this understanding and proceed in the appropriate fashion so that we can promote the objectives of solidarity and commonality implicit in the Diaspora initiative. . . . .

We would therefore, kindly request that further request for information should be channeled through our Washington Office that has specific responsibility for the sensitization aspect of AU programme in the US." Therefore, we are now quite certain that we are proceeding appropriately and in conformity with the processes and procedures approved by the African Union.”

Based on the ECOSOCC Statutes and clarifications from both CIDO and the ECOSOCC Secretariat, we understand the following: 

1. "Under the Transitional Provisions (Article 4), it is provided that "the Interim Standing Committee (ISC) shall ensure that elections for membership of ECOSOCC are finalized as soon as possible so that the General Assembly can be launched within a period of not more than two (2) years"....[A]t the last meeting of the AU Executive Council in Addis Ababa in January 2007, the mandate of the ISC was extended till December 2007. This in effect, means that the ISC’s mandate over the conduct of elections was also extended. It is imperative to note that the ISC in its meeting in Cairo in February 2007, decided to deferthe election of Diaspora representatives. This decision is yet to be rescinded or reviewed.”

2.    "The mandate of the current interim ECOSOCC Assembly ends in December 2007 and the new Assembly is not programmed to be installed by December 2007 . . . . This would be done, presumably in early 2008 at a date to be set by the Executive organs.

3.  "Council in Decision EX.CL/Dec.338(X) "specifically requested the Standing Committee to take the necessary measures to ensure that the process of elections into the post-Interim Assembly is completed by 31st December 2007.... the African Union Commission has assured that all necessary measures would be taken to assist the ISC complete the extended ECOSOCC mandate.”

4.  "We do not think it is tenable for any process to produce Diaspora delegates when the African Union has not specified the number of representation for each region.”

5.  "elections of Diaspora representatives must be in accordance with established rules and procedures, some of which are yet to be spelt out. We need to establish the procedure for election of the Diaspora representatives, the number to be assigned to each region, the process for election including a prior vetting of qualifications by the Credential Committee.”

6.  "African Diaspora organizations shall establish an appropriate process for determining modalities for elections and elect twenty (20) CSO's to the ECOSOCC General Assembly"; [ECOSOCC Statute Article 5 section 3.]

7.  "....Articles 6 and 12, which deal with the eligibility criteria for membership of ECOSOCC and the Credential Committee. It is obvious from the provisions of Article 12 that the responsibility for ascertaining and approving the qualifications of candidates is vested in the Credentials Committee. It is therefore a condition precedent that the Credentials Committee shall, before any elections are conducted into ECOSOCC General Assembly, must verify and shortlist applicants."

Further, we understand

1. The Report of the ECOSOCC Consultative Meeting for Central and West Africa hosted by the Africa Leadership Forum, Ota, Nigeria 15 June 2006 stated: "Participants appreciated the presentation from the Diaspora Network and regretted the omission of representations from the Diaspora in the Interim Standing Committee of ECOSOCC....Participants requested immediate redress of what they called "an incomplete committee" and also emphasized that if the same was repeated in the constitution of assembly members, an important part of AU specifications would have been violated."

2.   The 2nd Meeting of the Interim Standing Committee of ECOSOCC held in Cairo, Egypt, from 24 - 26 February 2007 resolved to "meet in May 2007 to review the progress made towards the holding of national elections and draw up a supplementary work programme for the election of national, regional and continental representatives."

3.   "The Presiding Officer was of the view that the issue of Diaspora is more complex than the national elections and would advise members not to delve into it for now."

4.    "It is imperative to note that the ISC in its meeting in Cairo in February 2007, decided to defer the election of Diaspora representatives. This decision is yet to be rescinded or reviewed."

5.   "We understand also that they [the African Union Mission To The United States of America] are planning a Roundtable sometime in the second part of the year at which the Commission would be effectively represented to further enlighten the Diaspora public." 

Therefore, it is clear that:

1.     The ISC must now urgently take up the issue of the African Diaspora elections in order to fulfill its mandate and not violate the Constitutive Act of the African Union Article 3 (q) that "invite(s) and encourage(s) the full participation of the African Diaspora as an important part of our continent, in the building of the African Union";

2.    In order for the ISC to finalize the process/procedure for elections, the African Union must decide the regional distribution of the twenty representatives of the African Union. [Note: The AFSTRAG Roundtable, February 26-27, 2004 recommended "The 20 seats allocated by the AU to the Diaspora on ECOSOCC should be allocated as follows:

Latin America (including Brazil): 4 seats; The Caribbean: 2 seats; North America (including Canada): 4 seats; Europe: 4 seats; Asia: 2 seats; The Middle East: 2 seats; Australia and New Zealand: 2 seats . . . ."  FDA/WHADN has proposed that thirteen (13) seats go to the Western Hemisphere (which comprises 40% of the Global African Diaspora) in the following manner: Brazil (pop. 60 Million): 3 seats; Canada (pop. 0.5 Million): 2 seats; Caribbean (pop. 15 Million): 3 seats; USA (pop. 37 Million): 3 seats; and Hispanic/Latin Region (pop. 8 Million): 2 seats, with the remaining seven (7) seats to the rest of the World African Diaspora (which comprises 60% of the Global African Diaspora). 

3.    That a "Roundtable sometime in the second part of the year to further enlighten the Diaspora public" hosted by the AU office in Washington is insufficient, both in terms of vision and action, if the African Diaspora is to conduct elections by December 31.

4.     A more detailed timeline and vision of the African Diaspora elections process is needed.

Given the urgency with which the ISC is mandated to complete the elections within the next seven months and the necessity to immediately redress an incomplete ISC, we would like the African Union Mission To The United States of America to inform us regarding  its “Roadmap For Diaspora Elections” Below are some recommendations.

Most Respectfully, Ras Nathaniel, Director AU 6th Region Education Campaign

ROAD-MAP FOR DIASPORA ELECTIONS:

1.   Pursuant to the Constitutive Act of the African Union Article 3 (q) that "invite(s) and encourage(s) the full participation of the African Diaspora as an important part of our continent, in the building of the African Union", the agenda for the Grand Debate on the Union Government should include the African Diaspora as the "6th Region", and as a minimum, should determine the number of representatives from each region that will comprise the twenty Diaspora representatives. This seems to be the pre-requisite for moving the African Diaspora election process forward.

2.   Pursuant to the ISC mandate (Decision EX.CL/Dec.338(X)) over the conduct of elections to be completed by December 31, the ISC, at its upcomming meeting (end of May-early June) or during the AU Summit in Accra (Grand Debate) should adopt/approve/appoint the following:

a) creation of a Steering Committe of the ECOSOCC African Diaspora Chapter in the United States of America (ECOSOCC-SC-ADUSA). Since Dr. Tadadjeu, Interim Deputy Presiding Officer (Central Africa) rightly states, "the ECOSOCC process appears as the major unifying factor we have been looking for", the Steering Committee should thus be composed of the following twenty-one (21) members: 

One member of the AU 6th Region Education Campaign 

One member of the Pan African Organizing Committee 

Two members of the organizers of the Pan Afrikan Movement Summit 2007 

One Member of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) 

One member of the National Black United Front (NBUF) 

One member of the National Coalition of Blacks For Reparations in America (NCOBRA) 

One member of the Western Hemisphere African Diaspora Network (WHADN) 

One member of African/African American/Black Studies Senior Faculty 

One member of the National Black Law Students Association (NBLSA) 

One member the National Black Graduate Student Association (NBGSA) 

One member representing Black Student Unions (BSU’s) 

One member of the Millions More Movement (MMM)

One member of the National Black Farmers Association (NBFA) 

One member representing Black churches 

One member of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA) 

One member of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) 

One member of the National Black Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) 

One member of the National Urban League (NUL) 

One member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) 

Tavis Smiley

b) ISC to update and extend the Template and Application Form for Election into the ECOSOCC General Assembly to include the twetny (20) CSO representatives from the African Diaspora.

c)   ECOSOCC-SC-ADUSA to schedule state-wide Town Hall Meetings in each city with the largest African Diaspora/Black population in the state.

d)     ISC to approve the following ECOSOCC African Diaspora USA election process: 1) Immediately following the Grand Debate, the African Union Mission to the United States of America to issue Press Release announcing extension of Template and Application Form to the African Diaspora.

2)  Publication of Election Template and Schedule of Town Hall Meetings in National/City/African Diaspora Media

3)     ECOSOCC-SC-ADUSA to continue to popularize and identify candidates using Methodology for Organizing the Diaspora, i.e establishing Community Council of Elders (CCOE) to oversee "Town Hall Meetings" in each of the fifty states in the US that would nominate and vote in a "primary election" for two Representatives and up to five Observers to the African Union. (California, New York, Washington andTexas have already held their "primary"). Such representatives would then complete the Application forms and submit them to the AU Mission to the United States (AU office in Washington) who would thenforward them to the Credentials Committee of the ECOSOCC Secrertariat through the African Citizens Directorate (CIDO) of the African Union Commission by August 17 (Marcus Garvey's Birthday).

4)  The ECOSOCC Credentials Committee would then vet/review all 100 applications (two from each state), verify and short-list applicants, and make a public announcement of the short-list on the African Union website on September 9 (African Union Day).

5)  ECOSOCC-SC-ADUSA and African Union Mission to the United States of America to convene the ECOSOCC African Diaspora Chapter in the United States of America Caucus at the end of September/early October that would serve as the Electoral College that would vote on the short-listed candidates. f) Given the AU settlement on distribution and modalities for election, CPAN should transform itself into the Steering Committee of the ECOSOCC African Diaspora Chapter in the Caribeean (ECOSOCC-SC-ADCaribbean) and CPAN's Representatives could, if approved, also be short-listed. CSO's in the region not part of CPAN desiring to submit an Application Form should be allowed to do so. However, if none are received, the Credentials Committee should then approve CPAN's Representatives as "elected". Ifother applications are received, then an election must take place. ECOSOCC- SC-ADCaribbean in coordination with CIDO would conduct the election.

g)                     Since the Organizacion Negra Centroamericana (ONECA)/Central American Black Organizations (CABO) is the African Diaspora CSO regional network in Central America similar to the Caribeean Pan African Network (CPAN), it should be recognized by the African Union a such. ONECA/CABO should then establish the Steering Committtee of the ECOSOCC African Diaspora Chapter in Central America (ECOSOCC- SC-ADCA)-The Application Forms of their three African Diaspora Representatives (elected April 14) should be reviewed immediately and, if approved, they should be short-listed. CSO's in the region not represented by ONECA/CABO desiring to submit an Aplication Form should be allowed to do so. However, if none are received, the Credentials Committee should then approve the ONECA/CABO Representatives as "elected". If other applications are received, then an election must take place based on ISC short-list for the region. ECOSOCC-SC-ADCA in coordination with CIDO would conduct the election.

h)                 In the Western Hemisphere, this leaves Canada, Brazil and the rest of South America. Each should form a Steering Committee of the ECOSOCC African Diaspora Chapter and develop their election process in coordination with CIDO and ISC.

i)            Attached is A Vision Paper For Mobilizing The AU African Diaspora EU Region and Promoting The African Diaspora Netherlands Model that was forwarded to the AU 6th Region Education Campaign by Dr. Barryl Biekman, PANAFSTRAG -Europe, who facilitated the Holland AU- Diaspora Town Hall Meeting, March 21, 2007.

These represent the AU 6th Region Education Campaign draft recommendations to CIDO and the ECOSOCC ISC.

Following my May 24, 2007 letter, Dr. David Horne sent the following letter: African Union - Sixth Region Diaspora Caucus/New York (SRDC/NY) JUNE, 2007 -- A PUBLIC POSITION PAPER REGARDING ORGANIZING THE DIASPORA FOR THE AU Groundings With Our Diasporan Family: Comments From the 6th Region Facilitators:

June 1, 2007

Recently, there has been a torrent of information posted, printed and disseminated on the Internet concerning the African Union’s invitation to the Diaspora to join that august body as voting members. While much of the information has provided clarity and substance to what is not yet a top five discussion item within the various Black communities scattered across the globe, some of that information has been disingenuous, negative in the extreme and clearly not aimed at either building Pan Africanism or moving Black people forward.

We will not spend much time on the ‘nabobs of negativity,’ except to say that mother wit and Black common sense mandate that if one is so in opposition to another’s program or approach to an issue, it must become incumbent upon that opposition to offer up an alternative approach and to work that approach. All criticism and no work produces stagnation, but no progress. The next time any Pan Africanist faces the noise and clatter of vitriolic opposition, simply ask one question to the critics: Where is your plan and where have you tried to implement it?

  There are a few facts that we are working with here:

(1)   The Assembly of the African Union Heads of State did indeed amend the AU’s Constitutive Act in 2003 and invite the Diaspora to join the AU.

(2)   There is indeed a 6th Region. We, the living, breathing family of the Diaspora, are that 6th Region. Undeveloped as yet? Yes. Nonexistent? No. The second decision-making body of the AU, the Executive Council, which provided the AU’s current definition of the Diaspora, approved the 6th Region concept in 2003. The Heads of State decided to only approve the 6th Region concept for the time being through the acceptance of the Executive Committee’s definition of the Diaspora and the issuance of the invitation.

(3)   There are those who dispute this interpretation of the currently available information, and that is okay. However, the real issue here is not the existence or non-existence of a Diasporan 6th Region. The real issue, in fact the only relevant issue, is whether indeed we, as the Diaspora, can focus enough positive energy and effort into getting ourselves organized to accept the AU’s invitation to join that body to help accomplish Pan African unification, rehabilitation and redemption. That we see as our mission.

(4)   There are AU procedures which must be adhered to in order to accept the invitation, even though those procedures are sometimes inconsistent and frustrating. We submitted information for approval and comment over 6 months ago, but heard nothing in response. We are now re-submitting the proper paperwork. We understand that the AU is a work in progress and should not be judged solely on its present state. We, the Diaspora, must become a part of the AU and we must demonstrate that we belong.

(5)   ECOSOCC, an official commission of the AU, is the first organ of the AU that the Diaspora is supposed to join. We are scheduled to be accepted into the AU fabric through ECOSOCC in 2007. The ECOSOCC Statues, though sometimes confusing, provide guidelines for the Diaspora’s entry into the AU by mentioning the Diaspora in 8 of the 14 Articles which comprise the Statues, plus in the Introductory Bullets. Regarding the Diaspora, the most relevant ECOSOCC Articles in the Statues are Numbers 4, 5 and 6. Those are the bases of the work we are doing in helping the Diaspora to get organized.

(6)   We are using a method that invites and inspires Diasporan communities to organize themselves and to elect their own representatives. The method depends on each community electing a Community Council of Elders, which is a staple of African communities all over the globe. The method we are using invites all segments of the African descendant communities in each area of the Diaspora to participate, therefore secretaries, bricklayers, retirees, bus and taxi drivers, underemployed and unemployed, teachers, career professionals, millionaire entrepreneurs, entertainers, the educated elite, inter alia, are all welcome. The sole requirement to participate: you must be African descendant and you must love Africa and what she will become in the future—united.

(7)   The AU agencies which approve such processes have not yet approved our organizing method (in spite of there not being any other process on the table right now). We expect them to do so in the near future. In the meantime, we have a 2007 time constraint and cannot wait on bureaucracy to act before we move ahead. As an analogy, for those who have traveled to Africa, do we wait on the passport and visa approval process to be completed before we purchase our tickets to go, knowing the ticket prices will double within the time frame and the seats filled? If we do, when the approval arrives, the necessary transportation may be entirely unavailable. Similarly, if we waited to start organizing the Diasporan communities that we can assist, when the AU approval arrives in July or August, 2007, it will be far too late to get prepared for Diasporan meetings already scheduled in September, October, November and December, 2007. We are in clear compliance with the ECOSOCC rules that have been publicly published so far, and we believe the Ancestors have our backs. So, we are moving on. We are at least in the process mix, and will do whatever we need to do to get the approval process completed. (There may be a lot of international calls, e-mails and faxes in our immediate future.)

We are quite willing to sit down and discuss, negotiate, debate or otherwise engage any other Pan Africanists who have alternative approaches to getting the Diaspora ready for a rendezvous with Pan African history and political economy. The Diaspora in the Western Hemisphere (USA, Canada, Central America, South America and Brazil, the Caribbean) is 175-200 million strong. The European contingent is approximately 37.5 million strong. There are all kinds of  possibilities for others to come up with methods to move us forward toward getting ready to accept the AU’s invitation. However, our method has proven itself in the USA, Central America, Brazil, parts of the Caribbean, Western Europe, and it is being considered currently in other parts of the Diaspora. If we continue at our present pace, we will make our 2007 deadlines.

We will send all available information and come to any group that wants to discuss how to continue moving ahead. We will attend any roundtable, panel, or individual session to discuss other alternative plans when serious Pan Africanists have those plans ready to present. We are ready to work with any Diasporans who want to get this task accomplished.

We fully believe that accepting the AU’s invitation to the Diaspora is a major worthwhile endeavor that we are willing to spend our own money, time, effort and concentration on until we accomplish it. We invite you to work with us. Are you ready for a giant step forward for Diasporans and Pan Africanism?

  Forward Ever, Backward Never,

David L. Horne, Diasporan Facilitator, Western Region

Folashade Farr, Diasporan Facilitator, Pacific Northwest Region

Carmen Collymore, Diasporan Co- Facilitator, Northeast Region

Iman Uqdah Hameen, Diasporan Co-Facilitator, Northeat Region

Kumasi Palmer, Diasporan Facilitator, Southeast Region

 Sidney Francis, Diasporan Facilitator, Nicaragua and Central American Region

Line Hilgros, Diasporan Facilitator, French Caribbean Region

Edialeda Salgado do Nascimento, Diasporan Facilitator, Brazilian Region (deceased Jan. 2010)

In 2009, Francis N Ikome made similar critiques about the AU’s failure to incorporate the Diaspora into ECOSOCC in his paper, The challenges of Diaspora representation in the African Union’s ECOSOCC Assembly

One of the participants in the original AU 6th Region Town Hall meetings recently emailed me the following:

“Greetings Sir:

You probably do not remember me well (if at all), since I was just coming into the effort when we met first via email and later in person.  I was there in January 2007 at White Rock Baptist Church in Harlem at the Town Hall that had been called by Elder Adunni Oshupa Tabasi NuNu Afua Frie-Frie II.  (I got to interview her in New York about a month later, and she attended our first International Summit that September at Howard University, but she sadly transitioned to the Ancestors by the end of the year.)  You gave a presentation there (you had much more hair then), and I got to re-connect with Professor David Horne and Bro. Kumasi Palmer of the Pan African Organizing Committee (PAOC), who would become leaders in the Sixth Region Diaspora Caucus (SRDC).  From that day forward, I was the Maryland Facilitator of SRDC and a member of the National Secretariat.  If I understood correctly, after 2007, the AU's contract with WHADN ended and WHADN and FDA basically kicked you to the curb.  I lost track of you after that, but SRDC continued with the Town Hall Meetings.  We started national meetings that September that brought together our activists from California, New York, Ohio, Washington State, Tennessee, South Carolina, Toronto, Guadeloupe, The Netherlands, Central America and Maryland, and we've held International Summits every year since then except 2015.  In 2018 we hosted the Summit in Baltimore and last year the Summit was held in South Carolina.  This year, we hope to hold a virtual Summit due to CoVID-19.

An acquaintance I met at the AU Mission in 2015 sent me the link to your August 7, 2020 video (see below).  Your blow-by-blow was quite informative and your criticisms of the current effort are well-taken.  I fully agree about the "State of the African Diaspora" and several of the opportunists who seem motivated only by the status and money they can make, or the opportunity to hobnob and rub shoulders with important people and act like they are revolutionaries or the new King or Queen of the Pan-Afrikan Diaspora.

Our New York and Ohio organizations collapsed between 2010 and 2011 because of a combination of frustration, opportunists within and provocateurs outside, but we added one in Tennessee in 2012.  Lack of resources (we didn't cash in either and some of us wound up pissing money away), some of us just plain getting old, losing a few to the Ancestors, the bureaucracy and duplicity of the AU (no vote on our proposal for organizing the Diaspora for over 13 years now despite several assurances and promises by Jinmi Adisa and Joseph Chilengi), along with the disruptive actions of some self-appointed rival organizations (some of which have tried to personally persuade me to give up the whole effort "because 3[q] was never ratified and the AU is for member states and their citizens", meaning Continental Africans only), has stalled our growth through the kind of frustration you described in your video.  Professor Horne is still our International Facilitator and leader. . . .”

Following the instruction that I should “get in touch with the Diaspora Officer in view of your commitment to the programme for further clarification and elaboration” I sent the following letter to the Head of CIDO in 2020:

I did not receive any response. In 2023, however, I was invited as a delegate to attend the Accra Reparations Conference, November 14-17, 2023. Following that event, I created a WhatsApp group for those who attended, which included, among others, William Carew, Head of AU ECOSOCC Secretariat; Akwasi Awua Ababio Director Of Diaspora Affairs Ghana; Baidoo Nana Lartey Diaspora Affairs Office -Ghana, Dr. Barryl Biekman, AUADS High Council Facilitator; Dr. Namira Negm, Legal Council AU Legal Team; Epsy Campbell-Barr, President, UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent; Hilary Brown, Programme Manager, Culture and Community Development, CARICOM Secretariat; Justice Blaise Tchikaya,Chair AU Commission For International Law; Justin Hansford, Member of the UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent. So there was contact and communication and information sharing among professional colleagues.

Then, on August 16, 2024, the Co-Chairs of the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America (NCOBRA) International Affairs Commission (on which I serve as a member) invited the following African Union officials to attend our Quarterly Zoom meeting to discuss our common agendas during the AU Themed year, “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations”: Dr. Ahmed Zanya Bugre, Senior Expert/Coordinator, Reparatory Justice and Racial Healing, CIDO; Ms. Salma El Tanany, Acting Director, CIDO; and Ms. Angela Naa Afoley Odai, Head of Diaspora, CIDO. They AU officials did not accept the invitation.

It is interesting that the legacy organizations like EWF and UNIA have endorsed the process, and new powerful organizations like the AFRIDU, the Pan African Council and ADDI have also endorsed the process. Representatives from organizations all over the planet were getting involved. Originally, the State of the African Diaspora (SOAD) endorsed the process and did a great amount of work to build the campaign. But after the AU ECOSOCC cease and desist letter, they pulled out. The three “big” stakeholders that have been doing the lion’s share of the work in this space for the past decade - CPAN, AUADS, SOAD - the very organizations that should be the most excited to finally, after all this time, be able to elect the 20 representatives and have them presented to AU ECOSOCC at the ACHPR Roundtable - these are the very ones fighting the process of the people. In the first town hall meeting at the 1:00.30 mark, we were warned about “gatekeepers”….

So it is against this backdrop that we can begin to understand why some bureaucrats and gatekeepers are attempting to sabotage the African Diaspora 6th Region Elections. EXPOSURE!

Decisions were made, promises made, actions taken, and since 2005, they have not been fulfilled. Issues of integrity, competency and potential corruption are now being raised. It is becoming clear that the AU and its organs, including ECOSOCC, is really a “membership club” and certain organizations and individuals are not “members” - this is the very reason for the unresolved problems that the Credentials Committee was tasked to solve. After 12 years since the AU Decision on the Diaspora, all they have is a piece of paper with a “draft” of a legal framework for the inclusion of the DIaspora that is being put through some sort of adminstrative review.

In conclusion, let’s recall the words spoken by Dr. Jinmi Adisa, Director, Citizens and Diaspora Directorate, CIDO, African Union Commission, at The African Union Diaspora Initiative, Presentation to the Annual Diaspora Consultation with Formations and Communities in North America, New York, USA, 21-22 October 2010:

Our organizational approach is to enable the Diaspora to organize itself with AU support within the framework provided by executive organs of the Union, the Council and Assembly and with guidance of Member States of the Union within these organs. The approach has not been without its difficulties. The Diaspora programme has created a phenomenon of rising expectations among the family abroad. This is laudable because it proves commitment. Yet, there are obvious signs of impatience. Moreover, civil society formations have not fully appreciated the organizational demands and imperatives of the AU. More often than not, the AU Commission is the whipping board for associated anger and frustrations. This is a burden that we are happy to bear.

More disturbing still is that there is some competition for power and influence within the Diaspora communities. This is a normal human disposition except that we see tendencies that can prove disruptive and which we must all try to rise above. There are some elements of the Diaspora within the US [Siphiwe note: and now the Caribbean] that wish to assume the natural leadership of the Diaspora agenda and to organize and centralize the Diaspora effort.

Discussions at the Expert Workshop in Trinidad and Tobago provided clear evidence that such apparent paternalism would undermine the general effort.

The challenge of organizing the Diaspora movement must embrace the need for autonomous regional coalitions to evolve and federate, if willing, but only by consent, at hemispheric levels, as may be deemed appropriate. The success of the Diaspora initiative, (to be assured) must dissuade focus on power blocs and stress an organizing principle based on democracy, within and among regions. . . .

At the continent – Diaspora level, the focus must be on building bridges across the Atlantic with an organizational emphasis on commitment, common cause and reciprocal advantages. The Commission and the Union must encourage the formation and consolidation of cooperative structures for mutual collaboration as inputs for the next wider Pan-African Congress.”

African Diaspora Town Hall Meeting With Former Special Advisor to AU-ECOSOCC Ms. Evelyn Joe - "Variance between AU Member States' and AU's Definition of the Diaspora"

November 29, 2005 -

Meeting summary for Town Hall Meeting with Ms. Evelyn Joe - DIFFERENTIATING THE DIASPORAS: FOR PRACTICAL STRATEGIES: "Variance between AU Member States' and AU's Definition of the Diaspora" (11/29/2024)

Quick recap

The meeting discussed the historical development and complexities of the African diaspora initiative within the African Union, with a focus on the definition and status of the diaspora within the AU framework. The participants also explored the African Union's structure, challenges, and relationship with the African diaspora, with a particular emphasis on the need for unity, representation, and economic empowerment. The conversation ended with discussions on the importance of convening a truly representative gathering of the African diaspora.

Summary

African Diaspora Initiative Historical Overview

Siphiwe led a discussion on the historical development of the African diaspora initiative within the African Union. He highlighted key milestones, including the 1974 Pan-African Congress, the African Charter on Human and People's Rights in 1981, and the Durban Declaration in 2001. He also discussed the 2002 Western Hemisphere Diaspora Forum, the 2003 Constitutive Act of the African Union, and the 2004 Technical Workshop on the Relationship with the Diaspora. See: The African Union and the African Diaspora - Tracking the AU 6th Region Initiative and the Right to Return Citizenship: A Resource

Siphiwe emphasized the importance of understanding the historical context of the diaspora initiative, including the flawed definition of the diaspora and the challenges of diaspora representation in the ECOSOCC Assembly. He then introduced guest speaker Evelyn Jo, a former special advisor to the African Union Economic, Social, and Cultural Council, to provide further insights on the issue.

African Union Diaspora Definition Clarification

Evelyn discussed the complexities of the African Union's definition of the diaspora, highlighting that it does not apply to African Union Member States. She explained that the definition is based on migration and does not consider the historical diaspora, which includes people of African descent who are not necessarily born on the continent. Evelyn also clarified that the African Union's definition does not violate any laws, but it does not align with the Member States' definitions. She emphasized the need for a clear understanding of the diaspora's definition to avoid policy incoherence. The discussion also touched on the concept of dual citizenship and its implications for the diaspora.

African Diaspora's Status in AU: POLICY INCOHERENCE

The meeting discusses the definition and status of the African diaspora within the African Union (AU) framework. Evelyn provides information from AU documents, stating that the concept of a 6th region for the diaspora is still aspirational and has not been ratified by member states. Philip and others argue that the diaspora should have official status and representation in the AU based on their interpretation of the documents. Siphiwe highlights ongoing efforts to define and include the diaspora, citing recent consultations he was involved in (see below). The discussion centers on differing perspectives on whether the diaspora currently has formal standing in the AU structures or if it remains a future goal.

African Union Structure and Diaspora Role

In the meeting, the participants discussed the African Union's (AU) structure and its implications for the diaspora. Evelyn clarified that the AU is an intergovernmental organization, with sovereign states forming the building blocks of integration. She also mentioned that the diaspora's role is at the national level, with some governments renaming their foreign affairs ministries to include diaspora communities. Henry expressed confusion about the AU's decision-making process and the powers of each region. Dr. Trudby from Haiti raised concerns about the exclusion of Haiti from the AU, despite being an African nation. The participants agreed to have a follow-up discussion to delve deeper into the AU's decision-making process and the role of the diaspora.

African Union's Challenges and Relevance

Evelyn and Siphiwe discussed the African Union's (AU) challenges, including its inability to compel its members to take certain actions due to their sovereignty. They also discussed the theme of the year 2025, which focused on reparations and justice. Evelyn raised concerns about the AU's lack of implementation of decisions and its limited relevance to African citizens. Siphiwe proposed a follow-up discussion to explore effective strategies based on Evelyn's insights. Philip suggested the need for an educational process to familiarize people with the AU's documents and context.

African Union and Diaspora Recognition

The meeting involved a discussion about the African Union (AU) and its relationship with the African diaspora. Evelyn, a special advisor to the AU, clarified that the AU's decision-making process is intergovernmental, not civil society-based. Philip, a Caribbean representative, expressed frustration with the vague language used in the AU's communication and suggested that the diaspora should formally request recognition from the AU. Siphiwe agreed with Philip's suggestion and mentioned that the African Commission on Human and People's Rights has set up a roundtable for the diaspora to meet with AU officials.

Diaspora, Sovereignty, and Economic Power

The meeting discussed the concept of the diaspora and its relationship with Africa. Kamal emphasized the importance of understanding and acting on one's sovereignty, rather than constantly seeking permission from others. He also highlighted the need for economic power and unity among the diaspora. Siphiwe discussed the concept of the 6th region, which includes areas outside of Africa but still connected to it. Dr. Mcdonald shared his research on the history of the diaspora and the need for economic empowerment. FAU discussed the African Union's plan for economic development and the potential for leveraging financial resources. The conversation ended with Reverend Kwame discussing the success of the World Zionist Organization and the need for a similar structure for the Pan-African Congresses.

African Diaspora Challenges and Strategy

In the meeting, Reverend Kwame Kamau discussed the challenges faced by the African diaspora, including lack of a centralized organization, political fragmentation, and inconsistent funding. He emphasized the need for a truly representative assembly and a robust organization to move forward. The group discussed the strategy of compliance with the cease and desist letter and the importance of education in promoting unity. The conversation ended with a focus on the task at hand, which is to get a truly representative gathering of 400 to 600 people in each region.

TOWN HALL MEETING SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHES ELECTIONS PROCESS FOR AFRICAN DIASPORA REPRESENTATIVES TO THE AU-ECOSOCC 4TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Thursday, November 14th - Fifty-five (55) individuals representing the leadership of civil society organisations in the nine sub-regions of the African Union 6th Region attended a Town Hall Zoom Meeting and agreed on a process to elect twenty representatives to the African Union’s Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC). The Town Hall Zoom meeting followed a consultation with the Working Group on Indigenous Populations and Minorities in Africa at the 81st Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) which advised the AU 6th Region to “Hold a truly representative gathering of the African Diaspora, hash it out amongst yourself, and come to the Roundtable with your 20 representatives..” The ACHPR passed a milestone resolution that places the African Diaspora issues, including their “Right to Return” and obtain citizenship, as well as Reparations and formally establishing the AU 6th Region, on the agenda for an ACHPR Roundtable scheduled for May 25th.

The process for electing the African Diaspora representatives follows ECOSOCC Statute Article 5 section 3 which states, "African Diaspora organizations shall establish an appropriate process for determining modalities for elections and elect twenty (20) CSO's to the ECOSOCC General Assembly". During the Town Hall Zoom meeting, modalities were presented, discussed and accepted. [See: ELECTING THE AFRICAN DIASPORA/AU 6TH REGION REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE AFRICAN UNION ECONOMIC SOCIAL AND CULTRAL COUNCIL (AU-ECOSOCC)]

Nine (9) Region Coordinators have now been appointed who will lead election team volunteers in the region to explain the process, receive nominations, and conduct the election voting. Anyone interested in getting involved in the process and nominating representatives from their region should join the Regional Coordinating Committee Groups:

Brazil: https://chat.whatsapp.com/DGbX9e3g9QP0iEIXoWAnaK - Coordinator: Abemi Ade Sinaimo - Coordinator Natl. Network of Black Women Fight Against Violence

United States: https://chat.whatsapp.com/Cp6wvxNra0U3YcrEniOdxq - Coordinator: Moriel McClerklin - AFRIDU

Europe: https://chat.whatsapp.com/JkP4SRVyydPC5cSWIeIxzX - Coordinator: Keturah Amoaka -SOAD

Canada: https://chat.whatsapp.com/L4k3daQnmW714Sae080bRn - Coordinator: Janette Lumley - SOAD

Asia & Oceana: https://chat.whatsapp.com/HKXAepS9DgjIpgadzlEUPw - Coordinator: TBA

Middle East: https://chat.whatsapp.com/G7KPzydCEUKJykM2O16Sbi - Coordinator: Khazriel Ben Yehuda -African Diaspora in Dimona, Israel

South America: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KxX0vk5tffVEjC1aa5Xrdx - Coordinator: TBA

Central America: https://chat.whatsapp.com/GMEHrN9pFLMC9Cd5m1x7fY Coordinator: Roy Guevara Arzu - Honduras MFPA-AL-CH & AFROAMERIXXI

Caribbean: https://chat.whatsapp.com/BTtk0jXSiPgITKDfbthEjK - TBA

THE AFRICAN DIASPORA UNION (AFRIDU) ENDORSES THE ELECTION PROCESS

THE STATE OF THE AFRICAN DIASPORA (SOAD) ENDORSES THE ELECTION PROCESS

PAN-AFRICAN COUNCIL LETTER OF ENDORSEMENNT OF THE 6TH REGION AU-ECOSOCC ELECTIONS

ALL AFRICAN DIASPORA ORGANIZATIONS WHO SUPPORT THE ELECTION PROCESS ARE ENCOURAGED TO SEND LETTERS TO:

au6thregionelections@gmail.com

ELECTING THE AFRICAN DIASPORA/AU 6TH REGION REPRESENTATIVES FOR THE AFRICAN UNION ECONOMIC SOCIAL AND CULTRAL COUNCIL (AU-ECOSOCC)

“Hold a truly representative gathering of the African Diaspora, hash it out amongst yourself, and come to the Roundtable with your 20 representatives. Following that, bring a resolution to a 9th PAC to be held in 2025. With the Commission and 9th PAC authority, it will then be brought to the AU Summit.”

- advice received at the 81st Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

𝐓𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐌𝐄𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆: 𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐀'𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐔-𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐒𝐎𝐂𝐂

Thursday, November 14 at 3:00 PM GMT

Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81986417325?pwd=dPWCK2ezQWmyHSNIYw6I80qaatb016.1 Information and instructions for conducting the elections will be given and questions answered.
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Let me just give it to you straignt. Sometime in September or early October, Dr. Barryl Biekman, Leading Facilitator of the African Union African Diaspora Sixth Region High Council informed me that I should go to the 81st Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to raise the issue of the African Diaspora’s Right to Return under the framework of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Her exact words: “You will know what to say.”

So I traveled to Gambia and submitted a statement.

I then held a consultative meeting with the Executive Secretary of the ACHPR who directed me to the mandate-holder, Hon. Dr. Litha Musyimi-Ogana, Chairperson of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations and Minorities in Africa. According to the African Union website,

“Honourable Musyimi-Ogana is a seasoned African diplomat with over three decades of experience at senior executive level. Her core areas of expertise are in Economic Governance, Gender and Development with key competences and skills in leadership, institutional management, resources and stakeholders mobilization, and people skills among others. She made tremendous contribution in the transformation of a number of organs of the African Union such as the Women, Gender and Development Directorate of the African Union Commission, the African Peer Review Mechanism, the African Union Development Agency-NEPAD and the Pan African Parliament. Her work in women’s rights advocacy, in particular, has seen great strides being made in placing issues of concern to women at the forefront of the discourse on governance and development on the continent. The recipient of numerous awards, including a 2013 Presidential Award of “Women Achievers” from President Joyce Banda of Malawi and the African Women of Excellence Award in Johannesburg, South Africa in 2020, Honourable Musyimi-Ogana was nominated, among 1,000 Peace Women globally, for the Nobel Peace Prize for 2005. Honourable Litha Musyimi-Ogana holds a PhD in Economic Governance and Development Aid.”

Hon. Dr. Litha Musyimi-Ogana, Chairperson of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations and Minorities in Africa and Siphiwe Baleka, President of the Balanta B’urassa History and Genealogy Society in America.

Also joining the meeting was Petrus Hatupopi, Legal Officer in the Secratariat of the Commission (ACHPR). According to the ECOSOCC Call for Application for Elections into the 4th Permanent General Assembly, it excludes the AU 6th region and left them with no framework or process under the Article 3(q) Amendment that officially, “invite(s) and encourage(s) the full participation of Africans in the Diaspora in the building of the African Union in its capacity as an important part of our Continent.” From this decision, the African Diaspora would become designated as the 6th Region of the African Union. It was during this discussion with Hon. Litha Musyimi-Ogana and Ambassador Luvuyo Ndimeni the leader of the South African delegation that the issue of an ACHPR resolution emerged. With the ACHPR Resolution, we should consider “Holding a truly representative gathering of the African Diaspora, hash it out amongst ourselves, and come to the Roundtable with our 20 representatives.” [The final resolution will be posted here]

This was the same agenda that I helped H.E. Ambassador Arikana Chihombori-Quao develop in 2023. In July of 2022, the African Diaspora Development Institute (ADDI) under H.E. Ambassador Arikana Chihombori-Quao, former AU Ambassador to the United States, solicited for delegates to attend what was originally announced as the African Diaspora Pan African Congress and later as the “9th Pan African Congress” to be held in Harare, Zimbabwe from 14-19, 2022 hosted by the Government of Zimbabwe. According to their solicitation for delegates,

“Since the amendment of the AU constitution, it has been brought to our attention the onus has been left to the African Diaspora to organize and collectively, in a united manner present demands to the African Heads of State as to how we wish to organize and formalize the 6th Region in the same way as the other 5 regions on the continent of Africa. . . .The African Diaspora Pan African Congress will primarily focus on the formalization of the 6th Region.

In my February 14, 2023 Letter to Pan Africanists Concerning the Upcoming Pan African Congress in Harare, Zimbabwe Later This Year, I stated,

“Now is the moment to implement what I am calling Ambassador Chihombori-Quao’s “Get the Keys Strategy”. Instead of shouting from outside the African Union about a broad host of issues, now is the moment when the African Diaspora can accomplish two objectives: first, establish a continental diaspora citizenship policy that will create four pathways based on investment, work, residency and/or dna under the principle of the “Right to Return”. The four pathways, taken together, allows for every African Diaspora to obtain citizenship to the country of their choice or ancestry regardless of one’s circumstances. The second objective is to establish the equality of the AU 6th Region with the other five regions within the African Union by establishing Ambassadors at the AU Permanent Representatives Council (PRC) and throughout all the other AU organs and establishing an AU 6th Region Headquarters outside of Africa. This is the LIMITED OBJECTIVE of the upcoming Pan African Congress in Harare, Zimbabwe and will open the door for the African Diaspora to physically enter the continent and to administratively begin to assist in governing the continent. After spending five days in intense strategy sessions with Ambassador Chihombori-Quao, it is my firm belief that her “Get the Keys Strategy” is the historical imperative of the moment. The entire African Diaspora must rally behind this.”

At the time of the launch of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of The African Union (ECOSOCC), the only procedure from ECOSOCC was "African Diaspora organizations shall establish an appropriate process for determining modalities for elections and elect twenty (20) CSO's to the ECOSOCC General Assembly"; [ECOSOCC Statute Article 5 section 3.]. The African Union webpage announcing the launch of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of The African Union (ECOSOCC) states,

"The impulse is not for the African Union to organize civil society. Rather the organizing principle of the ECOSOCC of the African Union is one in which civil society would organize themselves to work with the Organization.The distinctive character of the African Union's ECOSOCC is that it is an opportunity for African civil society to play an active role in charting the future of the Continent, organizing itself in partnership with African governments to contribute to the principles, policies and programmes of the Union."

After numerous attemps and much effort by many individuals and organizations for twenty years, the African Diaspora has yet to follow this instruction and elect its representatives. Since the ECOSOCC Call for Application for Elections into the 4th Permanent General Assembly excluded the AU 6th Region, we, the African Diaspora, should go forward under ECOSOCC Statute Article 5 section 3 and work with the ACHPR starting with an ACHPR Resolution. This was achieved through the Final Communiqué of the 81st Ordinary Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. [The resolution to be posted on the ACHPR website.]

According to the Final Communiqué

“33.    The Commission further adopted eight (8) of the following thematic Resolutions: . . . . iii. Resolution in preparation for the AU theme for 2025 “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent through Reparations” through consultations on Afro Descendants, Indigenous/Ethnic, Ancestry, Reparations and the 6th Region of the African Union;”

Later during the 81st Session of ACHPR, Hon. Litha Musyimi-Ogana and I met with Ambassado Luvuyo Ndimeni the leader of the South African delegation who also served as the focal point of the 9th Pan African Congress and attended the Brazil pre-congress.

Siphiwe Baleka, Luvuyo Ndimeni and Hon. Litha Musyimi-Ogana

I presented Mr. Ndimeni with the CONCEPT NOTE FOR SOUTH AFRICAN PERMANENT MISSION GENEVA that I drafted following a consultation that I, Dr. Barryl Biekman and Eric Phillips of the Guyana Reparations Commission attended with H.E. Thembela Ngculu and Portia Mngomezulu at the United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, April 17, 2024

Per the Concept Note, I suggested that South Africa could repay the African Diaspora for its support during the anti-apartheid struggle by doing for Afro Descendant peoples what it did for the Palestinian people and raise Afro Descendant self determination at the International Court of Justice. Mr. Ndimeni was very supportive of this and suggested that to move forward, South Africa would need support from other AU member states and that this could be the focus, among other things, of a Roundtable which will be scheduled for May 2025.

Within this context, we should convene a ”truly repesentative gathering of the African Diaspora to hash it out and come to the roundtable with your 20 representatives”. We now have the opportunity to achieve what we, the AU 6th Region, have been struggling for twenty years - electing and seating our representatives in ECOSOCC as the first formal incorporation into the African Union.

Therefore, I now issue the following instructions on how to accomplish this:

We, the 250 million members of the African Diaspora, can finally begin our FORMAL inclusion in the African Union as its 6th Region during the African Union themed year for 2025 - Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations - by completing the following:

  1. A Coordinator from each of the 9 regions of  the AU 6th Region -  Brazil, United States, Caribbean, South America, Europe, Middle East, Central America, Canada, and Asia & Oceania - will host weekly “6th Region Representation Town Hall” Zoom meetings. That’s a total of 4 meetings for each of 9 regions or 36 Zoom meetings. The goal is to get 400 to 600 participants involved in each region or 3,600 to 5,400 total people that would satisfy the criteria “truly representative gathering of the African Diaspora.” The purpose  of these first four Town Hall Zoom meetings is to invite all individuals and organizations to the process, provide the relevant information and invite them to nominate candidates to represent the region. It doesn’t matter so much who the 9 Regional Coordinators are: they are merely technicians who must have the capacity - time, energy, paid Zoom account - to host the Town Hall Meetings. Those interested in serving as the Coordinator for their region must email newafrikandiplomaticcorps@gmail.com immediately:

  2. The 9 Regional Coordinators will then hold 4 more weekly Zoom meetings in December. The first two to listen to candidates and the last two to complete the election process. All other procedures needed will be determined by the regions themselves. Each region must submit its list of representatives by December 31st. The number of representatives shall be as follows (and is based roughly on population and level of Pan African activism):

Brazil - 4 

United States - 4

Caribbean - 4 

South America - 2 

Europe - 2 

Middle East - 1 

Central America - 1 

Canada - 1 

Asia & Oceania - 1

 = 20 seats

3. The 20 candidates will then be presented to the 9th PAC or other suitable grand gathering for a resolution recognizing them in their capacity which will be presented to the AU-ECOSOCC.

4. The twenty representatives will be presented to the AU-ECOSOCC and shared with the ACHPR at its 83nd Open Session that will host a Roundtable discussion on the AU Theme of the Year 2025 on “Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations.” The discussion will inform the overall theme  and particularly Afro-Descendant Ancestry and Integration, AU 6th Region, the notion of human rights abuses from abduction and enforced disappearances of Africans trafficked as prisoners of war and enslaved in the Americas, and reparations arising from slavery, colonization of the motherland and neo-colonialism. The Commission will work closely with the host state party for the International Conference on Xenophobia (SA) in order to spotlight the issuese at the February 2025 AU Summit.

This is the new, accelerated path towards establishing the AU 6th Region. Whatever previous plan or arrangements some may have had, the African Union through ECOSOCC and the ACHPR has now introduced a new variable that has changed the game. We can finally achieve what we haven’t in 20 years if we put all petty differences aside, work in one accord following the above instructions, and simply execute. 

This is a parallel process since the ECOSOCC Call for Application for Elections into the 4th Permanent General Assembly excluded the 6th Region.

𝐓𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐇𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐌𝐄𝐄𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆: 𝐄𝐋𝐄𝐂𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐅𝐑𝐈𝐂𝐀𝐍 𝐃𝐈𝐀𝐒𝐏𝐎𝐑𝐀'𝐒 𝐑𝐄𝐏𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐄𝐍𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐀𝐔-𝐄𝐂𝐎𝐒𝐎𝐂𝐂

Thursday, November 14 at 3:00 PM GMT

Zoom link:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81986417325?pwd=dPWCK2ezQWmyHSNIYw6I80qaatb016.1 Information and instructions for conducting the elections will be given and questions answered.

CONSULTATIVE MEETING HELD WITH CHAIR OF WORKING GROUP ON INDIGENOUS POPULATIONS AND MINORITIES IN AFRICA

October 22, Senegambia, Gambia - The President of the Balanta Society in America, Mr. Siphiwe Baleka, met with Hon. Dr. Litha Musyimi-Ogana, Chairperson of the Working Group on Indigenous Populations and Minorities in Africa on the margins of the 81st Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’s Rights (ACHPR). Also attending the meeting was Petrus Hatupopi, Legal Officer in the Secratariat of the Commission (ACHPR)).

The objective of the meeting was to discuss the restoration of the ancestral lineage and the right to return of the AfroDescendants. In particular, Mr. Baleka briefed the Commissioner about the over 800,000 members of his community that have taken the African Ancestry dna test and have identified their ancestors on the continent. Mr. Baleka, who traced his own ancestors to Guinea Bissau approached the Commision’s Indigenous Communities and Minorities Group Chair to see how their members could be assisted and recognised as authentic African and indigenous people in their respective communities. Such recognition would pave the way for their full participation in the AU theme for 2025 on Justice for Africans and People of African Descent Through Reparations and their integration into the ongoing activities of operationalising the AU 6th Region.

In the meeting, they discussed other issues concerning the establishment of the AU 6th Region with an emphasis on the selection of the twenty representatives for the AU Economic, Social and Cultural Council. A roadmap was deliberated upon to advance the agenda of the AfroDescendants’ Right to Return to the continent and to include key stakeholders.

Mr. Baleka expressed his appreciation for the accessibility and the role the Commission is playing in promoting and protecting human rights within the continent while also cognisant of the plight of the AfroDescendants.

The outcome of this deliberation will guide the way forward for the Commission to work with the AfroDescendants in general and pave the way for the Commission to mainstream their priorities in the African Union Theme for the Year 2025.

The Commissioner advised the African Diaspora to follow the directive of the African Union to ‘organize yourself and select your twenty representatives.’ “This will be a test to see if the Diaspora can work together in one accord to achieve a specific measurable outcome,” explained Mr. Baleka.

BALANTA SOCIETY PRESIDENT ADVOCATES FOR AFRICAN DIASPORA RIGHT OF RETURN AT 81ST SESSION OF THE AFRICAN COMMISSION FOR HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS

October 21 - On Africa Human Rights Day, the President of the Balanta B’urassa History and Genealogy Society in America (BBHAGSIA), Mr. Siphiwe Baleka, who also serves as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Provisional Government of the Republic of New Afrika (PGRNA) submitted a statement to the 81st Session of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The statement was submitted to and received by Hon. Commissioner Selma Saddi-Safer, Vice Chairperson of the Working Group on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights and Special Rapporteur on Refugees, Asylum Seekers, Internally Displaced Persons and Migrants in Africa.

During the session on Monday, Mr. Baleka and Commissioner Saddi-Safer had an informal discussion on the issue of violating AfroDescendamts’ human and peoples’ rights under the African Charter.

“International Law and the Durban Declaration both require African Union member states to pass legislation providing for the immediate and unqualified right of return for members of the African Union 6th Region to effect their ‘full participation’ in developing the continent under the AU Article 3(q) amendment,” said Mr. Baleka. “Any government that is denying or blocking such legislation is guilty of human rights violations of AfroDescendant people.”

Mr. Baleka’s statement highlighted the case of Guinea Bissau and President Umaro Sissoco Embaló recent “superior orders” to block his Council of Ministers from approving the applications of several BBHAGSIA members who applied for citizenship more than two years ago.

The Balanta Society’s statement generated considerable interest from members of the South African delegation and in particular, Lloyd Kuveya, Assistant Director of the Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria and Member of the Executive Committee, as well as Dr. Dorcas Basimanyane, Program Coordinator, International Development Law Unit (IDLU) at the same Center for Human Rights. After a vibrant discussion of the issues over dinner, Mr. Baleka shared with them the CONCEPT NOTE FOR SOUTH AFRICAN PERMANENT MISSION IN GENEVA submitted by Mr. Baleka following consultation with H.E. Thembela Ngculu and Portia Mngomezulu during the United Nations Permanent Forum on People of African Descent, April 17, 2024

Mr. Baleka’s intervention at the 81st Session of the ACHPR was a follow-up to the work of the Mrs. Dr. Barryl A. Biekman, Coordinator of the African Union African Diaspora 6th Region Facilitators Working Group Europe & Co-Facilitator of the Monitoring & Policy Working Group towards the implementation of the Agreements and the aforementioned Addis Ababa Declaration 2022 & Resolution. Dr. Biekman submitted the following letter to Hon. Remy Ngoy Lumbu - Chairperson, ACHPR you n August 14, 2022:

“It is my hope that the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights and all the lawyers, jurists and activists gathered here will give their opinion on the legal questions raised in the Request for an Advisory Opinion from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the status of AfroDescendants under the Geneva Convention and their right to conduct plebiscites for self determination,” Mr. Baleka said.

To give your input click here.

Input from lawyer and Professor Dr. Eduardo Lourenço Viana. Unified Black Movement- Movimento Negro Unificado- MNU- Brazil

Haitian Leader Jimmy "Barbecue" Chérizier speaks with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Provisional Government of the Republic of New Afrika

On Friday, October 4, the New Afrikan Network hosted Jimmy "Barbecue" Chérizier, Haitian leader of “Viva Asanm”, which means “Live Together” in Creole. Commander Chérizier was asked the following question by Siphiwe Baleka, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Provisional Government of the Republic of New Afrika.

(beginning at 19:30)

New Afrikan Network host: Thank you brother. Okay, so first up, you know, this is questions and answer day and we're going to get started with the first question coming from Brother Siphiwe out of Guinea Bissau from the Provisional Government of the Republic of New Africa. Brother Siphiwe can you hear us?

Minister Baleka: Yes, thank you. Revolutionary Greetings. Free the land! And greetings to you Commander Chérizier. I am Minister of ForeignAffairs of the Republic of New AfriKa. 

Translator: I'm sorry what country? 

[ …] Republic of New Afrika 

Minister Baleka: First I want to say congratulations to you Commander Chérizier. Anyone that is willing to take up arms to defend their sovereignty and self-determination against the imperialist has courage . . . . In March 1968 we were prepared to defend our right to self-determination and free our land with arms. We have a deep understanding and can empathize with your freedom fighting. I have four questions for you today, Commander. The first question revolves around, the first question has to deal with the issue of gang criminality. In our case, our young people were growing in their revolutionary National Consciousness. At that moment the United States government had to rebrand its campaign war strategy against our forces. They declared a war on drugs and they sent drugs and guns into our New Afrikan communities. The United States government declared a war on drugs and criminalized our young people, brought the drugs and the guns into our communities. We attempted to politicize our young people in the gangs and send them for military training in East Africa. As you know Malcolm X was once called a criminal and he became a freedom fighter. Nelson Mandela was an attorney who received military training in Ethiopia and returned to South Africa as a freedom fighter. So my first question is, do you see this as very similar, that those they are calling gangs were given drugs and guns by the Core Group and you are now trying to politicize them, to get them to fight for self-determination?

Translator: Can you repeat the question again?

Minister Baleka:  The question is do you see this as a similar situation? That you are now trying to politicize young people to fight for self-determination?

Commander Chérizier: I greet you and I thank you for the question. What you have just explained is not different from the one that is happening in Haiti. 95% of the weapons are brought from the Dominican Republic and the US. They use the rich people and the corrupted politicians to bring drugs and weapons to the gangs. They use the gangs to destabilize the country. Each time they do that effectively. That's what they are doing today and we are promoting Consciousness, awareness . . .  As a result of our speech to them they reduce the bad act, the bad habit. What they used to do, they stop it.  The politicians used to make them do a lot of kidnapping in order to destabilize . . .  president . . . They used to help them kidnap a lot of trucks with goods belonging to other people. They used to rape women. They used to rape girls. Today most of those bad activities are mostly finished and if someone in the group commits those crimes the leaders take some measures to punish . . .  In order to bring the foreign troops to keep under occupation they sent those weapons in the neighborhoods. Today we are trying to bring a new ideology to them, to bring Consciousness to them against what the oligarchs are forcing them to do. But this fight is not easy. Those people whom we are fighting against have a lot of money. They use local and international media to destroy us. As of today we have already done a lot of work. There were G9 and G people. G9 is a group which I . . .  G is another group which was created by the politicians because the group, namely G9, refused to work for them. Today we G9 happen to unite with G people and this resulted into a new group. Namely this creates a lot of problem for the politicians. Now, they merge all the crimes which was, which were committed by the other groups, they bring it to us as the one who did it. This is a way in order to destroy us. To help people not to believe in us without letting anyone to know that they are the one who used to give those people. . .  who used to ask them to commit those crimes. Today we are trying to put them on a positive way, educate them not to fight against those who look like us. This history which you have told of which I have been telling them - the history like about Nelson Mandela and others - someone who has a weapon and that person does not have education regarding this weapon, that may be a threat against him or her and against the society. That's what we teach and the politicians in Haiti know. That's why they do not educate, build schools to help those living in the popular neighborhood. This is a way so that they can use them whenever they want. Today we are trying to bring a change but it's not easy because most of those people who are weapons holders are not educated men. But because of the leadership we have a better relationship. We have them talk to their soldiers in order to protect the Civil population but sometimes things happen but we think we are on a good way because most of them start having a conscience. The kidnapping decreased considerably. It is not the Kenyan troops nor the government who do it. It’s the result of our work, dialogue with those guys who started this process in our history. We do know that they used to call again, they used to call him a black person, criminal assassinator. This is how the . . . they call you . . .  this is how they call you. Today this is not a problem to give us those nicknames. What is important for us is to fight for the Haitian people to have a better condition and in the name of our ancestors we will reach where we are heading to. I hope that I answer your question but if you are not satisfied you could still ask other questions.

Minister Baleka: thank you Commander I appreciate your answer. My second question - we are aware that you have repeatedly called for dialogue. Would it be fair to say that although your primary objective is defending the sovereignty and dignity of the Haitian people, that it is your position to call for peace and reconciliation in order to spare the bloodshed?

Translator: can you repeat the one please? 

Minister Baleka: Yes, the question is: is it fair to say that your objective is to call for peace and reconciliation in order to save lives and spare bloodshed?

Commander Chérizier: Thank you for the question. Today in the country we are trying to avoid a civil war. We understand that the west - USA, France and Canada - are seeking a civil war in the country. You get they are seeking this civil war as a pretext for them to directly intervene in Haiti? They are using the international force, the Kenyan troops, but deeply this is not their objective. They are kind of ashamed because the international community has an eye open on them. They don't want to do that openly but they are using the local media, the international media, to make people believe that the problem in Haiti is a gang problem and they're trying to turn some of the population against those weapon  holders. They use a movement, namely, they call those people [in audible] defense but deeply there isn't any defensive self-defensive group. Anyone who came from the popular neighborhood they kill you. This will cause those living in the hood - will reach a time where they will become patientless and they will take up weapons and what we are saying is happening now in the department under the pretext of a group, namely self defense. They keep people in another area. Wednesday night the other area attack them. More than 20 people die and more than 100 get injured. We as people of awareness as people who love this country, we use examples from several African countries where people have the same kind of problem as us. We can name Liberia today. They take the way of reconciliation and for that their countries are in peace. What can save . . .  what it is to prevent a lot of people getting killed is reconciliation before the arrival of the international forces. I have never stopped telling people this problem which we have can be stopped, can be solved but as you know our politicians and the oligarchs, they are working for the US and they never listen to us in order to take the way of . . .  And I can understand that they will never listen to us. The reason why is the American claims that it is being executed, their plan is to let Haiti go deep into a chaos of insecurity so that the whole world will see the necessity to approve for foreign troops to enter here. I have said that and I will continue saying that no foreign troops can solve the Haitian problem. The Haitian problem is not only with those groups. The gang, it is a social problem, economic . . .  It is an economic problem. It is a political problem. We have to have leaders with character to solve this problem. How can you understand that only 5% of people control the wealth of 95% of people in the country? Those people do not create not even one hospital as a reference for the country when they get sick. They board a helicopter to go lately in an operation with the police, national and the foreign troops. A Kenyan troop received a bullet and a Haitian police officer received a bullet. They quickly took [the Kenyan officer out]  and they sent the Haitian police officer in the countryside, but now he is dead. All of this is discrimination. This is why we are fighting to enter dialogue to solve the problem. 

Minister Baleka: Let me interrupt because I have one final important question for you. It has two parts. The first part is, has any African security forces offered to provide training for your militia and the second part of the question, would you say that now is a good moment for a Pan African Ubuntu peace delegation, a delegation led by Julius Malema, PLO Lumumba, Her Excellency Ambassador Arikana Chihombori Quao, The Prime Minister of Burkina Faso Apollinaire Joachimson Kyelem de Tembela, and Dr. Umar Ifatunde? Do you think such a delegation coming as conciliators could help bring about the reconciliation you speak of?

Commander Chérizier: For the first question regarding if the African forces could train us, we do not have any contact with them.  When they come they always attach to the work [of the imperialists]. We we always attach to our work defending our territory. And for the second question, anyone who can contribute to have a peaceful resolution to prevent people from getting killed, we are ready to work and collaborate with them but in the honor and dignity in the interests of the Haitian people. Any dialogue which we enter, if our dignity is not respected since the interest of Haiti is not respected, we will not engage. Today our objective is clear: the wealth of the country must be shared with the children of the country. That's what the father of the nation said, Haiti’s wealth belongs to the children of Haiti. For example in our constitution of 1805, it is prevented for a foreigner to be a property owner in Haiti. So the Clinton family happened to buy land and this present Prime Minister is working with Clinton. This is why we need to be careful if we have to engage in a dialog, a negotiation. We have to ensure that our interest and the interest of Haiti . . . . Only more they are using force to be . . .  to use violence against us, the more we will be more violent. We want to take it from where it is now. I hope that I answer your question.

Minister Baleka: Yes you did and on behalf of the Republic of New Africa we respect the sovereignty and dignity of the Haitian people and we will use our Ministry of Foreign Affairs and diplomatic office to pass your message to other Pan African forces.

Commander Chérizier: Thank you. Merci thank you.

The Chairman of the Republic of New Afrika Grassroots Mobilization Campaign has submitted to Commandier Chérizier the following

The Ubuntu Compassionate Relief Plan to Restore & Safeguard Haiti