{"id":9555,"date":"2025-11-21T20:57:28","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T20:57:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/freeazawad.com\/?p=9555"},"modified":"2025-11-21T22:47:44","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T22:47:44","slug":"a-comprehensive-international-statement-on-the-azawad-issue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/freeazawad.com\/en_gb\/a-comprehensive-international-statement-on-the-azawad-issue\/","title":{"rendered":"A COMPREHENSIVE INTERNATIONAL STATEMENT ON THE AZAWAD ISSUE"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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By Khamidoun Ag Toumast<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Comprehensive International Statement on the Azawad Issue. The voice of a people facing injustice and demanding their full right to self-determination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Global Introduction, this statement is addressed to:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The international community
The major powers
The United Nations
International human rights organizations
Neighboring countries
*Free peoples<\/em> everywhere<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This statement seeks no justification, awaits no permission, and begs no recognition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is the voice of a people whose history has been stolen, whose land has been destroyed, and whose blood has been spilled. Then they were told to remain silent so as not to \u201cdisturb the stability of others.\u201d But we say it clearly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I will continue to shout when silence becomes betrayal. I will only be silent when words become meaningless. But the truth will not be silenced\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And Azawad will not be erased.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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First:<\/strong> Historical truth has roots that cannot be uprooted. Azawad is not an artificial entity nor a fleeting movement.
Rather, it is an ancient historical entity, based on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An authentic population presence.
A deeply rooted cultural identity.
Traditional social and political systems.
Economic and social ties that extend across the Sahara.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the colonizer drew its modern borders, Azawad was forcibly annexed to the state of Mali:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Without a referendum.
– Without consultation.
– Without respecting the identity of its inhabitants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And since that day, Azawad has been subjected to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

– Deprivation of recognition.
– Deprivation of development.
– Deprivation of representation.
– Deprivation of basic rights.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

History cannot be rewritten – not with opinions, but with facts. And the truth of history says:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The people of Azawad were and remain a people with a land, an identity, dignity, and a clear political will.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Secondly: <\/strong>The political reality is a systematic denial of rights. From 1963 until today, the people of Azawad have lived under:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Systematic repression.
Complete political exclusion.
Structural racial discrimination.
Attempts to erase identity.
Destruction of cities and villages.
Massacres.
Forced displacement.
Humanitarian blockade.
Prevention of aid access.
Economic and social strangulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These are not \u201cinternal problems,\u201d but rather state crimes, many of which fall under the categories of genocide and crimes against humanity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Malian state\u2019s insistence on denying the existence of the Azawad people is not a policy\u2026 but rather a blatant act of hostility towards truth and justice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Third: The legal reality is that the right to self-determination is non-negotiable.
International law is clear and explicit:<\/p>\n\n\n\n