Johannesburg (South Africa) 27 July 2025 (SPS) – The President of the Republic of Namibia and leader of the SWAPO Party, H.E. Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, reaffirmed her country’s strong and unconditional support for the just struggle of the Sahrawi people during her address at the Liberation Movements’ Summit, held in Johannesburg from July 26 to 28.
President Nandi-Ndaitwah emphasized that the struggle of Africa’s liberation movements remains incomplete as long as colonialism and injustice persist, particularly in Western Sahara and Palestine.
“We are here today,” she declared, “inspired by our shared history and commitment to the ideals of freedom and justice that have united us in the past, and continue to guide our collective journey towards an Africa free from oppression, inequality, and discord — the Africa we want.”
She reminded the summit that while many African liberation movements have achieved political freedom, the aspirations of the Sahrawi and Palestinian peoples remain unfulfilled.
“While we have achieved our political freedom and independence,” she stated, “we are reminded of the plight of the people of Western Sahara and Palestine to exercise their right to self-determination, sovereignty, and freedom.”
In this context, the Namibian President reiterated SWAPO’s firm position of solidarity with the Sahrawi people and called for immediate international intervention.
“I reiterate the SWAPO Party's strong solidarity with their respective causes and demand for urgent international action to respond positively to ending the suffering and injustice meted out against the people of Western Sahara and Palestine,” she said.
Her remarks were met with broad support and appreciation from the participating delegations, who praised her speech as a sincere expression of African solidarity and the unity of struggles for justice across the continent and beyond.
The Liberation Movements’ Summit continues through July 28, with discussions focused on strategies to resist neocolonialism, strengthen South-South cooperation, and advance the rights of all oppressed peoples.
The Sahrawi Republic and Polisario Front were represented in this high-level conference by the Sahrawi Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mohamed Yeslem Beisat.
The Sahrawi Minister gave a speech yesterday during the works of the Summit, emphasizing that the same old colonial forces that colonized African nations are still supporting neo-colonialism in Western Sahara, and asserting that the Sahrawi people are willing to continue the liberation struggle until the achievement of independence.
The Sahrawi minister held various meetings on the sideline of the Summit with heads of delegations, whom he briefed about the latest developments of the Sahrawi cause.
The head of the Sahrawi delegation also attended a dinner hosted by the President of South Africa, Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, which was attended by the heads of delegations of the participating liberation movements. (SPS)
090/500/60 (SPS)
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