Should Africa refuse to pay its debts?

Monday 15 October, 7pm
Clement House, London School of Economics, Aldwych, WC2A 2AE.

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, and bring Sankara's ideas to a new audience. The event 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. This event seeks to bring together those within the Pan African movement and those involved in 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 their debts, rather than entering into negotiations for debt cancellation.

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.

Location: Room D502, Clement House, LSE, Aldwych, WC2A 2AE.
Map: http://www.lse.ac.uk/resources/mapsAndDirections/findingYourWayAroundLSE.htm
Nearest tube: Holborn.

Partners: Jubilee Debt Campaign, Rendezvous of Victory, the Pan-Afrikan Youth and Students Internationalist Link (PAYSIL), NUS Black Students Campaign.

More information
- Ibrahim Hamani Souley on Thomas Sankara: http://www.jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk/?lid=3642
- Christian Aid's report Enough is Enough: The debt repudiation option (January 2007): http://www.jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk/?lid=3435
- How you can get involved in Global Debt Week, 14-21 October 2007: see http://www.jubileedebtcampaign.org.uk/debtweek