Boumerdes (Algeria), August 20, 2026 (SPS) – The African Trade Union Unity Organization (ATUO) has renewed its steadfast solidarity with the Sahrawi people and their legitimate struggle for self-determination and independence, affirming that the legitimate rights of peoples, foremost among them the right to freedom and self-determination, do not lapse with time and cannot be subject to bargaining or political maneuvering.
This came in a statement by the organization on the occasion of the conclusion of the 14th edition of the Summer University for Executives of the Polisario Front and the Sahrawi Republic, hosted by the M’hamed Bougara University in Boumerdes province, Algeria, under the theme: “Self-Determination and Independence: An Inalienable Right.”
ATUO stressed that investing in the training of activists and developing their capacities at various levels and in different fields constitutes an investment in the future. It said this strengthens peoples’ ability to defend their rights, protects workers’ interests, and contributes to building strong institutions capable of carrying the message of freedom and justice.
The organization expressed its pride in the steadfastness of the Sahrawi people and their continued struggle for their national rights, renewing its support for its exercise of its inalienable right to self-determination and independence, in accordance with United Nations resolutions and the principles and provisions of the African Union.
In this context, it affirmed that the experiences of African peoples in confronting colonialism and breaking free from its grip have demonstrated that legitimate rights cannot be erased or overridden, regardless of how long an occupation lasts, and that the will of peoples remains stronger than attempts to impose a fait accompli.
The organization affirmed that the Sahrawi people is not alone in its struggle for freedom, dignity and independence, pointing to the continued solidarity of trade unions, workers’ movements, democratic forces and free people around the world with the causes of peoples fighting for their legitimate rights and rejecting injustice and colonialism in all its forms.
ATUO concluded that pressures and hardships, however severe, will only strengthen peoples’ determination to continue their struggles until they achieve their legitimate aspirations for freedom, dignity and independence.
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