Conference participants adopt declaration in support of Guadeloupe’s decolonisation in Baku

Participants of the international thematic conference “Towards the Decolonization of Guadeloupe! Challenges and Perspectives”, held in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku, have adopted a final declaration expressing support for Guadeloupe’s peaceful transition to sovereignty.

The declaration was read by Executive Director of the Baku Initiative Group (BIG) Abbas Abbasov, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

“We support the continuation of dialogue, cooperation, and the exchange of ideas among peoples and movements affected by colonialism. At the same time, we emphasize the importance of international platforms such as BIG, which play a critical role in amplifying the voices of oppressed nations and promoting the global decolonization agenda,” the declaration stated.

The document voices solidarity with the people of Guadeloupe and affirms support for a peaceful, just, and democratic process toward self-determination and sovereignty.

“We stress the need for inclusive dialogue, recognition of historical truth, cultural and linguistic revival, fair compensation, and the decolonization of institutions and educational systems to overcome the legacy of colonialism. We express strong solidarity with all peoples around the world still living under colonial domination and reaffirm our support for their right to freely determine their political status in accordance with international law. In this regard, we call on the United Nations, as well as relevant international and regional organizations, to support the decolonization of Guadeloupe, take concrete steps to reinstate Guadeloupe on the UN list of non-self-governing territories, and clearly articulate their position on this issue,” the statement said. 

The declaration concludes with a powerful message: “The future of Guadeloupe belongs solely to its people. We express our deep gratitude to Azerbaijan and the Baku Initiative Group for organising this important conference and for their invaluable support in advancing the global decolonization movement.” 

During the conference, Abbasov reiterated that colonialism will eventually be eliminated worldwide.

He emphasised that assimilation policies remain one of the enduring consequences of colonization: “The people of Guadeloupe continue resisting assimilation. In the future, colonialism will cease to exist. In a few years, the international community will become more aware of Guadeloupe’s language, religion, and unique identity — because we believe that overseas territories will achieve independence.”

Baku, which has become a hub for decolonization dialogues, hosted an international thematic conference dedicated to Guadeloupe, which remains under France's colonial rule.  

The conference, titled "Towards the Decolonization of Guadeloupe! Challenges and Perspectives," was jointly organised by the Baku Initiative Group (BIG), the People's Union for the Liberation of Guadeloupe (UPLG), the Guadeloupe International Movement for Reparations (MIR-Guadeloupe), the International Committee of Black Peoples (CIPN), and the Movement for the Birth of the Guadeloupe Nation (FKNG).  

The event brought together leaders of political parties and movements advocating for Guadeloupe's independence, heads of non-governmental organisations, representatives of academia, and others.

The conference focused on critical issues, including the status of Guadeloupe as an overseas department of France, which restricts the people's right to freely determine their political future; colonial crimes; historical injustices; the extermination of the indigenous Kalinago people; the exploitation of workers; and the existence of administrative and economic structures that perpetuate inequality and dependency.  

Other key topics included how the departmental status sustains colonial practices, contributing to unemployment, mass emigration of youth, social inequality, economic dependence, violence, environmental pollution, and the devastating impact of the toxic chemical pesticide chlordecone in Guadeloupe.  

The conference also featured in-depth discussions on bringing the Guadeloupean people's right to self-determination to the agenda of international organisations, utilising the United Nations' legal mechanisms on decolonisation, and addressing France’s non-compliance with relevant UN resolutions and the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.

By Naila Huseynova