The Amazigh were a UNPO member between 2014 and 2016. 

The Amazigh are Indigenous people of North Africa, with cultural roots predating Arab-Islamic expansion in the 7th century. Despite their deep historical presence across regions such as Morocco, Algeria, Libya, and the Sahara, the Amazigh have long faced marginalisation, forced assimilation, and the erosion of their language and identity under successive regimes. In many North African countries, Amazigh identity was historically denied or suppressed in favour of Arabisation policies, leading to cultural and linguistic loss across generations. 

Key issues facing the Amazigh community include the struggle for official recognition of their languages, the right to education in their mother tongue, and the preservation of their cultural heritage. Underrepresentation, and limited access to media and education in Amazigh languages remain major concerns. Despite constitutional reforms in some countries, practical implementation of Amazigh rights is often slow or symbolic. In Algeria, for example, use of Amazigh symbols and language in public demonstrations has been criminalised, while human rights defenders face harassment. The situation is compounded by underdevelopment in rural Amazigh areas, limited political representation, and a lack of control over local resources and lands.

During their time as a UNPO member, the World Amazigh Congress (CMA) has worked to advocate for Amazigh self-determination, cultural preservation, and human rights. 

The Amazigh people possess a rich and enduring cultural identity that has shaped North Africa for thousands of years. Rooted in Indigenous languages, oral traditions, and artistic expression, Amazigh varies across regions but shares common elements of resilience, community, and connection to heritage. Central to Amazigh identity is the Tamazight language, written in the ancient Tifinagh script, and expressed through poetry, storytelling, and daily communication. Decorative arts—such as weaving, jewelry-making, and pottery—carry symbolic meanings passed down through generations, while music and dance serve as vital expressions of joy, memory, and resistance.

Despite periods of cultural suppression and assimilation, Amazigh communities have sustained and revived their traditions through festivals, oral history, and grassroots education. Celebrations like Yennayer (the Amazigh New Year) highlight the deep connection between seasonal cycles, ancestry, and cultural renewal. Women in particular play a central role in cultural transmission, preserving traditional knowledge and art forms within families and communities. Amazigh identity is deeply tied to collective memory, language, and the visible symbols of their culture—such as the “ⵣ” (Yaz) emblem, representing freedom and unity. 

The Amazigh are the Indigenous peoples of North Africa, whose presence in the Maghreb and Sahara dates back to at least the 1st millennium BCE. Long before Arab expansion, Amazigh groups such as the Mauri, Garamantes, Masaesyli, and Gaetuli established kingdoms, traded across the Sahara, and engaged with Phoenician, Greek, and Roman civilizations. From the 7th century CE, Arab conquests brought profound changes: Islam spread, and Amazigh leaders both resisted and adopted new political and religious systems. Notable among resistance figures is Queen Dihya (al‑Kahina), who led Amazigh tribes in Algeria against Arab expansion.

From the 11th to the 13th centuries, Amazigh dynasties rose to major power. The Almoravids, originating among the Sanhaja tribes, expanded from the Sahara northwards, establishing Marrakech and eventually exerting authority over much of Morocco and Al-Andalus. They were followed by the Almohads, founded by Ibn Tumart among the Masmuda, who overthrew the Almoravids and created an empire extending deep into North Africa and into Spain, promoting religious reform and intellectual life. Later Amazigh-led dynasties like the Marinids continued to shape the region through architecture, scholarship, and administration.

Over time, despite periods of cultural flourishing and political power, Amazigh identity and language were increasingly suppressed under various ruling powers and state policies favoring Arabization. Yet Amazigh communities preserved their heritage through oral history, tradition, and grassroots practices.