Question 1 :- Louis-Georges Tin, you are the Prime Minister of the State of the African Diaspora. Could you introduce yourself ?
Prime Minister :- I was borne in Martinique, in the French West Indies. My ancestors were African people, enslaved and deported to the colonies in the Caribbean islands. I made a Phd in French literature, and I used to teach literature at the university. With some other friends, I launched the French national black organisation in 2005 (CRAN), and was the president of it until 2017. It is an antiracist and anticolonialist organisation, working against discrimination and for reparation. After all our achievements, I received a mandate from the president of the African Union to build a structure for the African Diaspora, that is why we have launched the State of African Diaspora, which is basically panafricanism in action.
Question 2 :- What is your vision of panafricanism ?
Prime Minister :- Panafricanism is a great vision for all Africans, on the continent, but also in the Diaspora. The Diaspora was often forgotten or left behind. However, the Africans who were deported never forgot their origins. The true panafricanism is when all the familly is connected. The Diaspora needs to contribute, to invest. This is how we will reinforce each other.
Question 3 :- Who is your favourite character in Panafrican history, and why ?
Prime Minister :- It is definitly Elizabeth Freeman. A slave in Massasuchetts, she decided to sue her master. At the end of the trial, she received emancipation and reparation. That happened in 1781, more than eighty years before the 13th amendment voted under Lincoln, in 1865. This is quite an unsung hero ! If this wonderful woman could get reparation alone at a time of slavery, why should we be unable to get it now that we have all these ressources ? She is an example for all of us !
Question 4 :- With the onset of technology and investment in Africa, how do you see Africa and the Diaspora in the 21st Century ?
Prime Minister :- We simply need to be number 1. This is our goal. And it is quite possible in fact. If Africa was a unique country, it would be the 6th power in the world, exactly like India -we have the same population, and the same GDP. If we include the diaspora, it is the 3rd power in the world. And if we could stop the bleeding (all the gold, diamants, oil, stolen every year), we could be the first power in the world. So this has to be our objective for the next 50 years.
Question 5 :- What initiatives and projects have manifested through your position within the State of the African Diaspora ?
Prime Minister :- My first work was to create the State, litterally : the Constitution, the Government, the Parliament, the Ambassadors. That is huge. But now, we have a great team. We just need to implement all the programs of action. I would like to give some examples :
-infrastructure. We have signed a MOU with the India-Japan Partnership to create a corridor in Eastern Africa, which is basically a railway, with thousands of farms and smart cities. That will develop all the region.
-agriculture. With our partners, we are creating the West African Commodity Exchange. It is based in Western Africa, we have more than 6 million members in more than 17 countries in the region. Often, people grow food in Africa, but prices are decided out of Africa. With this commodity exchange, they will be able to fix the prices themselves.
-culture. After our lobbying efforts, a resolution was voted in the European Union. The Parliament is asking all the Eurpean states to make policies on restitution and reparation connected to colonisation and slavery. We are now discussing with the commissioner of culture to implement this decision. All the countries which want to get their legacy back can contact us. https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/B-8-2019-0212_EN.html
-youth. Invited as a guest speaker for the World Youth Summit in Ghana, in March, I will launch the Panafrican Agency for Internships, to help young people to find internships, which is the first step to find a job. Also, we will launch 12,500 scholarships for the best Panafrican young students.
Question 6 :- What are you planning to do in the future for the State of the African Diaspora ?
Prime Minister :- To reinforce all these programs of action. Our aim : to strenghten African through the Diaspora, and the Diaspora through Africa.
