During the BRICS conference, South Africa intensifies its support for the separatist Polisario Front
South Africa reiterated its backing for the Polisario separatist forces. Cyril Ramaphosa, the president of South Africa, advocated on Sunday for the “Sahrawi people to secede from the Kingdom of Morocco.”
In his speech outlining the foundations of South Africa’s foreign policy ahead to the BRICS summit, Ramaphosa said that South Africa “supports and will continue to support marginalized and oppressed peoples in various parts of the world.”
He stated, “The freedom and international solidarity that we attained demands that we continue to support the colonized people who are subject to racial discrimination, like the Sahrawi people.”
Support for the Polisario Forces and opposition to Morocco’s territorial integrity are indications of South Africa’s stance toward Morocco.
On the other hand, a statement from the Indian government said that South Africa sent out invitations for the BRICS/Africa meeting, scheduled for August 24 in Johannesburg, unilaterally and nationally.
“The President of South Africa’s remarks reveal a contradiction in the diplomatic rhetoric of this country. He opposes Morocco’s territorial integrity and important choices while simultaneously inviting it to the BRICS summit, according to international law expert Abbas El Ouardi.
On Saturday, Morocco denied having submitted an application to join the BRICS organization, stating that its participation in the BRICS/Africa meeting was “not at all possible at any level.”
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Abroad, Morocco was not asked about accepting the invitation to the BRICS/Africa summit.
“South Africa’s attempt to drag Morocco to this summit failed after Morocco decided not to participate for objective and realistic reasons that can be reflected in the South-African president’s statements,” claims Charifa Mouiyer, a political analyst for Hespress AR.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Abroad, the South African administration unilaterally decided to take the lead in organizing the BRICS conference.