ABOUT ASI

ASI Vision

The African Statesmen Initiative (ASI) is a concept embraced by former African leaders who seek to continue their contribution to the political and economic development of the continent. They are uniquely positioned to positively affect ongoing democratization and good governance efforts. Discussions with these leaders have underscored the need to find ways to build sustainable capacity on "Leadership and Democratization in Africa." This symposium will hopefully lay the foundation for expanded efforts to advance peace, prosperity and democracy on the continent.

The goals of this conference are to: 1) encourage democratic former Heads of State to continue to play a constructive role in democratization efforts across the continent; 2) provide a forum for these leaders to share experiences on democratization and conflict management initiatives they have undertaken since leaving office; and 3) highlight their efforts and potential new outlets for their expertise in the areas of democratization and good governance.

Background

Over the last decade, Africa has experienced a noticeable expansion of political space with credible elections and a peaceful turnover of political power in many countries. The continent also enjoys increased freedom of independent media, the emergence of a vibrant civil society and an increase in the number of women running for public office. Moreover, new initiatives have emerged within the African Union, including the New Partnership for Africa's Development and its peer review mechanism, as well as the Peace and Security Council. At the same time, serious challenges remain. In some countries, democratization has stagnated, political discourse is polarized, conflict has increased.

Fortunately there now exists a group of African statesmen who can provide leadership that can mitigate conflict and help advance democratic institutions and processes. Extensive high-level consultations with nearly a dozen former African presidents confirmed the significance and timeliness of ASI and the issues to be addressed at the Initiative's inaugural gathering. Other Africans and friends of the continent in academia and non-governmental organizations eagerly volunteered to assist with preparations in this initial phase. Participants and those consulted expect that suggestions and recommendations will emerge from the inaugural symposium to best tap into the expertise of these African statesmen in democracy support activities.

Looking Forward

This Bamako meeting is particularly timely given the high number of former African Heads of State participating and their potential impact on similar emerging initiatives on the continent. These African leaders have demonstrated their ongoing commitment to peace, security, democracy and prosperity.