Flucht in die Unabhängigkeit: Sie tarnten sich als fromme Touristen

taz – die tageszeitungIndependentLeft19 hr. ago

In 1961, a group of 41 African students fled secretly from Portugal under the authoritarian regime of António de Oliveira Salazar. They were attempting to escape colonial control and later became prominent figures in Africa’s independence movements. The students traveled over 1,000 kilometers, crossing into fascist Spain disguised as devout tourists with forged passports. They sought refuge with communist pastors and eventually reached safe havens where they could organize against Portuguese colonialism. Many had studied in Lisbon at the Casa dos Estudantes do Império, a state-sponsored institution meant to promote colonial ideology but inadvertently became a hub for anti-colonial ideas. Among them was Henrique 'Iko' Carreira, who later fought in Angola’s armed resistance, and Pedro Pires, who later became President of Cape Verde. Their escape was aided by the French ecumenical organization Cimade.

Bias read (Left): The article frames the students’ flight as a heroic act of resistance against colonial oppression, emphasizing their role in Africa’s independence movements. It highlights their struggle against Portugal’s authoritarian regime and portrays their actions as politically motivated and morally justified