President Lula da Silva Called to Recognize the Sahrawi Republic
BY: Hana Saada
ALGIERS- August 17, 2023– In a significant development, several of Brazil’s prominent trade union organizations have jointly issued a heartfelt appeal to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, urging him to officially recognize the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). This call for recognition comes after a pivotal meeting between trade union representatives and Ahmed Moulay, the envoy of the Polisario Front in Brazil. With a united voice, the unions underscored the critical importance of this move as a catalyst for resolving ongoing conflicts and fostering tranquility in the volatile North African region.
In a letter jointly authored by the Central Única dos Trabalhadores (CUT), Força Sindical, the General Confederation of Workers (CGT), Central dos Trabalhadores e Trabalhadoras do Brasil (CTB), Nova Central Sindical de Trabalhadores (NCST), and the Central Brasileira de Sindicatos (CBS), the trade unions detailed their well-considered stance. The document not only elucidates the historical complexities of the Western Sahara conflict but also emphatically throws its weight behind the Sahrawi people’s fundamental right to self-determination and independence.
The Polisario Front’s representative, Ahmed Moulay, provided a comprehensive overview of the political, legal, and historical context surrounding the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. This insight served as a crucial backdrop for the trade unions’ endorsement of Brazil’s recognition of the SADR. In their collective view, this diplomatic gesture has the potential to be a pivotal instrument in steering the ongoing conflict towards a peaceful resolution and engendering stability across the North African region.
The trade unions’ open letter to President Lula da Silva is reflective of the progressive and humanitarian values that have long underpinned their advocacy efforts. Recognizing the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is not merely a symbolic gesture, but a concrete step towards upholding international justice and addressing a protracted issue that has left the Sahrawi people in a state of uncertainty for decades.
