AfricTivistes is partnering with Yiaga Africa and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) to organise the first “Building Solidarity” Conference. On 8 and 9 July in Dakar, the event will strengthen solidarity between African social movements in response to the democratic backsliding on the African continent.

In a global context of democratic regression, the Building Solidarity Conference aims to build and strengthen solidarity among African social movements, explore new forms of civic activism, and address the challenges of managing transitions.

“Despite concerning trends, we see positive examples of democratic progress driven by civic activism and social movements in Africa,” explained Samson Itodo, Executive Director of Yiaga Africa. “This conference aims to strengthen solidarity among these movements, share best practices, and address the challenges they face, in order to build a stronger, more resilient and more cohesive movement for democratic renewal,” he continued.

The Conference also intends to generate new ideas on strengthening solidarity across borders, generations and struggles, in order to renew efforts to address the continent’s current socio-political challenges.

These objectives echo AfricTivistes’ mission since 2015 to promote and defend democratic values through digital means. Concerned with human rights and citizen participation in decision-making, AfricTivistes has already implemented several co-construction projects for democracy and conducted advocacy in several countries on the continent.

The two-day conference will include a keynote address on a new framework for solidarity, as well as four moderated panel discussions on new expressions of solidarity, new forms of civic activism, and managing transitions within movements. These discussions will highlight successful case studies and explore ways to renew struggles, strengthen relationships, and increase mutual support for civil society activists facing shrinking civic space in the region.

This event will bring together 15 African countries and 40 leaders and representatives of social movements, frontline activists, civil society groups, academia and international partners. Participants include Alioune Tine, President of AfrikaJom Center, Aliou Sané, Coordinator of the Y’en A marre movement, Cheikh Fall, President of AfricTivistes, Yemi Adamolekun, Executive Director of Enough is Enough; Akwe Amosu, Programme Director of the Symposium on Strength and Solidarity, and Nerima Wako-Ojiwa, Executive Director of Siasa Place, among others.

By creating solidarity platforms and sharing best practices, this conference will strengthen the resilience of African social movements, thus contributing to democratic renewal on the continent.

For more information, please contact: info@africtivistes.org