African Crystallographic Association launched

On 17 November 2021, the African Crystallographic Association (AfCA) was officially launched during the 2021 joint virtual meeting of the African Light Source, the African Physical Society and the Pan African Conference on Crystallography hosted by X-TechLab. Representatives from the founder members in Algeria, Benin, Cameroon, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Morocco, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tunisia and Zimbabwe voted to constitute the Association, and elect the inaugural Executive Committee:

Delia Haynes (South Africa), President
Patrice Kenfack Tsobnang (Cameroon), Vice-president
Rim Benali-Cherif (Algeria), Treasurer
Gift Mehlana (Zimbabwe), Secretary
Marielle Agbahoungbata (Benin)
Seham Abdel-Aal (Egypt)    
Adam Bouraima (Gabon)    
Dickson Andala (Kenya)
Mamoudou Diallo (Senegal)

The objectives of the Association are as follows:
 

• to contribute to the advancement of crystallography and structural science in all its aspects, including related topics concerning non-crystalline states
• to promote African cooperation in crystallography and related areas
• to contribute to the development of education and research in crystallography and structural sciences in Africa.

The background to the formation of AfCA can be seen here. A full report will be published in the IUCr Newsletter in due course.