The African Social Forum is an African social movement opposed to neo-liberal economic policies in Africa and what they see as the exploitation of the African continent in a framework of neo-liberal globalisation. The idea for the African Social Forum originated at the World Social Forum in Porto Alegre (Brazil) from 25 to January 30, 2001, upon the recognition that of the 14,000 representatives, only 50 were from Africa. The first Forum was held in 2002 in Bamako, Mali, with 45 countries represented. The Bamako Declaration approved at the 2002 forum include the following: