logo
Algeria, Polisario hold talks after Zuma affirms support for Morocco on Sahara

Algeria, Polisario hold talks after Zuma affirms support for Morocco on Sahara

Ya Biladi4 days ago
Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf met on Thursday in Algiers with Mohamed Yeslem Beissat, his «counterpart» from the Polisario Front. According to a statement from the Algerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the talks focused on «the latest developments regarding the Western Sahara issue», as well as «key matters on the African Union's agenda».
The meeting came two days after former South African President Jacob Zuma voiced support for Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara during a visit to Rabat. In response, Algeria sent envoys to South Africa on Wednesday to meet with officials from the ruling African National Congress (ANC), led by President Cyril Ramaphosa, to address the implications of Zuma's remarks, seen as a shift in tone from one of the country's most influential political figures.
For context, Mohamed Yeslem Beissat previously served as the Polisario's representative in Pretoria. Before his departure from South Africa, he held talks with several pro-Polisario organizations and spoke with Ramaphosa on the sidelines of an ANC gathering.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Morocco's FGD Demands Urgent Probe Into Alleged High-Level Corruption Detailed in Leaked Documents
Morocco's FGD Demands Urgent Probe Into Alleged High-Level Corruption Detailed in Leaked Documents

Morocco World

time7 hours ago

  • Morocco World

Morocco's FGD Demands Urgent Probe Into Alleged High-Level Corruption Detailed in Leaked Documents

Rabat – The Democratic Left Federation (FGD) is not turning a page on the controversial case of Jabaroot, an Algerian hacking group involved in leaking alleged sensitive documents related to real estate, social security, and more. The leftist party stated on Sunday, calling for an investigation into the recent leaks, with the party sharing 'deep concern' on the growing cases of conflicts and abuse of power in the country. FGD took issue with leaked documents from the Algerian hacking group, which claimed it hacked the database of several Moroccan institutions like CNSS, and some ministries, most of which responded to the hacking allegations, denying that the breaches had affected their database and systems. Despite reassurances about citizens' concerns and privacy, the government received a backlash and demands, questioning the country's cybersecurity strength. Meanwhile, many people expressed concern and took issue with the leaks that concern real estate ownership, social security data of employees, and other sensitive content. While the leaked document was not proved to be authentic, the FGD alleged suspicious deals and transfers were 'granted to individuals or companies closely linked to, or owned by, top government officials.' 'This comes about what has been reported in the media and revealed in the 'Jabaroot' leaks, which suggests the involvement of current government ministers in cases of corruption and abuse of influence,' the party said, urging for an intervention. The party alleged that the case includes a 'female minister,' accusing her of 'exploiting insider information related to urban planning designs for illicit personal gain.' The statement also points out a reference to 'another minister' accused of 'attempted fraud and deception to evade tax obligations.' For FGD, these actions, although unproven, are a 'severe violation of the principle of integrity and neutrality expected of all public officials.' In a strongly worded recommendation, the FGD said it 'condemns all forms of corruption, calling on the country's public prosecutor to 'act immediately by opening a transparent investigation that is serious and impartial into all the cases raised by the leaks, and to assign responsibilities and apply all legal consequences.' It also calls for the establishment of a national day of protest against corruption, noting that the date and location of similar demonstrations will be announced at a later time. In addition to FGD, the Justice and Development Party's (PJD) Abdelilah Benkirane wrote a strongly-worded statement on Facebook on Sunday, accusing a minister of falsifying an official document submitted to tax authorities to evade taxes. Benkirane did not explicitly reference the minister's name, but converging reports said the accusations were directed against Minister of Justice Abdellatif Ouahbi. 'The resignation of this minister is a necessary dedicated by the rule of law and institutions and by the principle of accountability,' Benkirane wrote on Facebook.

ANC Lashes Out at Zuma's Morocco Visit, Demands Apology Over Flag Use
ANC Lashes Out at Zuma's Morocco Visit, Demands Apology Over Flag Use

Morocco World

time8 hours ago

  • Morocco World

ANC Lashes Out at Zuma's Morocco Visit, Demands Apology Over Flag Use

Marrakech – South Africa's ruling African National Congress (ANC) has unleashed a bitter attack against former president Jacob Zuma for his recent visit to Morocco, where he boldly recognized Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara. The ANC also furiously demanded that Morocco issue a formal apology for displaying the South African flag during meetings with Zuma, who now leads the opposition UMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party. In a scathing statement released July 19, the ANC blasted what it called Zuma's 'opportunistic involvement' with Morocco, accusing the former president of betraying South Africa's 'principles.' The African country has historically touted a hardline anti-Moroccan stance on the artificial, prolonged dispute in the Sahara. 'We condemn the opportunistic involvement of Jacob Zuma, who has aligned himself with efforts that erode South Africa's standing in the international community and betray the principles of non-alignment, peace, and anti-colonial solidarity that he once purported to uphold,' the ANC fumed in its statement. The party further attacked Zuma's actions as 'shameful,' declaring that 'a former leader of a liberation movement is betraying our historical mission and showing his true colors as he stands in opposition to the aim of contributing to the creation of a better Africa.' The controversy erupted after Zuma's July 15 meeting with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita in Rabat, where his MK party publicly endorsed Morocco's legitimate sovereignty over its southern provinces. This position directly challenges South Africa's increasingly outlier and ideologically rigid stance in backing the Polisario Front's separatist claims. This posture has grown geopolitically untenable as global support for the militants – which are on the brink of being designated as a terrorist group – crumbles. The ANC exploded with particular rage over Morocco's use of the South African flag during the meeting, calling it a 'reckless and provocative act' that constitutes a 'flagrant violation of international diplomatic norms and an unacceptable intrusion into South Africa's internal political affairs.' The party has ordered South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation to issue a 'formal diplomatic protest' and demand an 'immediate explanation and apology from the Moroccan authorities.' This diplomatic tantrum unfolds amid deepening political turmoil in South Africa. The MK party, which emerged as the country's third-largest political force in recent elections, has aggressively campaigned for President Cyril Ramaphosa's resignation. On July 18, MK supporters stormed the area outside the presidential palace in Pretoria, demanding Ramaphosa step down after giving him a two-day ultimatum earlier that week. The separatist agenda is counting its final days The ANC's venomous reaction to Zuma's Morocco visit reflects the party's panic as its influence in the Western Sahara dispute rapidly disintegrates. Morocco continues to secure overwhelming diplomatic victories across Africa, decisively shifting the continental balance in favor of its territorial integrity. South Africa's antagonistic stance toward Morocco dates back to 1976 when the ANC, then still a liberation movement, aligned itself with the Polisario Front in a gesture of ideological solidarity rooted in Cold War-era polarization. Upon assuming power in 1994, the ANC entrenched this position by unilaterally recognizing the self-declared 'SADR' in 2004 under President Thabo Mbeki, despite South Africa having no historical, geographic, or strategic stakes in the dispute. This alignment, driven by outdated ideological loyalties rather than pragmatic diplomacy, has rendered South Africa more and more isolated on the continental stage The ANC's hardline position has already caused internal fractures within the party. In October 2024, the ANC brutally punished senior member Obed Bapela, stripping him of his duties as Deputy Chairperson of the ANC National Executive Committee Sub-committee on International Relations after he met with Moroccan officials and called for strengthening economic ties between the two countries. This crackdown sparked protests in December 2024, when disgruntled ANC members gathered outside the party's Luthuli House headquarters in Johannesburg. Protesters, led by activist Teboho Maake, submitted a memorandum to the party leadership demanding recognition of Morocco's historical support during South Africa's anti-apartheid struggle and calling for normalized relations with the North African country. 'We are dissatisfied over the ANC's stance against Morocco, and there exists an urgent need for clarity on how we plan to develop our bilateral relationships with them,' Maake declared during the demonstration. Morocco's aggressive Africa diplomacy is bearing fruit Morocco's diplomatic campaign has been particularly successful in anglophone Africa, which was once considered impenetrable territory firmly aligned with anti-Moroccan positions. Kenya, a longtime backer of the Polisario Front, executed a dramatic diplomatic reversal in May by recognizing Morocco's Autonomy Plan as 'the only credible, serious and sustainable approach' to resolving the dispute. Ghana similarly suspended relations with the self-proclaimed 'SADR' in June, while Zambia, Malawi, and Eswatini have opened consulates in Morocco's legitimate southern provinces. Meanwhile, Algeria – the chief sponsor of the Polisario separatists – finds itself ever more cornered and politically strained, as it continues to squander billions of its hydrocarbon rent on hosting, arming, and diplomatically propping up the group. Unlike South Africa's symbolic support, Algeria's fixation has translated into a costly and unsustainable geopolitical obsession, further exacerbating the regime's diplomatic isolation and diminishing its leverage across both regional and international arenas. As international support for the separatist cause collapses, Algerian authorities have resorted to begging for support from marginal allies like Zimbabwe, whose president visited Algeria on Saturday to reaffirm support for the failing separatist group. According to observers, the Algerian regime has lost all political and diplomatic cards it used for decades in managing the regional dispute with Morocco over the Sahara file. They note that Algeria now resorts to marginal states – either lacking influence in African decision-making or grappling with severe economic crises – in a bid to buy support and manufacture relevance. The sharp decline in support comes as global momentum builds to label the Polisario Front a terrorist organization. In June, US Congressman Joe Wilson officially introduced a bipartisan bill to classify the separatist group as a foreign terrorist organization, spotlighting the group's violent past and ongoing threats to regional stability. Despite these crushing setbacks, the ANC stubbornly clings to its outdated position, concluding its statement by reiterating 'its call for the completion of the decolonization process in Africa' and urging 'all progressive forces within the continent and around the world to intensify their solidarity with the people of Western Sahara in their pursuit of self-determination' – a narrative the United Nations itself quietly abandoned long ago. Read also: South African Party Recognizes Morocco's Sovereignty Over Western Sahara Tags: Cyril RamaphosaJacob ZumaMorocco and South AfricaWestern sahara

Polisario leadership rift deepens as Brahim Ghali blocks extraordinary congress
Polisario leadership rift deepens as Brahim Ghali blocks extraordinary congress

Ya Biladi

time13 hours ago

  • Ya Biladi

Polisario leadership rift deepens as Brahim Ghali blocks extraordinary congress

In the Tindouf camps, opposition to Brahim Ghali's leadership is gaining momentum, with a new petition signaling growing discontent. Reviewed by Yabiladi, the document warns that the «national cause is going through a critical and fragile phase», marked by «setbacks and failures, both internal and external», and a «troubling decline in how the national project is being managed». This stark assessment stands in sharp contrast to the triumphant rhetoric often echoed by the Polisario Front's media apparatus. The petition first criticizes the «war» launched on November 13, 2020, against Morocco, acknowledging «a loss of control over liberated territories, reduced room for maneuver on the ground, and a lack of a clear strategy to regain the initiative». This erosion of control, they add, has gone hand in hand with a «steady decline in international recognition of the Sahrawi Republic and growing acceptance of the reality imposed by the Moroccan occupation». Brahim Ghali Moves to Delay Polisario Congress The petition also highlights «the near-total breakdown of security in the camps and in areas previously under control», along with «a rise in arms trafficking and weapons falling into the hands of drug dealers». The authors also warn of «external attempts to undermine the national cause», noting that the first major test of these threats will come in October, when the UN Security Council is set to review the Western Sahara issue. «Despite repeated calls for the leadership and political elites to take these threats seriously, the national leadership, during its latest meeting on July 12–13 in the Tindouf camps, chose to ignore these dangers altogether», the petition states. «Even worse, it carried on as if everything were under control, showing just how disconnected it has become from reality and how far it's drifted from the national cause». Turning their criticism directly toward Brahim Ghali's camp, the signatories stress that «the legitimacy of any leadership is not a blank check, it's a contract between the rulers and the people». They accuse the Polisario leadership of breaking that contract by failing in its core duties: defending the homeland, protecting civilians, and upholding their dignity. The petition ends with a call to convene «an emergency national congress to correct the current course, restore balance, reinforce national unity, and rebuild public trust in the leadership». A similar appeal was made in July 2024 by Bachir Mustapha Sayed in a published article. Last May, other Polisario members had also called for an extraordinary congress to «save the movement from collapse». At the latest meeting of the Polisario's General Secretariat, held last week, calls for holding a regular congress in January 2026 clashed with a veto from Brahim Ghali and his allies, who pushed to delay the gathering by a full year. «That delay is still technically legal under Polisario's internal rules», a former member of the movement told Yabiladi. The outcome of the upcoming UN Security Council resolution on Western Sahara, expected at the end of October 2025, could prove decisive for Ghali's critics and their demands for change.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store