Baku: Young people in all French colonies, including R©union, New Caledonia, Guadeloupe, Martinique, and French Guiana, are experiencing rapidly increasing poverty, deteriorating physical and psychological health, and rising violence, stated Taristas Orlane at the international Youth Forum titled ‘Strengthening the Role of Youth in the Post-Colonial Era’ held in Baku.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Orlane highlighted the historical oppression faced by R©union, which she described as having lasted for 400 years. She emphasized that the youth in R©union experience this pressure daily. R©union, considered an African land under French occupation, is grappling with a 24% unemployment rate among young people. Similarly, Mayotte, a territory separated from the Comoros and now the poorest department of France, faces an even more severe situation, with unemployment among those aged 15-24 reaching 59%.
The forum served as a platform for discussing the challenges faced by youth in post-colonial regions and aimed to explore solutions for strengthening their role in society. The dire statistics shared by Orlane underscore the urgent need for addressing the socio-economic issues plaguing these communities.