Corte declaration adopted against France's colonial exploitation mechanisms

The 44th edition of the International Days event, organized by Nazione, a political movement advocating Corsica's independence, has been held in the Corsican city of Corte, Report informs, citing the Baku Initiative Group (BIG).

Representatives of the International Decolonization Front also attended the event. The organization was established in Baku in July 2024 with the support of BIG and brings together political parties and movements advocating independence for overseas territories under French and Dutch colonial administration.

At the conclusion of the event, the International Decolonization Front adopted the "Corte Declaration."

The declaration stated that the same mechanisms of colonial exploitation are being applied across various territories under French rule, allegedly violating the fundamental rights and sovereignty of indigenous peoples. It accused France's economic policies of exploiting local resources, creating artificially high living costs and contributing to mass unemployment, forcing young people to leave their homelands, emigrate or depend on social benefits.

The declaration also alleged that land belonging to local populations has been confiscated with the support of France's judicial system, while speculation serving foreign interests has been facilitated. It further accused French authorities of pursuing "settler colonization" aimed at altering the demographic structure and turning indigenous peoples into minorities in their own territories.

The document also criticized the treatment of peaceful anti-colonial activists and resistance movements, alleging that French authorities have used unlawful force and criminalized activists. It further referred to the chlordecone pesticide contamination in Martinique and Guadeloupe, accusing Paris of creating a climate of impunity by concealing the environmental and humanitarian scandal through legal proceedings.

The International Decolonization Front called on France to immediately end what it described as attempts to deny the national and political existence of peoples in New Caledonia (Kanaky), Corsica and other regions through processes including the Bougival agreements and the Beauveau process.

The Front declared that each of these territories represents a distinct nation with historical legitimacy and the right to self-determination under international law.

Citing UN General Assembly Resolution 75/123, which calls for the complete elimination of colonialism, the Front said it would expand its legal, diplomatic and political efforts globally to have overseas territories under French colonial rule restored to the UN's official list of territories requiring decolonization.

The organization said it would continue pursuing this collective strategy without interruption.