The Free West Papua Movement: From Dakar to Port Vila – A Relentless Struggle for Justice

In 1976, Ben Tanggahma, a courageous representative of the Free West Papua Movement (OPM) in Dakar, made a heart-wrenching statement to "Black Books Bulletin", an American magazine:

"The West Papuan independence movement has not received support from any leader in the world. None, except one: Léopold Sédar Senghor from Senegal. Until now, only the Republic of Senegal has given us assistance."

These words cut deep. They expose the painful truth: the world, including African nations, turned its back on the Melanesian people of West Papua, who had been brutally annexed by Indonesia in the 1960s. In a time when their cries for help echoed across the globe, they were met with deafening silence—except for one man, Léopold Sédar Senghor, the first president of Senegal.

At that time, Indonesia was riding high on its prestige. Under President Sukarno, Indonesia became the leader of the Non-Aligned Movement after the Bandung Conference of 1955. In the 1970s, with General Suharto’s rise to power, Indonesia became an important ally of the United States in the Cold War. In this moment of political alliances and global strategy, the suffering of West Papuans was invisible.

But for Senghor, there was no such thing as “invisible suffering.” To him, the oppression of black people was not confined to the shores of Africa. It reached into the heart of Asia and Oceania. He could not, in good conscience, ignore the cries of the West Papuans. The people of West Papua were, to him, part of the same struggle, fighting against the same forces of colonialism, imperialism, and dehumanization.

In 1976, Senghor took a stand for what was right—defying not just Jakarta, but the international powers that had chosen to look away. In Dakar, he hosted Melanesian nationalists from East Timor and West Papua, who courageously resisted Indonesia's forced assimilation. It was more than just a gesture of support—it was a defiant act of solidarity that spoke volumes about the values of justice, humanity, and hope.

Ben Tanggahma, sent by the Provisional Government of West Papua, shared a bond with Senghor—both devout Catholics, both men who understood the power of faith in their struggle. Senegal wasn’t just a diplomatic outpost for Ben—it was a symbol of hope in a world that seemed to have forgotten the West Papuans. From Dakar, Ben traveled, advocating tirelessly for his people, reaching out to African leaders, liberation movements, anyone who would listen. His faith, his commitment, was unwavering.

But then, in 1980, everything changed. President Senghor resigned. The man who had been the West Papuans’ last champion in the international arena was gone. Senegal, once a beacon of support, faded into the shadows. The diplomatic tides shifted. Indonesia’s influence grew, and the world turned a blind eye once again.

But the West Papuans did not give up. Their struggle for freedom is not a story of defeat—it is a story of defiance, of hope that refuses to die. Even in the face of betrayal, they have pressed on. In 2014, the formation of the United Liberation Movement for West Papua (ULMWP) marked a new chapter in their fight for independence. United with the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), the movement received support from the Vanuatu government, churches, and civil society across the Pacific.

In 2015, the ULMWP was granted observer status in the MSG—a small victory, but a victory nonetheless. It was a flicker of light in a long, dark struggle. The hope for full membership still burns brightly, fueling the unyielding march for justice. The West Papuans are not merely fighting for independence—they are fighting for their right to be heard, to stand among the nations of the world, to no longer be invisible. The world may have forgotten them, but the people of West Papua have not forgotten their cause. Their voices will not be silenced!