A coalition of nearly two dozen independence movements from the Caribbean, Asia Pacific, and other regions have joined forces.
Parties and political movements advocating for independence from French overseas territories have come together to form the “International Front for Liberation of Last French Colonies” following a two-day meeting in Baku, Azerbaijan. They have pledged to unite in their opposition to what they call ‘French colonialism.’
These groups represent a variety of territories under French control, including the Mediterranean island of Corsica and islands in the Caribbean, Melanesia, and Polynesia. The new front also includes a party from the Pacific territory of New Caledonia, where unrest erupted in May over election reforms pushed by Paris.
The unrest prompted France to launch a “major operation” in the archipelago, located east of Australia, some 17,000 kilometers from France.
On Thursday, the movements signed a declaration establishing the liberation front and a for the project launched on the same day.
During the meeting, the newly formed front members “condemned France’s policy of racism and repressions” against the indigenous peoples of its overseas territories and set a goal of “harnessing the colonies’ efforts in the process of decolonization.”
The front was designed to become a “central platform” in the fight against what its members call French colonialism, according to Azerbaijani media that covered the meeting.
The meeting was supported by the Baku Initiative Group (BIG) – an organization established last year with the stated goal of supporting “anti-colonialist movements” and backed by Azerbaijani authorities. Baku had already hosted the leaders of French Polynesia’s pro-independence party in May.
The two-day summit was promptly condemned by pro-Paris parties in New Caledonia, which accused the pro-independence figures from the territories of being “in league with a foreign power” and “undermining the fundamental interests of the French nation.”
Tensions between Paris and Baku have escalated since Azerbaijan gained full control over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. The Armenian population of the area had long sought independence from Baku while receiving support from neighboring Armenia. Since the 1990s, the territory had existed as a self-proclaimed Armenian-backed entity. Last September, Baku reasserted its sovereignty over the region through military action.
Since then, Paris has developed closer ties with Armenia, prompting Baku to accuse France of bias.