On July 26, 2011, a meeting of the Communist Party of Benin (PCB), the Communist Party of the Workers of Tunisia (PCOT), the Revolutionary Communist Party of the Ivory Coast (PCRCI), the Revolutionary Communist Party of Volta (PCRV) and ‘The Democratic Road’ Organisation of Morocco was held in Tunis. The parties exchanged their views on the international situation, the tasks that it induces for the proletariat, the revolutionaries and the peoples of Africa and propose signing the Declaration whose content follows:
1) The crisis of the capitalist and imperialist system, which arose in 2007-2008, is a structural crisis that has called neo-liberalism into question and put the thought of Karl Marx on the agenda. This crisis is deepening, striking with full force the economies of the countries of the world, including the economies of developed countries such as Greece, Spain etc.
2) With the appearance in strength of emerging countries and the capitalist crisis, there is the exacerbation of inter-imperialist contradictions on the one hand and that between the imperialist powers and the emerging countries on the other hand, tending towards a multi-polarity in the leadership of world affairs, in contrast to the hegemonic unipolarity of the United States of America that existed since 1990-1992. This exacerbation of contradictions is leading to a redivision of the world with consequences of wars having their fields of operations in the neo-colonial and dependent countries. The recent intervention of the French army and that of other imperialist forces in the Ivory Coast to install one of their pawns (Ouattara) in place of another (Gbagbo), the current aggression by the forces of NATO, France, England and the United States in Libya under the false pretext of establishing a so-called democratic regime, thus undermining the legitimate aspirations of the Libyan people for freedom and democracy, are acts that confirm what has been said above.
The signatory Parties condemn these imperialist aggressions against the peoples of these countries and call for their immediate cessation.
3) Africa, which is the epicentre of the world inter-imperialist contradictions because of the huge mineral resources that it abounds with, is thus suffering full force not only from the effect of these inter-imperialist rivalries with the consequences such as wars, but also all the ills of humanity such as hunger, illiteracy, disease and backwardness of all kinds. Africa is the most enslaved of all the continents and its liberation from the imperialist yoke will be a decisive milestone in the liberation of all humanity. This liberation is looming on all parts of the continent.
4) The signatories Parties state that the major urgent challenge for the emancipation of the proletariat and the peoples of Africa is the formation of vanguard parties, particularly communist parties and the strengthening of their union based on Marxist-Leninist principles, which must be remembered.
5) The Tunisian revolution underway, which began with the flight of the dictator Ben Ali on January 14, 2011, has inaugurated a new era of the revolution in the world, and particularly in Africa. Its impact, which can be seen up to now in the world and in Africa (in Egypt, Morocco, Benin, Burkina Faso, Senegal etc.), show the proletariat and the peoples of the world and Africa in particular that by rising up, the people can get rid of all the powers including the dictatorial powers no matter how powerful they are.
The signatory Parties salute this great victory of the Tunisian people and encourage them to continue the fight until the completion of the revolution.
The PCB, PCRCI, PCRV, ‘The Democratic Road’ Organisation of Morocco and the other signatory Parties salute the PCOT for its important contribution to the movement that led to the overthrow of the dictator Ben Ali; they encourage it to continue along this road until the overthrow of the regime put in place by the latter and they assure it of their unwavering support for the achievement of this objective. They understand that the greatest support for the Tunisian revolution is for each Party to lead and carry out the revolution in their own country.
The PCB, PCOT, PCRCI and PCRV salute the struggle begun in Morocco by the February 20 movement to demand a democratic constitution chosen by the people. They denounce the repression by the Makhzen [royal elite – translator’s note] against the movement and express their full solidarity with the comrades of the Democratic Road and the February 20 movement.
The PCB, PCOT, PCRCI, PCRV, ‘The Democratic Road’ Organisation of Morocco and the other signatory Parties to this Declaration, call on the African communists, revolutionaries and patriots throughout the African continent to form themselves into real vanguard Parties particularly Communists Parties to lead the current and future struggles for the emancipation of the African proletariat and peoples so that they free themselves from the yoke of the imperialists and from capitalist exploitation.
Tunis, July 26, 2011
Communist Party of Benin (PCB)
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