Together with Don Moussa Pandzou and a broad coalition of diaspora and human rights organisations, Speaking is Gold invites you to an afternoon in solidarity with the victims in eastern Congo. Mobilising for peace and justice for the Democratic Republic of Congo is more urgent than ever.

Eastern Congo has been burdened by an ongoing war for more than 30 years that has already claimed millions of lives and forced even more people to flee. More than 100 rebel groups are active in the region. Recently, M23 rebels backed by the Rwandan regime have recaptured more and more areas in eastern Congo, including the major cities of Goma and Bukavu.

M23 rebels are conducting a veritable reign of terror there, where sexual violence and rape are widely used as weapons of war, in addition to arbitrary arrests, torture and execution of human rights defenders, youth representatives and journalists, not to mention the humanitarian disaster affecting everyone in the region.

The European Union is complicit in this violence because it supports the Rwandan government through various trade, military and other cooperation agreements, such as just last year with a raw materials deal. Indeed, one of the main factors driving this ongoing bloodshed is the West's appetite for raw materials for smartphones and other electronics. Belgium must play a leading role to straighten out EU policy and respect the human rights framework.

The afternoon will be opened by Ben Kamuntu, the award-winning Brussels slam poet hailing from Goma, who champions peace and justice in Congo with his committed word art.

Congo expert Sandrine Ekofo, policy officer of Broederlijk Delen, will comment on the current situation in eastern Congo. She will then talk to 11.11.11 policy officer Eva Demaré, and diaspora organisers Manassé Massuama and Bitshilualua Kabeya. Among other things, they will also discuss the many ways in which the Congolese diaspora works for their motherland and invite everyone to stand up for Congo.

Host and moderator of the afternoon is Reine Elisabeth Mbote and none other than MAHINA will close with an intimate acoustic concert. 

This programme was curated by Don Moussa Pandzou and produced by Spreken is Goud in collaboration with Yaya Yaba Leki, the Congolese-Flemish Community of Antwerp, Congolese Circle, Bambelle, Elonga, Amuka vzw, Tubakidi, Waka Waka Generation, Youth Zone, Mwinda Kitoko, Menji, Kif Kif, Intal and Broederlijk Delen, with support from Hand in Hand tegen Racisme and 11.11.11