Morocco Secures Landmark Support from South Africa’s Jacob Zuma and MK Party on Western Sahara
Rabat, The Gulf Observer: In a notable diplomatic development, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita met on Tuesday in Rabat with former South African President Jacob Zuma, now leader of the recently formed uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party. The meeting marked a major policy shift, with the MK Party formally recognizing Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara and endorsing the Moroccan Autonomy Plan as a credible solution to the long-standing regional dispute.
The visit builds upon previous diplomatic overtures between the two countries, including a historic meeting between Zuma and King Mohammed VI during the 2017 African Union Summit in Côte d’Ivoire. That encounter had laid the groundwork for renewed engagement and mutual understanding between Morocco and South Africa.
In a joint appearance following the meeting, Zuma highlighted the deep-rooted ties between Morocco and the African liberation movement, recalling Morocco’s steadfast support for anti-apartheid efforts. “We are here in our country that we have been with for years,” Zuma stated, acknowledging Morocco’s role in supporting African unity and self-determination. “We believe that Africa must do better, and we believe that we are going to succeed in doing so.”
The MK Party also issued an official statement from Rabat expressing its honor at strengthening what it called the “historical bond” between the two nations. The statement recalled the 1962 military training of Nelson Mandela in Oujda, Morocco, and lauded the country’s enduring contributions to liberation movements across the continent.
Support for Moroccan Autonomy Plan
Central to the MK Party’s message was its endorsement of Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as a realistic, balanced, and sustainable solution to the Western Sahara issue.
“Our party believes that this autonomy proposal allows for significant local governance by the people of the Western Sahara region while ensuring that Morocco retains its crucial sovereignty,” the statement read. It emphasized the plan as a “balanced path forward” that promotes regional peace, stability, and development.
The MK Party also urged the international community to rally behind the Moroccan initiative, calling it “the most effective route toward lasting peace and prosperity in Western Sahara.” It further drew parallels between Morocco’s territorial integrity and South Africa’s own struggles against separatist pressures. “This echoes more than ever with South Africa as our country battles against internal forces aimed at breaking our territorial integrity,” the statement said.
A Departure from ANC Policy
The MK Party’s stance represents a significant departure from the long-held position of South Africa’s ruling African National Congress (ANC), which has traditionally supported the Polisario Front in its bid for Western Sahara’s independence.
Zuma’s endorsement of Morocco’s sovereignty may signal a shifting landscape within South African politics, potentially redefining the country’s approach to continental alliances and sovereignty disputes.
The statement concluded with a reaffirmation of Morocco’s territorial unity: “Morocco’s effort to reclaim its full territorial integrity aligns with our party’s commitment to preserving the sovereignty and the unity of the African state.”
Diplomatic analysts view the MK Party’s declaration as a major symbolic victory for Morocco, potentially encouraging other African political movements to revisit their positions on the Western Sahara issue.
