english français português العربية

Download

And what if Africa retook control of its destiny? – Manifesto for a moment to project ourselves into the second half-century – Booklets of the conferences of Praia, July 2012 and Rabat, January 2014

Africa is at a turning point in its political, economic and social history. Despite mixed results in State- and society-building, which clearly show how far the continent still has to go in terms of economic, political and social development, Africa does in fact have what it takes to meet the needs of its peoples and play a more important role in the world. Democracy, strengthened by decentralisation and by civil society’s contributions to improving State governance, is slowly but surely becoming consolidated; immense reserves of natural resources remain untapped; rapid population growth is making the continent a promising market; regional integration processes are contributing to good governance and the creation of shared markets, while changes in international economic relations, with the emergence of new powers, are giving Africa more room to maneuver on world markets and providing opportunities to renew and regulate international relations.

And what if Africa retook control of its destiny?

To turn all these advantages into factors that truly contribute to its success, Africa needs a collective jump-start; it has to stop “sleeping on other people’s mats” in the words of the well-known African historian Joseph Ki Zerbo. Across the globe, the construction of modern nations and the definition of development strategies have always taken time. Africa is no exception. Yet Africa is not a continent devoid of hope. It has energetic young people and the natural, cultural and intellectual resources it needs to emerge in the 21st century with its own world view, its own conception of governance and its own path for development.

This is what the Africa Horizon 2060 Initiative is all about.

The complete document Africa takes control of its destiny

Summary of the document : Africa Takes Control of Its Destiny

Manifesto for a moment to project ourselves into the second half-century

The men and women who contributed to African independence assumed their responsibility toward history by helping free the continent from the shackles of colonisation. It is up to the men and women of today to assume their responsibility toward future generations. Now, at the dawn of this second fifty-year period, is the time to make a symbolic appointment with the year 2060, which will mark the end of this second half-century of independence.

The complete document Manifesto for 2060 (electronic version) and Manifesto for 2060 (paper version)