BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 16. The Baku Initiative Group has strongly condemned the illegal detention of prominent activist and advocate for African peoples' rights, Kemi Seba, by French law enforcement, Trend reports.
According to the Baku Initiative Group, this unlawful action should be viewed not only as a blatant violation of personal freedom and human rights but also as pressure in the context of the struggle of African peoples against neocolonialism and the right to sovereignty.
"Kemi Seba is a significant figure who has fought against neocolonial policies and advocated for Africa's independence for many years. His detention, a violation of freedom of expression and political activity, once again proves that France is attempting to maintain its presence and influence in Africa through illegitimate means. Such actions demonstrate that the French state has not yet shed its colonial mentality and is trying to preserve its hegemony.
Kemi Seba is a political prisoner, and his detention is directly linked to his political activities.
The Baku Initiative Group calls on the international community, human rights defenders, and international organizations to condemn this illegal act and urges the French government to immediately and unconditionally release Kemi Seba. The freedom of movement for every individual is a fundamental right that must be respected, and no state has the authority to unlawfully restrict this right.
The right of African peoples to determine their future freely and fairly must be ensured, and any interference in their sovereignty must be categorically rejected.
We, the Baku Initiative Group, view this incident as a manifestation of the ongoing neocolonial policies of France in Africa and call for a demonstration of global solidarity to initiate a genuine decolonization process in the region," the statement reads.