Activist highlights inequities of French colonialism at conference in Azerbaijan

One of leading critics of French neocolonialism, prominent activist Kemi Seba has said that French colonial policy has had a devastating impact on the African continent.

Seba made these remarks in Baku during a briefing for Azerbaijani journalists, Caliber.Az reports via local media. 

He highlighted that, as a French citizen, he has witnessed discriminatory attitudes toward African Americans since childhood.

"I have been both a witness to and a victim of neocolonial policy. I was born in France and have seen firsthand that they treat Africans badly. During my time as a journalist in Africa, I realized that France's neocolonial policy have a detrimental effect on the continent. Despite Africa's rich mineral resources, the local population cannot benefit from them, while the French oligarchy reaps the rewards of these riches," the activist said. 

“Baku serves as an ambitious platform for combating the injustice of French colonial policy. I am proud to be in Baku, a city that has become a bold stage for fighting against France's colonial practices. I want to see the French system weakened, and I can confidently say that I will support any initiative from Azerbaijan in this struggle against injustice," he stated.

Baku is hosting an international conference dedicated to discussing French neo-colonialism in Africa, under the auspices of the Baku Initiative Group (BIG).

The event brings together delegates from several African nations, including Senegal, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Guinea-Bissau, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritania, Zimbabwe, Niger, and representatives from France and Mayotte.

This follows the earlier Congress held in Baku on July 17-18, where leaders of more than 15 political parties and movements advocating for the independence of regions affected by French colonialism — such as Corsica, Melanesia, Polynesia, and several Caribbean islands — gathered. That Congress was organised by the People's Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe with support from the BIG.

The idea of the Congress came from political parties and movements that have long fought for the independence of France’s overseas territories. In addition to French colonies, three organisations from the islands of Bonaire and Saint-Martin, Dutch colonies, attended as guests of honour.

Over the two days of the Congress, participants discussed strategies for a coordinated and more organised struggle against French colonialism. They also examined effective practices for self-determination, fostering international awareness of the illegal actions and human rights abuses committed by the French government against indigenous populations in these territories.

The Baku Initiative Group, which was established on July 6, 2023, during the ministerial meeting of the Coordinating Bureau of the Non-Aligned Movement chaired by Azerbaijan, has played a crucial role in supporting independence movements. BIG has already organised up to 15 international conferences, including sessions at the UN headquarters in New York, Geneva, and Vienna, as well as in Istanbul and Baku, aiming to highlight colonialism as a persistent global issue in the 21st century.

By Naila Huseynova