Representatives from former French, Dutch colonies hold rally in Baku For green and decolonized future

Representatives from former French and Dutch colonies across Africa, as well as overseas territories, staged a peaceful rally in Baku under the slogan “Solidarity with Green and Decolonized World!”

The rally, organized as part of COP29, aimed to draw attention to the intertwined issues of colonial exploitation, environmental justice, and sustainable development, Caliber.Az reports per local media.

During the demonstration, participants emphasized that true solidarity with a green, sustainable world is inseparable from the autonomy and self-determination of formerly colonized nations. They argued that the ability of these countries to achieve sustainable development is directly hindered by the legacies of colonialism, which have left them vulnerable to environmental degradation and economic exploitation.

The rally focused on protesting the ongoing extraction of natural resources by colonial powers such as France and the Netherlands, as well as the negative impacts this has had on local populations and ecosystems. Demonstrators criticized the historical and continued impoverishment of colonized peoples and the destruction of their natural environments, which they say are direct consequences of colonial policies and practices.

A key message of the rally was the demand for accountability. Participants called for colonial powers and multinational corporations to take responsibility for the restoration of damaged ecosystems, and for compensation to be paid for the environmental harm caused by their exploitative actions. They stressed that the legacy of colonialism continues to have lasting environmental and social impacts, which must be addressed through reparative actions.

In addition, the rally participants called for equal access to green technologies. They highlighted that many formerly colonized nations face significant barriers in adopting sustainable development practices, in part due to the lack of access to the necessary technologies.

Finally, the participants called for increased awareness and education in developed countries about the ongoing effects of colonialism, particularly in relation to environmental challenges.

By Vafa Guliyeva