Amazigh community torn over World Congress site

09/10/2008

The Federation of Amazigh Associations in North Africa is undecided between a Moroccan or Algerian site for its 5th World Amazigh Congress. Arguments continue as the deadline approaches.

By Imrane Binoual for Magharebia in Casablanca – 09/10/08

[CMA] The location of this year's World Amazigh Congress has been disputed since the Algerian government refused to allow it to be held in Kabylia.

Just three weeks before the 5th World Amazigh Congress is due to begin on October 31st, the Federation of Amazigh Associations in North Africa is still debating where the event should be held.

The congress – originally scheduled to convene in Kabylia in July – was postponed after the Algerian authorities denied the group permission to hold it. Since then, several CMA member associations have been fiercely competing to host the congress.

"Following the ban imposed by the Algerian authorities on our 5th congress, a number of the CMA’s member associations in Morocco volunteered to organise this great international Amazigh meeting," said CMA President Lounes Belkacem.

CMA is an international NGO to defend the rights and interests of the Amazigh people. It was created in Saint Rome de Dolan (France) in 1995. The CMA brings together Amazigh cultural associations and organisations across the different countries of the Tamazgha (North Africa) and also within the diaspora in Europe and North America.

At the time of the ban, Belkacem tried to convince the Algerian authorities to allow the congress, but to no avail. On June 16th the CMA turned to the courts to force the wilaya of Tizi-Ouzou to lift the ban, but after three hearings the court decided it was "unqualified" to rule in the issue.

At one point in the federation's deliberations, the prime candidates to host the conference were Tamunt N Iffus and Tamaynut in Agadir, Imal in Marrakech, Asidd in Meknès and Touiza in Tangier. Sources say the CMA voted on August 31st in favour of the Asidd Amazigh Association in Meknès.

"Our application was supported by seven votes," said Khalid Zerrari, chairman of the Asidd Association and Vice-President of the CMA. "Only one vote went to Tangier, and there were two abstentions."

Fouad Al Omari, Chairman of the Twiza Association in Tangier, said although his association submitted a good offer, he accepted the CMA decision." They reminded us that the last CMA congress was held in the north of Morocco, in the city of Nador," he said.

Another reason that sealed the deal for Meknès, Al Omari said, was that the CMA wanted this meeting to show support to the Amazigh students detained in Meknès.

Despite the agreement, the question was reintroduced by former CMA President Rachid Raha, with support from the founder of the banned Moroccan Amazigh Democratic Party, Ahmed Dgharni. The pair insisted that the federation should consider the decision made at the 4th congress to hold the next meeting in Tizi-Ouzou in Algeria.

"According to CMA statues," said Raha, "it is the general assembly’s job to decide where the congress will be held. At the fourth conference, they made their decision, and the decision was that it would be held in Tizi-Ouzou. Only the federal council, apart from the congress, can change the venue. But the decision must be taken one year in advance."

The new argument created two camps; those in favor of Meknès and those supporting Tizi-Ouzou. Each side claims to have legitimacy on its side and is continuing preparations for the 5th congress.

"We have called the two sides together so that they can meet and find a solution which will maintain unity in the Amazigh ranks," said Mohamed Handaine, chairman of Tamunt N Iffus.

"We’re going to sit them down together round the table on October 11th and 12th in Agadir. The two parties have indicated that they are prepared to attend this meeting."

Since its first congress in Tafira (Canary Islands) in 1997, the CMA has held periodic congresses in Lyon (France), Roubaix (Lille, France) and Nador (Rif, Morocco).