Africa on the sideline

This year I´m working with African Network and Forum on Debt and Development (AFRODAD). When I´m observing the latest international summits unfolding, from the G8 in St. Petersburg in July to the World Bank and IMF annual meetings in Singapore last week, it strikes me that from an African perspective one must feel a bit sidelined this year. While 2005 was the year when celebrities like David Beckham and Brad Pitt pledged to make poverty history, when 15 million people wore white bands, and when more than a billion people gathered in front of the their TV-sets for Live8, 2006 seems to be a bit of an anti-climax. As was reflected in editorials in some African newspapers during this summer´s G8 meeting: - It´s the G8 meeting, but where is Angelina Jolie? Last year Africa was in the spotlight and on the catwalk. This year Africa seems, in lack of better ways to put it, somewhat out of fashion.

Under any circumstances this would be a reason for concern, but in many ways this lack of attention comes at a time, in particular, when public pressure on issues like third world debt, conditionalities, and reform of the international financial institutions (IFIs) need to escalate, rather than evaporate. While the pledges made at Gleneagles where far from sufficient, some processes were started during last year that needs to be kept at the forefront of public attention. First there is the issue of debt relief, but other critical developments are also unfolding as we speak. Some governments are now calling for reform of World Bank and IMF conditionalities, there is a big row over the anti-corruption strategy of World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz, in the IMF developing countries are demanding a greater say and Gordon Brown said earlier this year that the institution´s legitimacy depend on it, the World Bank is currently trying to delay their own promised study on the issue of illegitimate debt, and, finally, the inconsistency of the good governance agenda promoted by the IFIs have been put at open display in Singapore last week. For those of us who are advocating for change in these institutions, this is the time to let our voices be heard.

That´s also why the civil society actions referred to on this blog are so important. Next year the G8 is returning to Germany, eight years after 50.000 people made, what in those days were seen as, groundbreaking calls for debt cancellation. Since then campaigners have made significant progress, but also been victims of politicians´ spin. As debt relief has become mainstream, it has become difficult for the public to distinguish campaigners´ call for debt cancellation and politicians support for debt relief. This year, and the coming year, we should make sure we tell a story that distinguish us from the people we are to influence. A story that distinguish charity from justice. A story that is calling, not only for the cancellation of unpayable debts, but also the cancellation of illegitimate debts. And a story where we support Southern governments´ right to repudiate such debt. It´s a story where we, as JDC and other groups, call for rich country governments and IFIs to cut the strings. And it´s a story where we, as Christian Aid did last week, call for our governments to hold back their funding to the IFI until they accept radical reform. By telling such a story we could create a broader and more long-lasting momentum for change - a momentum that goes beyond the celebrity hype.