AIDO Network International issued the historic Declaration of Mombasa on Human Rights at its recently concluded Fifth Annual Convention, held in Kenya’s coastal city, organized in collaboration with the African Indigenous Governance Council (AIGC) and the CARICOM Reparations Commission (CRC). The Declaration was signed by African traditional leaders, government officials and civil society representatives from around the world and affirms their commitment to work together for equality, justice and respect for the human rights of African people.

The Declaration calls for the full enjoyment and full complement of human rights by African peoples everywhere and calls for African governments, Traditional and Cultural Leaders,to give full support and consistent advocacy for reparatory justice for Africans in the diaspora and on the continent bearing in mind the 400 years of illegal trafficking in the trans-Atlantic trade in enslaved Africans and the disruption of social, political and economic structures in Africa; and colonialism, in keeping with the CARICOM Reparations Commission’s Ten Point Plan for Reparatory Justice.

The high level gathering further resolved “to build a united global Africa that is committed to the development and advancement of African people everywhere; our intention to facilitate the return and reunification of Africans in the diaspora with their roots, by advancing a progressive reconnection agenda with emphasis on spirituality, cultural education and exchange, business and investment; and our unequivocal support for reparatory justice for Africans in the Diaspora and in Africa for the crimes against humanity and denial of their human rights.”

The Convention which focused on “Culture, Ubuntu and Human Rights,” featured a business forum and business roundtable discussion; a human rights summit with panel presentations on human rights and reparatory justice, a cultural panel along with many displays of African song, dance and costume, all facilitating a dialogue between African royals and attendees from around the world.

His Royal Highness Paul Jones Eganda, Global President of AIDO Network International, in his opening address recognized that “the promotion and protection of human rights require not only national efforts but also international cooperation. We understand that no single nation or entity can fulfill this vital task alone.” He further emphasized that “it is by joining forces, sharing knowledge, and fostering dialogue that we can address the challenges faced by humanity and ensure that human rights are realized in every corner of the world.” He concluded by encouraging those in attendance to ensure that the Convention serves as a milestone in our collective journey towards a world where human rights are not just lofty ideals but lived realities.

Princess Ulrike Pohlman Acom, Chairperson of AIDO’s Advisory Board, welcomed the delegates to the Convention and thanked the AIDO Kenya Chapter – headed by Ms. Ann Hamburger and supported by the Hon Millicent Odhiambo – for their hard work on the arrangements and programme of the Convention which was to “create a better world with all the different recourses every individual has, in the spirit of UBUNTU.”

The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Hilary Brown, Programme Manager Culture and Community Development, CARICOM Secretariat, representing Professor Sir Hilary Beckles, Chairman of the CARICOM Reparations Commission. She highlighted the brutality of chattel slavery in the Americas, the negation of the human rights of Africans, the ideology of racism and the debt that “has not yet been paid for systemic exploitation, extraction of wealth, pain, suffering and  psychological  harm, leading to  persistent  poverty  in  the  Caribbean and in Africa up until today,” as the basis for the establishment of the CARICOM Reparations Commission in 2013 and its consistent call for reparatory justice from Europe. She also highlighted the critical role that African traditional leaders should play in fostering a united global Africa and called upon the influential gathering to speak with one voice to advance Africa’s development.

The Business Panel chaired by Prince Bimbo Roberts Folayan, Advisory Board member and head of AIDO Business explored the theme: ‘Promoting Business and Investment Opportunities within Africa and her Diaspora’. The panelists held a lively discussion and concluded that the need to develop more ways to improve intra-Africa – Diaspora trade collaboration and how AIDO would work with other organizations towards this end.

The Human Rights Panel was chaired by Mr. Martin Weightman, Human Rights and Interfaith Advisor for AIDO and addressed the specific issue of Women and Children’s rights. The panelists discussed how traditional roles could enhance these rights whilst also taking a critical look at practices that should be discarded such as female genital mutilation. This discussion formed the basis for an ongoing programme and action plan that will be developed to also include other relevant areas such as modern-day slavery. A number of new groups were also formed as part of the Youth for Human Rights education campaign that was highlighted during the Congress.

The Culture Panel chaired by Ambassador Filda Lolem explored AIDOs charity work in different countries and highlighted how culture can be used as a tool that crosses into so many social areas and should be used to facilitate and promote coexistence, the implementation of human rights education and action, businesses and tourism. The entire Congress was punctuated by vivid and colourful presentations from different areas of Kenya.

The Convention also received a message of solidarity from the African Union, sent by H.E. Ambassador Minata Samate Cessouma, AU’s Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, which was read by His Majesty Dr. Robinson Tanyi, King of the Tinto Mbuo region, Cameroon and President of AIGC. 

Among the officials who also welcomed the delegates to the Convention were His Royal Highness Paul Sande Emolot Papa Emorimor III, King of Ateker Iteso, East Africa; His Majesty Nabongo Peter Mumia II, King of Wanga Kingdom, Kenya; the Hon. Onyiego Silvanus Osoro MP and Majority Chief Whip; Ms. Anne Mwita, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mr. Mahmood Noor, representing H.E Abdulswamad Shariff Nasssir, Governor of Mombasa.

AIDO NETWORK INTERNATIONAL FIFTH ANNUAL CONVENTION

DECLARATION OF MOMBASA ON HUMAN RIGHTS

We the African traditional leaders, government officials and civil society representatives from all the regions of Africa and the African diaspora in the Caribbean, United States, United Kingdom and Europe; artists, youth representatives, and people of concern, gathered in Mombasa Kenya on 24 – 26May 2023, for the AIDO Network International Fifth Annual Convention, and in the context of the observance of the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent (2015-2024), hereby issue the  Declaration of Mombasa on Human Rights:

PREAMBLE

Reaffirming our commitment to the principles of equality and non-discrimination contained in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948), the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (1981), the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (2001); the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination (1965) and the African Diaspora Declaration on Human Rights (2022);

Affirming our commitment to work together for equality, justice and respect for the human rights of African people, and to strengthening cooperation among key stakeholders in areas of mutual concern between Africa and the diaspora on human rights, reparatory justice and Pan-Africanism;

Recognizing thatracism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, Afrophobia and related intolerance deny Africans the enjoyment of the full complement of their human rights and negates the purposes and principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights; the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights and the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action and the International Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination;

Calling upon African governments and Traditional and Cultural Leaders,to give full support and consistent advocacy for reparatory justice for Africans in the diaspora and on the continent for o the crimes against humanity of 400 years of illegal trafficking in the trans-Atlantic trade in enslaved Africans and a dehumanizing system of chattel slavery in the Americas; disruption of social, political and economic structures in Africa; and colonialism, in keeping with the CARICOM Reparations Commission Ten Point Plan for Reparatory Justice;

Calling upon the United Nations to observe a Second Decade for People of African Descent supported with the necessary resources to give full effect to the goals and objectives of recognition, justice and development of African people;

DECLARE:

• Our resolve to build a united global Africa that is committed to the development and advancement of African people everywhere;

• Our intention to facilitate the return and reunification of Africans in the diaspora with their roots, by advancing a progressive reconnection agenda with emphasis on spirituality, cultural education and exchange, business and investment;

• Our unequivocal support for reparatory justice for Africans in the Diaspora and in Africa for the crimes against humanity and denial of their human rights through trans-Atlantic trafficking in enslaved Africans, slavery, genocidal acts and colonialism and the related legacy of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia, Afrophobia and related intolerance to the present day;

• Our resolve to continue to advocate for the enjoyment of the full complement of human rights of African people, consistent with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Done this 26^th Day of May 2023, Mombasa, Kenya

CONTACT: info@aidonetwork.org

In the Group is His Highness Paul Eganda, President AIDO, Her Highness Queen Grace Eganda, Dr Hilary Brown aka Queen Asianut Acom II from CARICOM Reparations Commission, Duke John Campbell Ochom of Jamaica, HRH Paul Sande Emolot the King of Iteso and Chair African Kingdoms Alliance, Queen Juliet Among Emolot, His Majesty King Dr Robinson Tanyi , the President AIGC, His Majesty King Peter Mumia of Kenya , Her Majesty Queen Mzilikazi III, His Majesty Dr. King MaKorani-a- Mungase IV of Pokomo Royal Nation, King Oscar Etute Teke of Cameroon, HRH Dr Ntshimberi Mashele of Embo Nation, Prince Phurma Dlamini of the Royal Zulu Nation, Prince Bimbo Roberts Foloyan of Nigeria, Princess Ulrike Pohlman Acom of Germany, Princess Filda Braun Lolem, The Lord Mayor Pandit Ubraj Naine of Guyana, Queen Kimberlene Lanier of America, Chief Muhammad Odinga Etori of Guyana, Princess Jenny Ghamachana Ikatekit of New Jersey, Princess Africa of Canada, Princess Tshepi Motloung of South African, Chief Samson Esudu, Hon. Millicent Odhiambo, QM Catherine Penda Atiang, Chief Robinson Rollingston, Prof. John Charles Okiria of Uganda, QM Carla Astaphan of St Kitts-Nevis Island, Chief Eric Phillips Simphosisulu of CRC, QM Anne Hemberger of AIDO Kenya, QM Yvette Harrod of Guyana, HE Margaret Aceger UK, Eng. Teddy Curran UK, Princess Brandy Mukasa AIDO, Christine Aceger, Chief Henry Lenga, Jackie Braimah, Amb. Ireneo Omositson Namboka etc