"Don't Owe, Won't Pay": Exploring Sankara's Legacy
15 October 2007
On 15 October it will be 20 years since the death of Thomas Sankara, the President of Burkina Faso who called for repudiation of debts.
Jubilee Debt Campaign is participating in a public event in London to mark this anniversary and highlight Sankara's part in bringing the debt crisis to the world's attention.
Monday 15 October, 7pm
Clement House, London School of Economics.
15 October 2007 is the 20th anniversary of the assassination of former President of Burkina Faso, Thomas Sankara. Events are taking place around the world to mark the anniversary, which falls in both the Global Week of Action on Debt (14 - 21 October) and Black History Month. Sankara was a key figure speaking out about the negative impact of external debts on Africa, and this is a moment to bring together those within the Pan African movement and those involved the campaign for debt cancellation, to explore his ideas and the wider issues of indebtedness in Africa. One important issue is that of 'repudiation,' which Sankara advocated for African nations. That is, countries simply refusing to pay back the debts, rather than entering into negotiations for debt cancellation (see Christian Aid's 2007 report for more about this). Speakers will include:
- Kofi Mawuli Klu (Rendezvous of Victory)
- Ibrahim Hamani Souley (CAD-Mali)
- Stephen Rand (Jubilee Debt Campaign)
- Chaired by Gabi Hesselbein, Development Studies Institute, LSE
Nearest underground Holborn.
Partners: Jubilee Debt Campaign, Rendezvous of Victory, the Pan-Afrikan Youth and Students Internationalist Link (PAYSIL), NUS Black Students Campaign. >> Read an article by Ibrahim Hamani Souley from CAD-Mali about Thomas Sankara and debt
