Solidarity Across Borders: IPOB Leadership Meets Catalan Officials Amid La Diada Celebrations

 Solidarity Across Borders: IPOB Leadership Meets Catalan Officials Amid La Diada Celebrations Barcelona, Spain – September 14, 2025 – In a ...

 Solidarity Across Borders: IPOB Leadership Meets Catalan Officials Amid La Diada Celebrations

Barcelona, Spain – September 14, 2025 – In a powerful display of international solidarity for self-determination movements, a delegation from the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) convened with Catalan officials during the region's annual National Day, or La Diada, commemorating the 1714 fall of Barcelona to Bourbon forces. The meeting, held in a warmly lit conference room overlooking the bustling streets of Barcelona, underscored the shared struggles of marginalized peoples seeking autonomy and recognition.

The gathering featured prominent IPOB leaders from the Directorate of State (DOS), the movement's executive body, posing alongside Catalan representatives in a moment captured in a widely circulated photograph. The group, dressed in a mix of formal suits and casual attire reflecting cultural pride, held aloft a large white flag emblazoned with the iconic silhouette of a Biafran warrior a headscarf-clad figure symbolizing resilience and heritage. Beaded bracelets and traditional accessories adorned the hands of several attendees, adding a touch of Biafran flair to the scene.

"Thank you so much to the Catalan officials for meeting with IPOB leadership (the DOS)," read a statement shared across social media platforms by IPOB supporters shortly after the event. "IPOB leadership is committed. All Hail Biafra." The message, echoed in multiple posts from Isiah Uba a member of D.O.S

 and Biafra First Son, highlighted the IPOB's unwavering dedication to the Biafran cause.

The encounter took place against the backdrop of La Diada, Catalonia's poignant day of reflection on historical grievances and aspirations for independence. Earlier this week, IPOB delegates had joined public celebrations, pledging continued support for Catalan sovereignty in a statement published by People's Chronicles. "IPOB Delegates Join Catalonia’s La Diada Celebration, Pledge Ongoing Solidarity," the article noted, emphasizing the Biafran group's presence at key events.

IPOB, a self determination movement advocating for the restoration of the Republic of Biafra with a population of over 75 million people, has long drawn parallels between its fight and other global independence movements. Founded in 2012, the group campaigns against perceived marginalization and human rights abuses in Nigeria. Despite being proscribed by the Nigerian government in 2017 a designation contested internationally IPOB maintains a huge global network of supporters.

The DOS, led by figures such as Deputy Head of Directorates who addressed the IPOB family worldwide during a recent event in Catalonia, plays a central role in these diplomatic overtures. Their participation in La Diada events, including speeches and cultural exchanges, builds on historical ties; IPOB has previously congratulated Catalans on independence milestones and framed both struggles as fights against oppressive central governments.

Catalan officials, navigating their own turbulent path toward greater autonomy following the 2017 independence referendum and ongoing legal battles, welcomed the IPOB delegation as a gesture of transatlantic kinship. While specifics of the closed-door discussions remain private, sources close to the meeting described conversations centered on shared experiences of state repression, the role of international advocacy, and strategies for mobilizing global support. One attendee, speaking anonymously, noted the electric atmosphere: "It felt like two families reuniting after years apart, united by a common dream."

This rendezvous arrives at a pivotal moment for both movements. In Nigeria, IPOB continues to demand the unconditional release of its imprisoned leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, detained since 2021 on treason charges. Recent press releases from the IPOB have reaffirmed the movement's commitment to non-violent self-determination, while criticizing Nigerian authorities for escalating tensions.

In Catalonia, La Diada 2025 has reignited debates over independence, with recent high-profile meetings such as Catalan President Salvador Illa's session with exiled leader Carles Puigdemont in Brussels stirring controversy and calls for dialogue. The IPOB-Catalan link adds an international dimension, potentially amplifying pressure on Spain and Nigeria alike through forums like the United Nations, where IPOB has previously engaged officials.

For IPOB, the Barcelona visit is more than symbolic it's a step toward legitimizing their cause on the world stage. As one supporter posted, "The DOS are wise. Support ESN. Support IPOB." With La Diada's echoes still resonating, the path forward for these intertwined movements looks both challenging and hopeful.

Written by Family Writers Press International.