UN Security Council Presidency fails to incorporate Guergarat Matter into the Agenda

Jerry Matthews Matjila, Permanent Representative of South Africa to the UN, whose country chairs the Security Council this month, tried to incorporate the Moroccan Sahara file into the council’s agenda for the month of December, but his attempt was unsuccessful in convincing the Member States.

Upon assuming presidency, the South African ambassador had expressed his desire to tackle the issue of Guergarat crossing border in a press conference he held on the same day. This shows that Algeria and the Polisario were counting on their South African ally to raise the issue within the Security Council, following the failure of Algeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sabri Boukadoum, in drawing the African Union’s attention to the Saharan matter.

It is known that South Africa, along with Algeria, is considered an important ally of the separatist Polisario Front, and does not miss any opportunity to show its support. This has been more emphasized since Algeria’s recent international isolation, and its utter failure in inciting countries against Morocco following its military operation in Guergarat; an action that was widely endorsed within the international community.