March 29, 2001
Non governmental organizations (NGOs) in Mali have made biting critique of Bretton Woods institutions' visit to the country and urged West African leaders to be more accountable to their people. To better help Africa, the International Monetary Fund IMF and the World Bank decided to come to a meeting with African heads of state during February 18-21. Twelve presidents came for the discussions with Horst Kohler, Director General of the IMF, and James Wolfensohn, President of the World Bank.
"This initiative, apart from being somewhat strange and worrisome, is dishonest when one considers the International environment in which it is happening," said the NGOs, which included CAHBA, ENDA, Le journal Le Matin, and Association malienne de journalistes. "It serves to distract Africans, at the same time as it helps excuse the Bretton Woods institutions that have a considerable responsibility as much for the failure of African development, as for the sometimes chaotic nature of the transition to democracy," they added.
The statement said:
"If today the World Bank and IMF are so contested, and increasingly so throughout the world, it is precisely because of the grave failure with the high social, political and ecological costs of their policies said to salvage economies, which they have more often than not imposed on debt- ridden states."Today, African civil society has been swept aside and humiliated by this meeting that only confirms their exclusion, and adds to the injustice to which Africa is subjected.
"Civil society considers that these two institutions, that owe so much to Africa, cannot continue to fool the world by putting themselves forward as judges, at the same time as allies, without ever having recognized their part in making mistakes and their responsibility in aggravating the economic, social and political situation.
"The mandate that civil society has accorded its leaders has been handed over to these institutions in the name of the market and profit. Today, civil society feels itself dispossessed of its democratic rights and its future.
"This meeting is humiliating because these two financial Institutions limit such meetings with heads of states accountable to their people only in Africa - and not in Asia, or Latin America or Europe. Is it the poverty of this continent that allows such arrogance? Or is it because the strongest permit themselves to sweep aside international rules this way?
"As for the objectives of this meeting, we deplore the instrumentalisation by these institutions of several major concerns of the African people with an aim to better impose the neo-liberal order, and the control by foreign powers of African resources and economies.
"Their approach to poverty and the solutions they preview, only exacerbate poverty. We contest the dogma that consists of fighting against poverty by further liberalization and by liquidating public property and heritage, particularly the privatization of basic services (water, energy, education)...
"We believe that savage commercial liberalization translates as best as the exclusion of the people, mostly the 50 percent who are impoverished and disconnected from the international market.
"We reject the programs to reduce the debt as defined by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, which are accompanied by so many economic and political conditions, and only deepen dependency.
"What we want is a straightforward cancellation of African debt, something which citizen's organizations are now demanding all over the world.
"We want our leaders to re-establish our national sovereignty which they have surrendered to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund in allowing them to decide economic and social policy.
"This is the only way they will be able to respond to our people's aspirations, and make full use of our resources for our benefit and the benefit of future generations.
"The lack of democracy within these institutions, and the WTO, marginalizes Africa in the elaboration of when the economic, financial, commercial or political international rules. This lack of democracy puts them in no position to lecture Africa on good governance.
"Civil society considers that these two institutions, that owe so much to Africa, cannot continue to fool the world by putting themselves forward as judges, at the same time as allies, without ever having recognized their part in making mistakes and their responsibility in aggravating the economic, social and political situation.
"We are calling African Leaders not to get involved in any new round of trade negotiations, and to strike to the common position established by the OAU in Algiers and Cairo...
"First, there should be a proper evaluation of the existing agreements, necessary corrections should be made, and equitable trade rules should be established.
"On the issue of AIDS, we consider that it is nothing less than genocide to make access to generic drugs conditional on the acceptance of agreements on intellectual property rights dictated by the WTO and the big pharmaceutical companies.
"We hold these bodies responsible for the levels of mortality from AIDS in Africa. African leaders must find solutions, which will allow AIDS sufferers access to the medicines they need, quickly and at an affordable price, even if it means breaking these murderous agreements.
"Africa's civil wars and armed conflicts are not just caused by tribal and religions factors. Neo-liberal fundamentalism, and intellectual terrorism also play a part. The economic and financial conditions imposed on Africa are bleeding it of its resources, including its intellectual ones.
"These wars would never have reached their present bloody intensity if it had not been for the involvement of the great powers by supplying with arms, including anti-personal mines. We invite our leaders to be accountable to their people, and work for a free, independent and united Africa".
*The statement of the NGOs on the IMF/ World Bank meetings was circulated by Aminata Traore, former Minister of Culture in Mali. She is now helping to organize progressive civil society in Mali to take a very firm stand on core economic issues.
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