African Greens Congress Report, 15-19 April, 2010, Kampala, Uganda

AFRICAN GREENS FEDERATION

Report of the African Greens congress

15th-19th April, 2010, KAMPALA UGANDA

April 15th 2010

Ugandan Greens congress : The Final result was the election of the National Executive Committee, of the already registered, Ecological Party of Uganda (EPU), headed by Mr.Charles Lwanga Baale. This also marked the final implementation of the MoU signed between NAPO/National People’s Organization and UGM/ Uganda Green Movement, that established the Ecological Party of Uganda. Mr.Thomas Kentos Bakyayita from UGM, became the Party’s Secretary General. Several members from both organization and two other parties that joined EPU were co-opted on the new committee.

April 16th 2010

Regional meetings for Greens from Central Africa, East Africa, Southern Africa as well as those from the Indian Ocean Island states were held and two regional representatives (male & female) were chosen from each region. (All names are needed)

April 17th 2010

Official opening ceremony began at 9.30am with a welcome speech from Mr. Charles Lwanga, chair of the Ecological party of Uganda and host of the event. He welcomed delegates to Kampala, and also informed them that the president of Uganda, his Excellency General Yoweri Kaguta Museveni was expected at the opening ceremonies, but due to other state engagements was running late and at the end was unable to come.

The chairman of African Greens, Mr. Frank Habineza in his opening speech outlined the struggles that made this congress a reality. He concluded by asking for a moment of silence to be observed for the Late, Ms. Mwenya Mukula from Zambia who died shortly after her return from the congress preparatory meeting in Bohicon, Republique de Benin. A tree was planted at the hotel ( J & M Airport Road Hotel, Kampala, Uganda) in her memory. The Tree was named MWENYA MUKULA and Greens will always come to this hotel to remember her.

The representative from the HBF- Henrich Boll Foundation (Eastern and Horn of Africa), Mr. Hezron Gikanga, gave a key note address, he talked about HBF operations in Africa, and went further to talk about the complimentary roles of Non-governmental Organisations and Green parties in Europe and hoped that the African Greens federation will encourage membership from non- political Green organizations within the continent as well.

Ms. Inger Schorling, from the Green Forum Sweden brought greetings of encouragement from the Swedish Greens and was pleased to finally see this congress become a reality.

Mr. Juan Behrend, a member of the European Greens, representing the Global Greens Coordination and European Green Party, in his keynote address expressed his happiness at the formal coming together of the African Greens especially since it mirrors similar occurrences across the globe in Asia, Middle East, etc. He shared the challenges being faced by the European Greens, and encouraged the federation to move on. He promised to put in a word for the honoring of Mwenya Mukula at the next Global Greens activity.

The opening ceremonies came to an end with an address from Mrs. Saraha Georget Rabeharisoa from the Green party of Madagascar.

During the first plenary, the name of the organization was reviewed and from the five given available, delegates chose African Greens Federation / La federation des verts Africains with AGF / FEVA as acronyms in English and French respectively. At the 2nd plenary, the constitution of the Federation was reviewed and adopted by the Assembly after several amendments.

April 18th 2010

Day four began with the elections of the executive committee of the federation as well as substitutes to global Greens coordination. Dr. Idris Muslim from Nigeria was the chairman of this session assisted by Mr. Antoine Kimyonvyi from Burundi.

The delegates from Kenya sought to know the criteria for voting and being voted, after explanations from the chairman, they however opted to withdraw from the process claiming to disagree with the procedures.

Mr. Zitouni, delegate from the Tunisia Green party also withdrew from the process due to a misunderstanding and disagreement of the electoral procedure.

The process of voting was one country ; one vote and twenty- two countries participated in the elections, East Africa Uganda Rwanda Burundi Southern Africa Zambia South Africa West Africa Senegal Burkina Faso Mali Cote D’Ivoire Niger Nigeria Togo Ghana Benin Guinea Conakry North Africa Morocco Africa in the Indian Ocean Madagascar Mauritius

Central Africa Democratic Republic of Congo Angola Chad RCA/ Central Africa Republic

The posts were keenly contested for by multiple candidates except for the positions of President, 1st Vice President, and Secretary General which had single candidates. At the end of voting the following were elected into the executive committee ;

NAME COUNTRY POST

Mr. Frank Habineza Rwanda President Mr. Sere Adama Burkina Faso 1st Vice President Ms. Saraha Georget Rabeharisoa Madagascar 2nd Vice President Mr. Papa Meisa Dieng Senegal Secretary General Mr. Charles Lwanga Uganda Treasure Mr. Badono Daigou Tchad Publicity Secretary Ms. Bihiranke Anne Marie Burundi Women Greens Coordinator Ms. Winnie Quaye Ghana Female AYG Representative Mr. Kelvin Kaunda Zambia Male AYG Representative

Sub-regions also submitted the names of their representatives on the AGF Executive Board, and they are ; NAME COUNTRY SUB-REGION

Ms. Jean M.V. Kantengwa Rwanda East Africa Ms. Fatima Alaoui Morocco North Africa Mr. Laurent Avit Bokonas RCA Central Africa Mr. Idrissa Djagno Niger West Africa Mr. Laurent Anpilahy Madagascar Indian Ocean States Mr. Patrick Sindanane South Africa Southern Africa

Ms. Nma Emeruwah from Nigeria was elected to replace Ms. Juliana Mugure on Global Greens Coordination, while Mr. Pembe Didace of Republique Democratique du Congo was elected to fill in the newly created additional position for (Africa) on the Global Greens Coordination. Mr.Frank Habineza and Mr.Adamou Garba, were also maintained on the Global Greens Coordination.

In addition to this, four more positions were provided for as agreed by the GGC in its last deliberation for each continent to have Global Green s Coordination Substitutes and an extra person for Administration, the following were elected :

NAME COUNTRY

Dr. Idris Muslim Nigeria (African Administrative Secretary) Mr. Gregorio Nsumbu Angola (Member) Mr. Aime Padonou Benin (Member) Mr. Mohammed Tounkara Guinea (Member)

Mr. Eddy Michel from Mauritius and Mr. Luc Atundu from RDC were elected as auditors to the federation. (Commissaires aux Comptes)

This election took almost a whole day and at the end it was successful.

At the third plenary, the AGF rules and procedures and the African Greens Charter were adopted. Also adopted is the Climate Change stand for African Greens as had been proposed.

The meeting also adopted Membership fee as 100 USD and annual subscription fee as 50 USD. During the meeting , Nigeria, Madagascar and Morocco paid up.

The meeting came to an end at 1.17AM on 19th April 2010.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING

The next morning, the new Executive Board had a meeting, which discussed about communication strategies and future plans and a comprehensive presentation about hosting the 3rd Global Greens Congress in Africa by Mr.Juan Juan Behrend from EGP/GGC.

The Executive committee also approved a motion of support for the Green Tunisia Party, led by Mr.Zitouni Abdelkader and it was signed by both the Federation President and Secretary General. Mr.Zitouni had asked for forgiveness for having moved out, he said he has been misled and he finally gave all his support to the new elected council.

* Burkina Faso was proposed to host the headquarters of the Federation, since Kenya walked out. * Four countries designed by 4 African sub-regions (Senegal, Madagascar, Morocco, Rwanda) proposed their desire to host the next 3rd Global Greens Congress in Africa 2012 . (Two will be proposed to the appreciation of the Global Greens Organization.

CONCLUSION

Despite several challenges faced, the congress was a big success as it finally created the African Greens Federation, adopted the Constitution, Rules and Procedures, African Green Charter and elected a broad based committee. The revised documents will be sent out soon, with a detailed list of participants.

On behalf of African Greens Federation

Mr. Frank Habineza Dr.Papa Meisa Dieng President Secretary General

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

AFRICAN GREENS CONGRES, 16th -18th April, 2010, KAMPALA UGANDA Venue : J&M AIRPORT ROAD HOTEL

Northern Africa Region 1. Morocco, Ms. Fatima Alaoui, Parti des Verts Pour le Développement du Maroc 2. Tunisia, Mr. Zitouni Abdelkader , Parti "Tunisie Verte"

West Africa 1. Benin, Mr Aime Padonou, Benin Green Party 2. Nigeria : Nigerian Green Movement

* Dr. Idris Muslim * Ms Nma Emeruwah

3. Senegal, Dr. Papa Meissa Dieng, Fédération Démocratique des Ecologistes du Sénégal (FEDES) 4. Mali, Mr. N’fa Diabate (Mayor), Mali Green Party 5. Burkinafaso :

* Mr. Adama Sere, S.G, Rassemblement des Ecologistes du Burkina Faso, * Mrs TRAORE ASSETOU, Parti Ecologiste pour le Développement du Burkina 6. Guinea Conarky, Mr. Mohamed Tounkara, Guinea Green Party ( PVG) 7. Ivory Coast : Parti Ecologiste Ivoirien * Ms. Assemou Adja Edwige Nicole , 8. Togo, Mr. Adessou Kossivi, Jeunes Voluntaires pour I’Environnement ( JVE-Togo) 9. Ghana , Winnie Quaye, Ghana Green Movement 10. Niger, Mr.Idrissa Djagno, Rassemblement pour un Sahel Vert/Niger Green Party

Southern Africa/Indian Ocean Islands

1. Zambia, Mr.Kelvin Kaunda, National Revolution Green Party 2. Mauritius, Mr. Eddy MICHEL, Les Verts Fraternels Mauritius 3. Madagascar, Madagascar Green Party

* Ms. Saraha Georget Rabeharisoa * Mr. GEORGET Alexandre Marie, * Mr. Laurent AMPILAHY 4. Angola, Eng. Gregorio NSumbu MBala, Angola’s National Ecological Party 5. South Africa, Mr.Patrick Sindane, South African Social-Green Alliance Central Africa : 1. DRC : Parti Ecologique Congolais (PECO) * Mr. LUC ATUNDU * Mr. DIDACE PEMBE BOKIAGA (second delegate, half sponsored), 2. RCA, Mr. Laurent - Avit BOKONAS, Mouvement des Verts de Centrafrique 3. Chad, Mr. Badono Daigou, Chad Green Party

East Africa : 1. Kenya : Mazingira Green Party of Kenya Mr. Ngarama Karanu

* Kenya Young Greens, 1. Mr. Philip Otieno 2. Mr.Gibson Amenya 3. Mr.Mohamed Nyange 4. Ms.Lilian Mutuku 5. Ms.Rachael Mutuku 6.Mr.Douglas Arege 7. Ms.Ann Bulimu (self sponsored) HBF 8. Ms. Lawrence Kabuthi (self sponsored) HBF 9. Ms.Rose Wachuka (self sponsored )HBF

2. Rwanda : Democratic Green Party of Rwanda

1. Mr. Charles Kabanda 2. Mr.Andre Rwisereka Kagwa 3. Mr. Mugisha Alexis, 4. Mr.Emanuel Murenzi, 5. Mr. Nshyimirimana Vincent 6. Ms. Jean Marie Kantengwa 7. Mr.Ntezimana Claude 8. Ms. Uwimana Jeanine

3. Uganda : Ecological Party of Uganda/Uganda Green Movement

Host country : 10 delegates ( non-residents)

LOCAL ORGANISING COMMITTEE/UGANDA : 1. Mr.Chales Lwanga Baale, 2. Mr.Thomas Kentos Bakyayita 3. Mr.John Byarugaba 4. Ms.Anna Nafuna.

4. Burundi : Burundi Green Movement 1. Mr. KINYOMVYI Antoine 2. Ms.Ana Marie Bihirabake 3. Mr. Havyarimana Richard

Official Translator : Ms.Jaye Allan (will come from Benin but originally from Australia and China) and will be assisted by, Mr. Patrick Adessou Kossivi from Togo.

Global Greens Coordination Representatives for Africa : 1. Mr.Frank Habineza, Democratic Green Party of Rwanda

GREEN FORUM SWEDEN /Swedish Green Party Ms. Inger Schorling, Heinrich Böll Foundation ( HBF) Eastern and Horn of Africa Region Mr. Hezron Gikanga ( self sponsored) HBF

European Green Party/ Global Greens Coordination member Mr.Juan Behrend