Students hold anti-occupation rallies to condemn the 1983 breakaway state declaration

On Friday, November 13, 2026, students across Cyprus participated in rallies to mark the 43rd anniversary of the illegal declaration of the Turkish-backed breakaway state in northern Cyprus, which officially occurred on November 15, 1983. Organized by student groups including PSEM and the Efen movement, the demonstrations served to protest the ongoing division of the island, with participants calling for the withdrawal of foreign troops and the reunification of the country.

In Nicosia, the main events took place at the Mia Milia checkpoint in Kaimakli and near Eleftheria Square. Students carried flags of the Republic of Cyprus and chanted slogans demanding justice and the liberation of their homeland. The Ministry of Education had previously issued a circular confirming that students attending the PSEM-led events would not be marked absent from school. While the primary events occurred in the capital, similar demonstrations were also held in other provinces, including Limassol, where students emphasized the importance of maintaining national identity and the hope for a peaceful, reunited future.