Congolese youth leader Ben Kabamba will provide an update on the Telema (Rise Up) movement in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. African youth from Senegal, Burkina Faso, Congo, and elsewhere on the continent have been rising up to demand a say in the affairs of their countries. They have drawn on the teachings and ideas of nationalists and Pan-Africanists such as Thomas Sankara and Patrice Lumumba to inform their movements.

Mr. Kabamba will focus on the January uprisings where mostly youth rose up to challenge entrenched western-backed leader Joseph Kabila. The uprising resulted in a loss of 42 lives mainly at the hands of government security forces. Scores were also injured. Mr Kabamba will provide an account of what transpired in the January uprising and what the ultimate aims are of the Congolese youth as it relates to the future of Congo and Africa.

Co-sponsors: Institute for Policy Studies, Friends of the Congo, and Impact Hub.

For more information email info@friendsofthecongo.org or call 202-584-6512.