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The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact: Telephone: (202) 546-7961,Email:,africaaction@igc.org

Event: Congo Independence 50 Years Later: The Continuing Pursuit

Today,
the Democratic Republic of Congo will observe its 50th year of
independence from Belgian colonial rule. While celebrations will take
place throughout the globe commemorating this golden anniversary,
Africa Action will join in solidarity with the Congolese Diaspora and
civil society groups from the continent to reflect on the successes and
challenges for the Congo to achieve full independence.

The event is scheduled to take place TODAY at the True Reformer Bldg's
Lankford Auditorium in Washington, DC from 2:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

WASHINGTON

Today,
the Democratic Republic of Congo will observe its 50th year of
independence from Belgian colonial rule. While celebrations will take
place throughout the globe commemorating this golden anniversary,
Africa Action will join in solidarity with the Congolese Diaspora and
civil society groups from the continent to reflect on the successes and
challenges for the Congo to achieve full independence.

The event is scheduled to take place TODAY at the True Reformer Bldg's
Lankford Auditorium in Washington, DC from 2:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

During the event Africa Action will highlight the hindrances to Congo's
continuing pursuit for peace and justice in the country. One hundred
and twenty years of resource exploitation, human rights abuses, and
subsequent humanitarian conflict continues to devastate the Congolese
people, making independence appear to be more and more of an illusion
than a reality. For more information on the Congo, visit Africa
Action's website here.

For a full list of speakers and guests from the Congo, available for comments to the media, e-mail michael.stulman@africaaction.org or visit our website.

Gerald LeMelle, Executive Director of Africa Action said today,
"The Congo's potential $24 trillion dollars worth of natural resources
is just one example of what could be an engine of growth and
development for the country, the African continent and the world,
however, for these results to be achieved there must be a sustained
peace and true determination of these resources by Congolese people."

Event details:

What: This event will offer
prescriptions to chart a way forward to a free and liberated Congo, and
examine its potential role within the African continent as a whole.

Where: True Reformer Bldg's Lankford Auditorium
12th & U Street, NW
Washington, DC, USA

When: TODAY
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
2:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Who: Sponsored by Africa
Action, Africa Faith & Justice Network, Congo Global Action,
Friends of the Congo, TransAfrica Forum, IPS' Foreign Policy In Focus

Africa Action is a national organization that works for political, economic and social justice in Africa. Through the provision of accessible information and analysis combined with the mobilization of public pressure we work to change the policies and policy-making processes of U.S. and multinational institutions toward Africa. The work of Africa Action is grounded in the history and purpose of its predecessor organizations, the American Committee on Africa (ACOA), The Africa Fund, and the Africa Policy Information Center (APIC), which have fought for freedom and justice in Africa since 1953. Continuing this tradition, Africa Action seeks to re-shape U.S. policy toward African countries.