Environmental Rights Africa (ERA), a Pan-African coalition of over 55 civil society organizations, has officially endorsed its newly elected Steering Committee (SC) leadership, marking a pivotal step in advancing a continent-wide environmental rights agreement and protecting environmental defenders.
The endorsement was formalized during ERA's General Membership Meeting on August 26, 2025, following the inaugural SC meeting on August 21. Ahmad Abdallah of the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms was elected Chairperson, with Saran Touré of Guinea's Plaidoyer Recherche et Renforcement de Capacités des ONG as Co-Chairperson, ensuring a balance of gender, youth, and linguistic representation.
The Steering Committee reflects ERA's regional and thematic diversity, with regional focal points including Saran Touré (West Africa, Guinea), Walda Keza Shaka (East Africa, Uganda), Olivier Ndoole (Central Africa, DRC), Thuli Makama (Southern Africa, Eswatini), and Ahmad Abdallah (North Africa, Egypt). Working Group leaders include Paul Mulindwa (Outreach & Advocacy, CIVICUS), Emily Kinama (Case Studies, Katiba Institute, Kenya), Lucien Limacher (Defenders Emergency, Natural Justice, South Africa), Fiona Iliff (Technical Drafting, ABA, Zimbabwe), Wanjira Mathai (Africa & Global Partnerships, WRI), and Philip Jakpor (Communications, Renevlyn Development Initiative, Nigeria). Francis Colee (Green Advocates, Liberia) serves as SC Secretary, with Alfred Brownell (USA/Liberia) as ERA's Lead Campaigner.
In his acceptance speech, Abdallah emphasized ERA's commitment to communities and defenders: "Our struggle is for farmers facing droughts, coastal communities battling rising seas, and indigenous peoples defending sacred lands. We will amplify these voices and work toward a binding African agreement to empower defenders and ensure environmental rights become reality."
Supported by international observers Joseph Burke and Elizabeth Moses from ALLIED, the Steering Committee will guide ERA's five-year strategy, mobilize resources, and push for a legally binding African agreement recognizing the right to a healthy environment.
The ERA Secretariat, based in Monrovia, Liberia, is led by Peter Quaqua (MRU CSO Platform), with Clement Voule (former UN Special Rapporteur), Dr. Tresor Makunya (University of Goma), and Radiatu Kahnplaye (Green Advocates) in key advisory and financial roles.
The statement noted that ERA's Five-Year strategy focuses on three pillars:"Expanding alliances and political momentum through workshops and outreach, Conducting 54 national case studies to inform a regional treaty, and Initiating formal negotiations for a binding treaty with technical and public support.
Looking Ahead ERA recently secured a USD 600,000 four-year grant from the Open Society Foundations. Lead Campaigner Alfred Brownell praised members' dedication:
"The enthusiasm and voluntarism of our members have sustained ERA through its formative years and will drive us forward in this new phase."
ERA is gearing up for advocacy at the African Climate Summit in Addis Ababa, the UN Humanitarian Conference in Geneva (September 29-30), and the Global Peer Learning Conference in Kenya in December, alongside ongoing engagements with the African Union, African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights, UN Economic Commission for Africa, and UN Environment Programme.
With renewed leadership, ERA is poised to unite Africa's environmental defenders in a powerful movement for justice and accountability.