SYDNEY — The Sahrawi flag was raised Friday in the Australian city of Sydney to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the proclamation of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, during a ceremony attended by Australian supporters and civil society representatives.
The event took place at Leichhardt Town Hall in Leichhardt, in the presence of the representative of the Polisario Front in Australia, Kamal Fadel. In his address, he stressed that the 50-year milestone represents a symbolic moment to assess the path of building national institutions and consolidating their international presence, noting that the republic is a full member of the African Union and is recognized by dozens of countries.
The speaker also reviewed recent developments in the issue of Western Sahara, highlighting international efforts aimed at reaching a peaceful and lasting solution. He reaffirmed the Sahrawi people’s commitment to their right to self-determination in accordance with United Nations resolutions and in line with the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice on the territory.
The ceremony forms part of a broader series of activities organized by solidarity groups across several Australian cities. In Melbourne, a dinner event was held on February 25 by the Australia Western Sahara Association – Victoria branch, attended by activists and supporters. Political researcher and activist Yelena Visentek delivered remarks describing her six-month stay in Sahrawi refugee camps, where she witnessed the ongoing dangers posed by landmines and war remnants in the region.
Meanwhile, the municipality of Yarra raised the Sahrawi flag above its municipal building, describing the act as an annual tradition maintained for more than a decade to mark the occasion. In Ballarat, the flag was also hoisted at a trade union headquarters during a ceremony attended by union representatives and members of solidarity associations, who voiced support for what they described as the Sahrawi people’s right to freedom and independence.
According to organizers, these events reflect the continued visibility of the Sahrawi cause within Australian solidarity circles and growing grassroots interest as the republic marks fifty years since its declaration.
