Lamine Baali, who has been Polisario’s representative in Britain for much of the past 30 years, has left to become SADR’s Ambassador to the African Union in Addis Ababa. At a reception in the House of Commons, supporters reflected on past achievements, but also the Saharawi's ongoing struggle.
On December 10th the Western Sahara Campaign helped call together old and new friends to the House of Commons to say farewell to Lamine Baali. It was a great occasion and a fitting celebration of the contribution that Lamine has made to the creation of a campaign in favour of self-determination in Britain and Ireland over the last 40 years.
People gathered who had been involved in the British campaign since 1976. The contribution of many of them is recorded in Ken Ritchie’s history of the campaign that is now available. There was recognition of past achievements. Yet there was also a sense of deep frustration and sadness – progress towards securing justice for the Saharawi has been slow and is still elusive. But if we are frustrated and sometimes downhearted I think we should remember the quiet dignity that characterises Lamine’s contribution, the dire situation of the refugees in their long exile and the vicious occupation that the Saharawi suffer in their homeland.
Please join us and help us finally consign the campaign to history. Once the Saharawi have expressed their inalienable right to self-determination in a free and fair referendum we will be able to write the final page.
WESTERN SAHARA CAMPAIGN UK
The Western Sahara Campaign works in solidarity with the Saharawi people to generate political support in order to advance their right to self-determination and to promote their human rights.
Our role is to lobby the UK Government and the EU. You can help us to ensure the UK does not ignore the voice of the Saharawi people.
Follow the news about EU's illegal fisheries in Western Sahara
