French security detains Réunion activists returning from Baku, interrogate over visit

French security forces have detained representatives from Réunion Island, who recently visited Azerbaijan to participate in a conference in Baku on French colonialism’s impact on the island at Paris's Charles de Gaulle Airport.

The African activists used the airport as a transit point on their return to France

The French security forces questioned them extensively about the reasons for their visit to Azerbaijan, the details of their cooperation with the Baku Initiative Group, and the discussions held in Baku, Caliber.Az reports.

During this time, the representatives of Réunion were held in a special room at the airport and subjected to psychological pressure. After several hours, they were released.

On January 21, 2025, Baku hosted an international conference titled "Independence of Réunion: A Look at France's Colonial Legacy and Path to Sovereignty." Organized by the Baku Initiative Group, the event brought together representatives from the Réunion-based independence movement Ka Ubuntu, anti-colonial organizations, human rights defenders, and decolonization experts.

The conference aimed to raise awareness about the ongoing efforts to recognize the right of the Réunion people to self-determination and to explore international legal mechanisms to support this cause. Discussions highlighted the enduring impact of France's colonial legacy on Réunion Island, particularly in economic, political, and social spheres. Participants emphasized the island's heavy reliance on France for foreign trade and investment, the weakening of local production, and rising unemployment. Politically, France's governance models and institutional structures were noted to limit the Réunion people's right to self-determination and restrict their involvement in crucial decision-making processes.

By Khagan Isayev