Bamako 2002 Conference

Press Release

Bamako, 30 May 2002
Immediate release

Africa moves to bridge the digital divide

Some 2000 participants from 51 African countries met in Bamako from 25 to 30 May 2002 to start off Africa's preparations to participate in the World Summits on the Information Society which will take place in Geneva in 2003 and in Tunis in 2005.

By seizing the opportunity to organize the first regional conference preparatory to the Summit, Africa is making two major innovations. One is bringing together representatives of governments, private enterprise and civil society. The other is creating the conditions for genuine dialogue on an equal footing. On both counts, the Conference has launched a new type of international conference partnership and everyone agrees that the Bamako formula has been a resounding success.

Fruitful dialogue between public and private policy makers and those working in the field has transformed the spirit of this type of conference and given a new thrust, a strong tone and a genuinely African color to the debate.

Without exception, participants unanimously called on Africans to create web content that draws fully on the cultural and linguistic diversity of Africa and from its extensive range of traditional knowledge, not to mention the creative genius of all stakeholders in African society.

Taking the initiative to create web content and new services is as important if not more so than building communications infrastructure. That is the general feeling you come away with.

The Bamako Conference adopted a Final Declaration which laid the groundwork for how Africans intend fully to participate in the information society by bringing their unique contribution and rich humanity. It also described what Africans expected to gain from the fresh opportunities provided by new information technologies.

The next step will be to submit the outcomes of Bamako 2002 to the first meeting of the Summit Preparatory Committee which will take place from 1 to 5 July this year in Geneva. One of those days has been set aside for the representatives of African Governments, businesses and civil society organizations to present to their peers the conclusions of the work they did in Bamako.

Along the lines of Bamako 2000, Bamako 2002 will certainly have a major impact in terms of positioning Africa within the global information society.