Réunion independence movement pushes for sovereignty, end to colonialism at Baku forum

Residents of Réunion are demanding the return of island lands to their rightful owners - the local inhabitants.

Benjamin Clément, the coordinator of the Réunion branch of the independence movement "Ka Ubuntu", made these remarks at the international conference currently taking place in Baku, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

He emphasized that the people of Réunion are determined to intensify their historical-political struggle: "We demand compensation from those who took our culture from us. We reaffirm that we will put an end to colonialism."

During the forum called “Independence of Réunion: A look at France's Colonial Legacy and the Path to Sovereignty,” Clément has accused France of treating the people of Réunion as animals. "France used veterinary drugs on the people of Reunion," he stressed.

Clément described how women were subjected to unnecessary surgeries, with their children forcibly removed and sent to various locations. These children were also given new names and birthplaces, severing all ties with their families. Thousands of children were reportedly separated from their families in this manner.

Réunion, discovered by Portuguese explorers in the early 1500s, was taken by France under Louis XIV in 1642. The island still suffers from the legacy of colonialism, with France maintaining a dominant economic and political influence, impeding the island’s efforts toward self-determination and independence. The island faces high unemployment, dependency on French trade and investments, and limited local production.

To recall, an international conference organized by the Baku Initiative Group gathers representatives from the Reunion independence movement, anti-colonial leaders, human rights defenders, NGO heads, decolonization experts, and researchers.

The conference focuses on raising awareness of the ongoing efforts to secure recognition for Reunion Island's right to self-determination and exploring international legal mechanisms to support the cause.

Reunion Island, originally discovered by the Portuguese in the early 1500s and later claimed by France in 1642, continues to grapple with the economic, political, and social consequences of its colonial past.

Despite France's significant influence on the island, which affects trade, local production, and political autonomy, this conference aims to empower the people of Reunion to seek a future free from colonial constraints.

By Aghakazim Guliyev