Welcome Remarks by Ambassador Gaetan R. Ouedraogo


CoDA Discussion Forum
On
 “Two Decades of Democratic Transition in Africa”- From the National Conferences of the 1990s to the Arab Spring of 2011: Results and Prospects
Saturday 12 November 2011.
The Residence, Gammarth Tunis

 

  1. Good afternoon Ladies and Gentleman. My name is Ambassador Gaetan R. Ouedraogo and I am the newly appointed Executive Director of the Coalition for Dialogue on Africa, (CoDA). 

  2. Thank you for accepting our invitation to participate in what I am sure will be a stimulating discussion this afternoon.

  3.  CoDA, which as some of you may know is the successor forum to the Global Coalition for Africa, has been in existence for two years now, and this is the fourth discussion forum that it has convened in that time. We have printed copies of the outcomes of the past meetings here to today, so please free take and read them.

  4. Our format for our dialogue sessions is very informal and rather than an emphasis on protocol we prefer to put the emphasis on promoting an engaging and interactive discussion between all stakeholders and participants who attend our consultations.

  5. This is in keeping with CoDA’s core aims which are to bring together a range of stakeholders to promote inclusive dialogue and provide a platform for African voices to be heard and advocate for the continent.

  6. In that spirit, the programme today will run as follows: His Excellency, President Festus Mogae, the Chairperson of CoDA, will make his introductory remarks. Thereafter, we will hear from our panelists who will each make brief presentations (maximum 10 minutes) giving us their perspectives on the theme of this forum. After that we will open up the discussion to the floor and you will all have the opportunity to comment and engage with everyone else here today on the issues.

  7. Tea and coffee is available at anytime to any one who would like to have some outside the room and we will also have a very short pause of 10 minutes at around 4 pm to allow for a stretching of legs and a formal tea coffee break.

  8. Our proceedings will be captured in a comprehensive summary report which will be made available on the CoDA website in a few weeks time and which will also be emailed to all you participate today as well as printed as a CoDA publication.

  9. Now, without further ado, it is my great pleasure to introduce to you His Excellency, President Festus Mogae, the Chairperson of CoDA.

  10. President Mogae is the former President of the Republic of Botswana. A genuine democrat and highly respected African leader and elder statesman, who stepped down from the Presidency in 2008, after two successful terms as mandated by his country’s constitution, he is certainly one of the best examples of good democratic practice which we can point to in Africa today. In the same year that he stepped down President Mogae was awarded The Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership.

  11. As well as his work as our esteemed Chairperson of CoDA, President Mogae is an active leader in several other fields, including notably in the fight against HIV/Aids, serving as chairman of Champions for an HIV-free Generation. Since March this year, he is also a member of the new Global Commission on Elections, Democracy and Security, which is working to convince different stakeholders why elections with integrity matter not just for democracy, but also for security, human rights, and development.

  12. Your Excellency, you have the floor Sir.