Cautious Hope within the Horn of Africa

Launch of the series "reGain Space - The Future is Now!"
 

"We want to feel that we are living in a country that is giving back to us, and one that we are contributing to build.”-  Alaa Salah (22), face of the Sudanese protests, 2019
 

Looking at the media coverage, the political upheavals within the Horn of Africa are a success-story. But beyond the narrativeof “awakening” and the euphoria, many people in the region and diaspora look at the various challenges and competing interests with cautious hope. We want to listen to those, who tirelessly commit themselves and mobilize for democratic development.

We will discuss with activists from Ethiopia, the Sudan and Eritrea their strategies and perspectives, which motivate them to demand and help to shape political change in their countries – regardless of the many risks they face.

Welcome and Launch of reGain Space: Barbara Unmüßig, President, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Berlin

Talk with:

• Alaa Salah Ali Taha, activist and member of MANSAM (Sudan's Women, Political and Civil Groups), Sudan
• Weyni Araya, activist and member of united 4 eritrea e.V., Germany
• Mosaab Baba, activist and journalist, Ayin Network/ Sudan Archive, Sudan/Kenya
• Zemdena Abebe Areru, Pan-Africanist womanist, activist and founder of Africolors, Ethiopia

Moderation: Ulf Terlinden, Head of Nairobi Office, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Kenya and Kirsten Maas-Albert, Head of Africa Division, Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung, Berlin

Contact/Information
Maria Kind, Africa department, E kind@boell.de

The series „reGain Space – The Future is Now!“ portrays and focuses on the perceptions and experiences of African activists, who stand up for political participation, human rights, environmental- and gender justice in their societies.