Equipe Média
Lisbon, Portugal (November 28, 2024)
The 48th session of the European Coordination Conference for Support of the Sahrawi People (EUCOCO) will take place in Lisbon on November 29-30, 2024. Under the theme “Decolonization, a Referendum for Independence,” the conference aims to galvanize international support for the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination.
The Sahrawi people have endured nearly 50 years of Moroccan occupation of Western Sahara. Despite numerous UN resolutions and international legal rulings affirming their right to self-determination, the conflict persists. The conference seeks to highlight the ongoing human rights abuses and the exploitation of natural resources in the occupied territory.
EUCOCO draws parallels between the struggles of the Sahrawi and East Timorese people. Both nations fought for decades against colonial powers and authoritarian occupying regimes. The successful independence of East Timor serves as a beacon of hope for the Sahrawi people, demonstrating that perseverance and international solidarity can ultimately prevail.
The conference emphasizes the importance of adhering to international law and upholding the principles of justice and solidarity. By mobilizing global support, EUCOCO hopes to accelerate the decolonization process and pave the way for a free and independent Western Sahara.
The organizers pay tribute to the legacy of African liberation movements and the founding fathers of the Organization of African Unity. They recall the words of Amílcar Cabral, who emphasized that true African independence cannot be achieved while any part of the continent remains under colonial rule.
