Mostaganem (Algeria), July 5, 2025 (SPS) – The official launch of the Sahrawi Women's Festival took place on Saturday evening in Mostaganem province. The festival will run for four days and is hosting a Sahrawi delegation of around 400 participants from various the Sahrawi state and Polisario Front institutions.
The event, organized by the Algerian Free Student Union and hosted by Abdelhamid Ibn Badis University, under the supervision of the Algerian National Observatory, was attended by the provincial authorities of Mostaganem, headed by the Secretary-General of the Province, as well as Algerian student bodies and civil society organizations.
Mr. Belmakfi Farouk, Secretary-General of the Free Student Union, reiterated his student organization's stance on the just Sahrawi cause, emphasizing that it stems from Algeria's firm positions on just causes, foremost among them the Sahrawi issue.
Mr. Farouk added that the festival will include workshops, seminars, and training courses supervised by Algerian professors and specialists, in addition to workshops and seminars focusing on the human rights and humanitarian aspects of Sahrawi women.
Speaking on behalf of His Excellency Governor Ahmed Boudouh, the Secretary-General of Mostaganem Province reaffirmed Algeria's unwavering support for the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination and independence, noting that the Sahrawi people, through their struggle and legitimate aspirations, will achieve freedom and independence.
For his part, the Dean of Mostaganem University extended his greetings to the Sahrawi people, commending their legitimate struggle for freedom and self-determination.
Ms. Ankia Salem, member of the National Secretariat of the Polisario Front in charge of the Secretariat of the Political Organization, Mass Organizations, and Civil Society, who heads the Sahrawi delegation, congratulated Algeria, its government, and its people on the occasion of the 63rd anniversary of Independence and Youth Days.
She added that the choice to organize this women's student event concurrently with the Independence and Youth Days' anniversary explicitly confirms the inevitable victory for the just Sahrawi cause and its people's right to freedom and independence.
She pointed out that choosing the festival's slogan, "Memory, Identity, and Struggle," is an opportunity to recall and value the contributions of Sahrawi women and their pivotal role in policymaking, as well as their ability to assume responsibility in vital areas where they have proven their capability as effective partners in management, such as health, education, and administration. She also highlighted the importance of drawing lessons and benefiting from the rich experience of Algerian women.
The event will feature lectures delivered by Algerian and Sahrawi speakers, addressing topics related to the human rights and humanitarian situation of Sahrawi women and civil society activities. These include the role of Sahrawi women in institution-building, a workshop on human rights supported by live testimonies from the delegation from the occupied cities, a joint workshop on the role of media, a workshop on Sahrawi identity and culture, and a joint workshop on civil society.
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