Naples (Italy), May 14, 2025 (SPS) – The "TIRIS ODV" Association organized Tuesday a conference in support of the just cause of the Sahrawi people at the Caratteri Hall of the Foqus Foundation in Naples’ historic Montecalvario district.
Titled “The Sahrawi People and Colonialisms,” the conference featured a notable contribution from historian Francesco Correale, a researcher at CNRS Tours (France) and one of Europe’s leading experts on the colonial history of North Africa and Western Sahara. Correale provided a thorough and well-documented analysis of the historical roots of colonialism in the region, emphasizing “how these power structures continue to shape contemporary political dynamics, perpetuating injustices against the Sahrawi people.” The discussion centered on the protracted and complex decolonization process of Western Sahara and the persistent denial of the Sahrawi people’s inalienable right to self-determination.
One of the most impactful speeches came from Fátima Mahfud, the Polisario Front’s Representative in Italy, who gave a firsthand account of the Sahrawi people’s resistance against Moroccan occupation and their decades-long wait for a self-determination referendum—promised but never delivered since Spain’s withdrawal in 1975.
Following the presentations, an open debate and an informal networking session allowed for deeper dialogue among attendees.
