Ernest Wamba dia Wamba
Ernest Wamba dia Wamba | |
---|---|
Personal details | |
Born | 1942 |
Died | 15 July 2020 Mbanza-Ngungu, Democratic Republic of the Congo | (aged 77–78)
Spouse | Elaine Wamba |
Alma mater | Western Michigan University (BA) Claremont Colleges (MBA) |
Ernest Wamba dia Wamba (French pronunciation: [ɛʁnɛst wɑ̃ba dja wɑ̃ba]; 1942 – July 15, 2020) was a prominent Congolese academic and political theorist who became a commander of the Kisangani faction of the rebel Rally for Congolese Democracy during the Second Congo War.[1]
Early life
Wamba dia Wamba was born in
Upon graduation from secondary school, he was one of three students awarded scholarships by the
During his period in the U.S., Wamba dia Wamba married an
In 1980, he accepted a position as Professor of History at the
In December 1997, Wamba was named a recipient of the Dutch
The Second Congo War
At the beginning of the Second Congo War against the government of Laurent-Désiré Kabila, Wamba was unanimously elected head of the rebel Rally for Congolese Democracy (RCD), which was backed by Uganda and Rwanda and based in the town of Goma. However, the RCD gradually split from November 1998 until 16 May 1999, as it became clear that Rwanda and its supporters' goals were limited to replacement of Kabila. Several attempts were made on Wamba's life during this period, coinciding with attempts to destroy his political power in the RCD.
On 16 May 1999,
Wamba was faced with an internal revolt by
The Post-War Period
Following the Inter-Congolese Dialogue that ended the war, Wamba became a prominent member of the new government. He spoke extensively on what was needed for the DRC to make a successful transition to a functioning democracy.
He continued to be politically involved and to write, and was a noted political theorist widely respected for, in particular, his innovative use of the work of the African-born Parisian philosopher Alain Badiou, whom he introduced to contemporary African political thought. Scholars of Africana like Jacques Depelchin, Michael Neocosmos[2] and Raj Patel[3] have taken up Wamba's use of Badiou's work.
A May 2008 article authored by Jacques Depelchin warned that there were new threats to assassinate Wamba.[4][5]
In the last years of his life, Wamba remained politically active, running reading groups with young activists in
Death
Wamba dia Wamba died on July 15, 2020, in a hospital in Kinshasa where he had been hospitalized for multiple days.[7] The cause of death has been reported as an asthma attack.[8]
Books
- Wamba Dia Wamba, Ernest (2005), "DRC: Globalisation, War and the Struggle for Freedom" in Manji, F., and Burnett, P (eds), African Voices on Development and Social Justice Editorials from Pambazuka News, Oxford: Pambazuka News Fahamu Books Archived 2009-07-22 at the Wayback Machine
- Wamba Dia Wamba, E., and ISBN 2-86978-052-4.
- Wamba Dia Wamba, Ernest (1994), "In Search of a New Mode of Politics in Africa" in Development in an African Perspective, London: James Currey.
Articles
- "Balkanisation and crisis in eastern Congo Ernest Wamba dia Wamba speaks to Pambazuka News" (2008). Published in Pambazuka News Balkanisation and crisis in eastern Congo | Pambazuka News
- "Congo" (2004). Published in Zmag zcommunications.org - zcommunications Resources and Information.
- "Democracy Today: The case of the Democratic Republic of Congo" (2007). Published in Pambazuka News Democracy Today: The case of the Democratic Republic of Congo | Pambazuka News
- "Zaire: From the National Conference to the Federal Republic of the Congo?" (2004). Published in Development Dialogue No.2
Interviews
- Interview with Ernest Wamba dia Wamba (2009). Published in Ota Benga Alliance Interview with Ernest Wamba dia Wamba | Ota Benga Alliance
- The Thought and Practice of an Emancipatory Politics for Africa (2022), An interview with Michael Neocosmos The Thought and Practice of an Emancipatory Politics for Africa
References
- ^ a b c Farewell Ernest Wamba dia Wamba, Peoples' Dispatch, 17 July 2020
- ^ For instance see the paper at http://abahlali.org/node/2826
- ^ For instance see the paper "A Short Course in Politics at the University of Abahlali Basemjondolo". Centre For Civil Society Research Report No.42.
- ^ "Assassination threat against Wamba dia Wamba and Kiakwama | Pambazuka News". www.pambazuka.org. 4 March 2016.
- ^ "Link to assassination warning on Ota Benga Alliance site". Archived from the original on 2008-07-03. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
- ^ Hamba Kahle Ernest Wamba-dia-Wambia, Abahlali baseMjondolo press statement, 16 July 2020
- ^ "Renowned Congolese scholar Wamba dia Wamba dies". The East African. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
- ^ "Digitalcongo.net | Décès à Kinshasa de l'ancien président du mouvement rebelle RCD Ernest Wamba dia Wamba". www.digitalcongo.net. Retrieved 2020-12-31.
External links
- Experiences of Democracy in Africa: Reflections on Practices of Communalist Palaver as a Method of Resolving Contradictions by Ernest Wamba dia Wamba, 1985
- Rally for Congolese Democracy, GlobalSecurity.org
- Who's Who in the Rebellion: Ernest Wamba dia Wamba, Northeastern University
- Conversation with Ernest Wamba dia Wamba Archived 2016-03-03 at the UC Berkeley, 17 March 2004
- Congo: The Transition - Interview with Wamba, ZNET, 22 June 2004