Sahrawi Youth Pledge to Continue Struggle for Independence (Forum)
Participants at the International Youth Forum of Solidarity with Western Sahara, which commenced on Friday in Bilbao, have affirmed their commitment to supporting the Sahrawi people’s ongoing fight for freedom and independence through all available means.
“Our role as Sahrawi youth is to raise awareness of our cause and the suffering endured by our people among young people worldwide,” emphasized Salamou Ali Moussa, a Sahrawi activist and journalist, shortly before the forum began.
He noted that reaching this goal requires organizing such forums and meetings that, through various activities and workshops related to human rights and Sahrawi resources, provide an effective platform to advance this objective.
Additionally, the Sahrawi activist highlighted the significant context surrounding the forum, particularly marked by the European Court of Justice’s annulment of the association agreements between the EU and Morocco, which had been illegally extended to the occupied Sahrawi territories.
“This latest victory for the Sahrawi people demonstrates once again that Morocco has no sovereignty over Western Sahara and that only the Sahrawi people can exploit its natural resources,” he continued.
Ibrahim Chagaf, a member of the group “A Cry Against the Wall” (referring to the barrier separating the occupied territories from the liberated regions of Western Sahara), raised concerns about the dangers posed by this structure built by Morocco, which has led to numerous civilian casualties among the Sahrawi population.
He explained that the participation of this group of young Sahrawi volunteers aims to raise awareness among attendees about this critical issue, gather more voices globally calling for its dismantling, and advocate for the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination, as well as the return of Sahrawi refugees to their homeland.
Moreover, Ibrahim Chagaf pointed out that the group seeks to inform others about the dangers associated with the large quantities of landmines planted by Morocco along the wall of shame.
“Before the resumption of armed struggle between Morocco and the Polisario Front, our group organized visits to this area. Our activities included traveling from refugee camps to the liberated territories of Western Sahara, where we also set up tents and invited foreign delegations and media to highlight the largest and most dangerous wall in the world,” he stated.
He lamented that this wall remains largely “unrecognized” by the global community, denouncing the media blockade imposed by Morocco concerning this issue.
The third edition of the International Youth Forum in Solidarity with Western Sahara started on Friday afternoon in Bilbao, Spain, with participation from several delegations worldwide.
Scheduled to run from October 11 to 13 under the slogan “Youth Building Bridges for a Free Western Sahara,” the forum is expected to welcome between 190 and 220 participants representing around ten countries from Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America, according to the organizers.
