Baku Initiative Group challenges colonial legacies, extends support to Dutch territories

The Baku Initiative Group (BIG) is actively supporting independence movements not only in French colonies but also in Dutch territories, according to Abbas Abbasov, the executive director of BIG.

Speaking at the international conference titled “Independence of Réunion: A look at France's Colonial Legacy and the Path to Sovereignty,” in Baku, Abbasov clarified that the group's mission is not aimed at the French people or the French state, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

Instead, BIG is focused solely on the issues facing colonized territories.

"We are fighting colonialism in all its forms, and that includes supporting liberation movements on the island of Bonaire, which is under colonial administration by the Netherlands," Abbasov stated.

He further emphasized that despite accusations of bias against France, BIG remains committed to raising awareness of the struggles faced by colonized peoples around the world.

"We will continue to highlight the issues of colonized nations and bring them to the attention of the global community," he added.

To recall, Reunion Island, a French overseas department located in the Indian Ocean, has a complex colonial history. Initially discovered by Portuguese explorers in the early 1500s, it was seized by France in 1642 during the reign of Louis XIV and named Bourbon Island. France established its first permanent colony on the island three years later.

Despite its official integration into France as an overseas department, the colonial legacy remains a significant influence on Reunion Island’s economic, political, and social landscape. The island's reliance on France for foreign trade and investment has hindered local economic development, while high unemployment rates continue to affect the population. Politically, France's governance structures limit the islanders' ability to determine their own future and restrict their participation in key decisions.

The ongoing efforts for self-determination aim to challenge this legacy and seek international recognition for Reunion's right to autonomy. This issue is central to the discussions at the international conference on "Reunion Independence," which highlights the legal and political mechanisms needed to support the islanders' aspirations for sovereignty.

By Aghakazim Guliyev