African civil society denied official role in leaders’ summit

Civil society groups from Africa will not be allowed to participate in the US-Africa Leadership Summit proceedings as equal partners.

Instead they will only be allowed into the main events of the upcoming summit despite petitioning President Obama pleading for equal participation with the leaders.

The US government announced Friday the groups mainly operating in Africa have been invited to participate in “signature events” so that President Obama can hear their views.

“We recognise that the civil society has a vital role to play in all of the issues to be discussed in the US-Africa Leaders’ Summit, and its role will be highlighted throughout the Summit,” Michael Greenwald, the Counsellor for Public Affairs at the US Embassy in Nairobi told the Nation.

“That’s why we will hold the Civil Society Forum on August 4 hosted by Secretary of State John Kerry – an official event that will bring together US and African government leaders, members of African and US civil society and the diaspora, and private sector leaders – as one of many ways to ensure that views from the civil society inform the broad range of the Summit discussions.”

The US government will for the first time be hosting several African leaders, including Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta, in the Summit which will be held from August 4 to 6, 2014.

No African leader will meet President Obama one-on-one bilateral basis but the State Department announced President Obama will spend “tremendous amount of quality time” at the summit which will include a State dinner with all the leaders.

They are expected to discuss wildlife crimes, food security, terrorism, trade, with focus on the Africa Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) and meet various business people.

There will also be a segment on peace and regional stability, democracy and governance.

Civil society groups will also participate in other signature events.

YOUNG AFRICAN LEADERS

President Obama will host young African leaders a week before the Summit in order to hear their views and ideas.

“As is the case for most summits, the format for leaders’ discussions on August 6 will include only heads of state and government, a format that lends itself to candid discussions of the full range of opportunities and challenges facing Africa and its relationship with the United States,” Mr Greenwald said.

The groups including Amnesty International and Open Society Foundations had last week called on President Obama to provide “official space for civil society participation” for a meeting which is expected to be attended by more than 50 African leaders in Washington.

These groups had started an online petition to push for their inclusion and to be given a seat at “the table as equal partners at the Leaders’ Summit.”

“The summit will neglect the foundational issues of governance and human rights that so often prevent ordinary Africans from living with dignity.

In order for leaders from both the United States and Africa to better address development and promote peace and security, we respectfully call on you to ensure that African civil society is afforded the opportunity to officially participate in the summit proceedings,” the petition reads.

But a tentative programme shows the event will have a section for the “Civil Society Forum” even though it will be by invitation only.