Buenos Aires, Argentina - June 18, 2024
A new platform has emerged in Argentina, uniting professional journalists to support the Sahrawi people’s struggle for self-determination. The initiative follows the 1st International Media Solidarity Conference with the Sahrawi People, held last May in Sahrawi refugee camps by the Sahrawi Writers and Journalists Union. This conference is seen as the inspiration for the new network.
Fernando Duclos, known online as “Periodistan,” shared his firsthand experience visiting the refugee camps. He emphasized the importance of media advocacy for the Sahrawi cause and highlighted the International Film Festival (FiSahara) which took place alongside the Solidarity Conference. Duclos also discussed the network’s goals and challenges, stressing the need for dedicated efforts to achieve them.
Lorena Lopez, President of the Argentine Free Sahara Association, outlined the network’s objectives. These include securing Argentina’s recognition of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and breaking the media blackout on the region. Diana Lopez Villalobos, a correspondent for the Sahrawi News Agency, paid tribute to the late Mohamed Sidi Brahim Basiri, a significant figure in the Sahrawi struggle.
The event also saw participation from Mohamed Ali Ali Salem, the Polisario Front representative in Argentina, and Algerian Ambassador Lotfi Sebaaoui. Both praised the network’s initiative as a vital force in strengthening solidarity with Western Sahara.
The network aims to mobilize public opinion, combat misinformation surrounding Western Sahara, and advocate for the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination. Representatives from various media outlets and Argentine organizations pledged their ongoing collaboration to expand the network’s activities.
