Internationalism is built on solidarity

Message to Rojava from Sahrawi Solidarity Summit

The Sahrawi Solidarity Summit took place in early January 2025, in the Sahrawi refugee camps in southern Algeria, with participants from various countries. Among the attendees at the summit, held in Boujdour Camp near Tindouf, were renowned climate justice activist Greta Thunberg, who recently visited North Kurdistan, and communication scholar and writer Kerem Schamberger.

Participants from Palestine, Chile, Colombia, Spain, Germany, Sweden, Japan, Lithuania, Croatia, the United States, and Italy also attended the summit to show their solidarity.

A presentation on the current situation in Northern and Eastern Syria was delivered during the summit. The intervention included the Turkish state’s occupation attacks following the fall of Assad. A solidarity message from the Rojava Internationalist Commune to the people of Western Sahara was also read.

The struggle of the Sahrawi people 

The Sahrawi people have lived under Moroccan occupation since 1975. Many fled Moroccan army attacks to southern Algeria, where they have resided in five refugee camps they describe as “resistance camps” ever since.

The Sahrawi freedom movement, the Polisario Front, has been combating Moroccan colonialism through both military and peaceful means. The Polisario Front is a socialist-oriented movement that places women’s liberation at its core and maintains solidarity with other oppressed peoples’ struggles. This long-standing resistance has made the Sahrawis and their freedom organization, the Polisario Front, deeply familiar with the challenges and resilience required to fight against occupation and colonialism.

Reply from YPJ General Command

The Women’s Protection Units in North and East Syria responded to the message with a statement of their own:

The voice of the struggle of the people of North and East Syria has captured the attention of the entire world. In particular, women and peoples who advocate for freedom always stand enthusiastically behind the resistance of our people and the freedom fighters of the YPJ, QSD, and YPG. We, as the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), extend our heartfelt appreciation to the individuals, movements, and institutions that support our fight for freedom.

For a safe and stable world, we believe that all liberation movements must fulfill their responsibilities toward the cause of freedom, as this is a moral and humanitarian duty. Certainly, for comprehensive peace across the globe, the primary responsibility lies with active and revolutionary women. As the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ), with more than 13 years of struggle for the protection of women and society, our fighters continue to fight and resist with a sacrificial spirit, consistently strengthening their efforts. Today, YPJ fighters have become a global symbol and icon of courage and heroism.

The message of support from Sahrawi women sent from southern Algeria holds immense significance and value. From the depths of our hearts, we extend our greetings to all organizations that participated in this statement of support on behalf of all the fighters who resist on the frontlines of dignity against Turkish occupation. We especially salute the Polisario Front, which continues its struggle against Moroccan occupation. Peoples who demand freedom and fight across the globe find themselves facing similar challenges as freedom seekers. Just as in North and East Syria, where our people face attacks from the Turkish state, the Sahrawis in Morocco and many other communities encounter similar colonial policies. We are engaged in a shared struggle against the same authoritarian mindset. However, the unity of women’s and peoples’ liberation movements is what will ultimately dismantle the throne of power. With this belief, we call for the strengthening of these liberation efforts to achieve our shared goals of freedom and democracy.

In building a new Syria, the YPJ faces jihadist attacks that seek to restrict women in all aspects of life and firmly stands for the role of women in the new order. In the context of war, we remain steadfast in our decisions, unwavering, and determined to continue on this path. We extend our warmest regards to all those participating in solidarity movements with the women’s revolution in North and East Syria, and we specifically salute the Polisario Front as well.

The General Command of the YPJ

08.01.2025