Fifty Portuguese Figures Endorse Western Sahara Self-Determination Referendum
Nearly fifty notable figures from Portugal, including diplomats, academics, artists, and public officials, signed a declaration on Thursday in Lisbon advocating for the right of the people of Western Sahara to conduct a self-determination referendum under the auspices of the United Nations.
The signing took place during the 48th conference of the European Coordination for Support and Solidarity with the Sahrawi People (Eucoco), which is being hosted by Portugal on Friday.
The declaration reflects on the historical context of the Sahrawi cause, stating that since the 1970s, “various international legal declarations affirm that Western Sahara is a distinct and separate territory from Morocco, awaiting decolonization, and recognize the inalienable right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination.”
The signatories drew inspiration from the struggle led by the Sahrawi people and their legitimate representative, the Polisario Front, against Moroccan occupation over the past five decades. They condemned the devastating effects of this occupation, including systematic human rights violations, the plundering of natural resources, family separations, and harsh living conditions in refugee camps.
In conclusion, the declaration articulates the solidarity movement’s call for justice in international relations to foster peace and development, emphasizing that decolonization will be achieved through a free and transparent self-determination referendum organized under UN oversight.
Among the signatories are Álvaro Boralho, sociologist and university professor; Ana Binavinti, retired university lecturer; Ana Dragoo, researcher; Ana Fernández (Kabikoua), artist; Ana Gomes, former ambassador and member of the European Parliament (EP); António Garcia Pereira; and Helena Rozeta, retired architect.
