Bolzano, February 18, 2026 – The Alexander Langer Stiftung today announced, at its headquarters in Bindergasse, the award of the 2026 International Alexander Langer Prize. The prestigious recognition goes to François Kamate Kasereka, a young activist from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), for his extraordinary nonviolent commitment to climate justice, human rights, and peace.

The Prize will be officially awarded at the "Euromediterranea" event series in b. The award carries a prize of €10,000, provided by the Stiftung Südtiroler Sparkasse, which has generously supported this important work of the Alexander Langer Stiftung from the very beginning.

A Bridge between Bolzano and North Kivu
Today's announcement marks the beginning of a journey that will reach its culmination in April 2026, when François Kamate Kasereka comes to Bolzano for the official award ceremony. The ceremony will take place within the framework of Euromediterranea – the event series that transforms South Tyrol's capital every year into a crossroads of dialogue and reflection on Alexander Langer's core themes. The encounter with the laureate offers an opportunity to explore in depth the dramatic situation in North Kivu – one of the most conflict-affected regions in the world – and to discuss ecological transformation and economic decolonization.

The Jury's Statement
In a region marked for decades by conflict, corruption, and the reckless exploitation of resources, François Kamate Kasereka acts as a tireless peacebuilder. The Foundation honors him for his ability to mobilize younger generations and displaced communities through movements such as Extinction Rebellion Rutshuru and the international campaign Debt for Climate. Kamate's work exposes the fatal entanglement between extractivism and war: North Kivu is the center of mining of the so-called "3T minerals" (tantalum, tin, tungsten) and coltan – raw materials indispensable to global technologies, yet whose trade often fuels violence and serves to finance armed militias. Through campaigns such as Fossil Free Virunga, Kamate fights for the protection of biodiversity in Virunga National Park and for a Just Transition that is not paid for by the Global South through debt and environmental destruction.

Alexander Langer's Legacy
Kamate's profile fully embodies Langer's ideal of a "socially acceptable ecological conversion." Both recognize that the environmental crisis and armed conflict are two sides of the same coin. In an era of "polycrisis," Kamate's nonviolent resistance answers the call to build a civilization grounded in the tandem of peace and justice. He demonstrates that change arises from below – through dialogue and the courage of global responsibility. The full statement of the Foundation's Scientific Advisory Board can be found at this LINK.

The Euromediterranea Programme
Laureate François Kamate Kasereka will be in Italy from April 10 to 27, 2026. He will participate in various events in several Italian cities in connection with Euromediterranea. In collaboration with local organizations and associations, various dialogue formats will be organized on the ground. From April 17 to 19, Euromediterranea will be hosted in Bolzano and Sterzing, followed by further stops in Trento and Rovereto. Further information on the Euromediterranea programme will follow shortly.

For further information: Elisabeth Alber, Scientific Advisory Board of the Fondazione Alexander-Langer-Stiftung, +39 338 963 3859, elisabeth.alber@eurac.edu