Mexico City, 10 October 2026 (SPS) – Former Colombian President Gustavo Petro visited the Embassy of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in Mexico City, accompanied by former Colombian Foreign Minister María Ángela Holguín Cuéllar and Senator Gloria Flórez, in a gesture of solidarity with and support for the Sahrawi people’s cause.
During the meeting, the delegation expressed its support for the struggle of the Polisario Front and the Sahrawi Republic, as well as for the Sahrawi people’s right to self-determination and independence.
Following the visit, Gustavo Petro published a message on social media recalling the historical ties between Colombia and the Sahrawi Republic, the unfinished decolonization process, and the consequences of Morocco’s occupation of Western Sahara, including the repression and persecution suffered by the Sahrawi people.
Petro noted that former Colombian President Belisario Betancur had established relations with the Sahrawi Republic. He also recalled that the United Nations provides for a referendum on self-determination in Western Sahara, which has yet to be held.
Petro further highlighted decisions taken during his presidency to strengthen diplomatic relations with the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and facilitate the opening of its embassy in Colombia.
The former Colombian president also condemned the napalm bombings suffered by the Sahrawi people, the displacement of a large part of the population, and the lengthy prison sentences imposed on young Sahrawis for demanding independence for their homeland.
Petro also addressed the severance of diplomatic relations between Colombia and the Sahrawi Republic by the government of Abelardo de la Espriella, questioning the reasons behind that decision.
The visit represents a further expression of political support for the Sahrawi cause and underscores the importance of continued international solidarity with the Sahrawi people in their struggle to exercise their inalienable right to self-determination and independence, in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter.
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