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The African Presidential Roundtable 2009: Leadership Challenges of Land Reform in Africa connected former African heads of state, diplomats, industry leaders, and international dignitaries from three continents about the topics of land reform and property rights in Berlin, Germany.
This year’s Roundtable also took place against the backdrop of the 125th anniversary of the Berlin Conference of 1884, which precipitated the “scramble for Africa” among the European colonial powers that partitioned and took possession of Africa. In light of the 2008 electoral crises in Kenya and Zimbabwe, the discussion targeted land reform. The Roundtable set to honor individuals whose leadership has been critical to success on the continent. In keeping with the theme of promoting examples of leadership, two awards were presented: “The Distinguished Leadership Award in Journalism” to Ebony magazine and African Business magazine.
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Monday, April 27, 2009 |
(Pre-Roundtable)
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08:30 AM – 10:00 AM |
AAU Student & Faculty Breakfast with African Heads of State |
10:00AM – 5:00 PM |
AAU Students & Faculty tour of African-German sites and German government sites in Berlin |
| 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM |
Heads of State Private luncheon with President Horst Köhler, President of Germany |
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM |
Welcome Reception (Westin Grand Berlin Drachenhaus) |
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Monday, April 28, 2009 |
(Humboldt University Senatssaal)
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Time: |
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM |
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM |
Registration |
9:30 AM – 9:45 AM |
Call to Order
His Excellency Festus Mogae, former President of the Republic of Botswana, APARC African President-in-Residence, and Mo Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership recipient |
| 9:45 AM – 11:45 AM |
Session I: The Historical and Political Challenges of Land Reform and Property Rights
Discussant: Professor Mandivamba Rukuni
Moderated by His Excellency John Agyekum Kufour, former President of the Republic of Ghana and His Excellency Nicéphore Soglo, former President of the Republic of Benin |
11:45 AM – 1:45 PM |
Working lunch |
1:45 PM – 3:45 PM |
Session II: The Strategies and Models for Land Reform and Property Rights
Discussant: John Lamb, World Bank
Moderated by His Excellency Cassam Uteem, former President of the Republic of Mauritius and His Excellency Aristides Pereira, former President of the Republic of Cape Verde |
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Wednesday, April 29, 2009 |
(Humboldt University Senatssaal) |
9:00 AM – 11:00 AM |
Session III: Building a Consensus around Land Reform and Property Rights
Discussant: Moeletsi Mbeki
Moderated by His Excellency Karl Auguste Offmann, former President of the Republic of Mauritius and His Excellency Fredrick Sumaye, former Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania |
| 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM |
Working lunch |
2:15 PM – 3:00 PM |
Press Conference
Reading of press statement by His Excellency Ali Hassan Mwinyi, former President of the United Republic of Tanzania and His Excellency Festus Mogae, former President of the Republic of Botswana |
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM |
Closing Dinner (Westin Grand Berlin Unter den Linden)
Master of Ceremonies: Dr. Walter Earl Fluker, Leadership Center at Morehouse College
Welcome remarks by His Excellency Ketumile Masire, former President of the Republic of Botswana and Closing remarks by His Excellency Jerry Rawlings, former President of the Republic of Ghana |
The theme and focus for this year’s Issues Forum was “U.S.-Africa Policy: The Way Forward.” Together with eight African Ambassadors, President Fetus Mogae, APARC President-in-Residence, and Mo Ibrahim Prize Recipient; and Patrick Hayford, Director of the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa discussed U.S.-Africa relations; the impact of Zimbabwe, Darfur, Congo, and Somalia; and the expectations of Africans from the Obama administration. Discussants at the Issues Forum 2009: U.S. Africa Policy – The Way Forward included a selection of distinguished public and private sector leaders.
Among the participants, notable attendees included: Ambassador Ombeni Sefue from the United Republic of Tanzania; Ambassador Amadou Ba from the Republic of Senegal; and Ambassador Nathaniel Barnes from the Republic of Liberia;
Ambassador Lazarous Kapambwe from the Republic of Zambia; Ambassador Dr. Augustine P. Mahiga from the United Republic of Tanzania; Ambassador Charles Ntwaagae from the Republic of Botswana; Patrick Hayford, Director of the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa; His Excellency Festus Mogae, former President of the Republic of Botswana, APARC President-in-Residence, and Mo Ibrahim Prize Recipient; Dr. Edison O. Jackson, President of Medgar Evers College, CUNY; and
Mr. Ed Goldberg, Senior Vice President of Government & Consumer Affairs, Macy’s.
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Monday, May 4 |
(Medgar Evers College)
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9:00 AM – 10:00 AM |
Registration
Medgar Evers College
Founder’s Auditorium
1650 Bedford Ave |
10:00 AM – 10:05 AM |
Welcome remarks by Dr. Edison O. Jackson, President of Medgar Evers College, CUNY |
10:05 AM – 10:10 AM |
Welcome remarks by Mr. Ed Goldberg, Senior Vice President of Government & Consumer Affairs, Macy’s |
| 10:10 AM – 10:15 AM |
Welcome remarks by Ambassador Charles R. Stith, Director of the African Presidential Archives and Research Center |
10:15 AM – 10:30 AM |
Call to Order by His Excellency Festus Mogae, former President of the Republic of Botswana, APARC President-in-Residence, and Mo Ibrahim Prize Recipient |
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM |
A Statement on the Historical Context of U.S.-Africa Relations by Ambassador Charles R. Stith, Director of the African Presidential Archives and Research Center |
11:00 AM – 1:00 PM |
Break for Lunch |
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM |
Session I – U.S. Policy and the Post-AGOA Era: An Assessment of U.S. Policy on Africa under President Clinton and President Bush
Panel discussion moderated by Ambassador Charles R. Stith, Director of the African Presidential Archives and Research Center including African Ambassadors to the United States: Ambassador Ombeni Sefue from the United Republic of Tanzania; Ambassador Amadou Ba from the Republic of Senegal; and Ambassador Nathaniel Barnes from the Republic of Liberia |
5:30 PM – 8:00 PM |
Reception at Medgar Evers Atrium
1637 Bedford Ave, 3rd Floor |
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Tuesday, May 5:
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(Medgar Evers College)
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9:00 AM – 11:00 AM |
Session II – The Impact of Zimbabwe, Darfur, and Congo on U.S. Policy Towards Africa
Panel discussion by African Ambassadors to the United Nations including: Ambassador Lazarous Kapambwe from the Republic of Zambia and Ambassador Dr. Augustine P. Mahiga from the United Republic of Tanzania, moderated by Patrick Hayford, Director of the Office of the Special Adviser on Africa |
11:00 AM – 12:30 PM |
Break for lunch |
12:30 PM – 2:30 PM |
Session III – The Way Forward: U.S.-Africa Policy in the age of President Obama
Open discussion remarks moderated by His Excellency Festus Mogae, former President of the Republic of Botswana, APARC President-in-Residence, and Mo Ibrahim Prize Recipient |
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APARC