Congolese Solidarity Campaign Statement on our Twentieth Anniversary

2 October 2025

Congratulatory Statement on the Twentieth Anniversary of Abahlali baseMjondolo

Abahlali baseMjondolo you are such an Inspirational tool to many rejected communities in societies around the globe.
The Congolese Solidarity Campaign extends heartfelt congratulations to Abahlali baseMjondolo on reaching the remarkable milestone of 20 years since your inception.

Through your powerful statements, we perceive the deep pain stemming from the persecution you continue to face. You have resolutely confronted the challenges faced by the most vulnerable members of South African society, inspiring not only those within your nation but also countless individuals beyond your borders.

Our movement, the Congolese Solidarity Campaign, drew inspiration from Abahlali baseMjondolo in 2014. In every communication, we acknowledge how your journey has guided us to understand the struggles of the marginalised and engage in community movements. Your words resonate with the pain of those overlooked, even by social movements that aim to uplift workers yet neglect that every worker is part of a broader community.

One pivotal lesson from Abahlali baseMjondolo is the paramount importance of self-organisation and the courage to rise above the fear of judgment from those who presume to possess the sole authority to mobilise. Today, our societies are engaged in a vital struggle for the inclusion of the impoverished and uneducated in the decision-making processes that impact their communities. This stands in stark contrast to the exclusion enforced by the educated and political elite who wrongly claim the right to speak for the marginalised instead of enabling them to articulate their own needs. Abahlali baseMjondolo has revolutionised this dynamic by centring the needs of the poorest in every decision, empowering them to lead the change they envision.

The Congolese Solidarity Campaign finds profound inspiration in you, Abahlali baseMjondolo. We aspire to ignite the same transformative energy and determination in our own nation.

Congratulations once again on this significant milestone. Thank you for being a beacon of inspiration as we pledge to carry forth the same struggle in the DRC, working to free our people from the shackles of poverty and ignorance.

Amandla.

On behalf of the Congolese Solidarity Campaign,

Shomari Mukandjwa,
Spokesperson
073 365 2191

Raphaël Bahebwa Kabambire
Chairperson
068 226 9355