logo
South Africa : Will Zuma's party succeed in ousting the Polisario's main ally ?

South Africa : Will Zuma's party succeed in ousting the Polisario's main ally ?

Ya Biladi6 days ago
As Jacob Zuma, the founder of the UMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, visits Morocco, his party has issued a call for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to resign. Last Wednesday, the MK party gave the current head of state and leader of the African National Congress (ANC) a two-day ultimatum to step down. On Friday, July 18, the MK staged a protest outside the presidential palace in Pretoria, demanding Ramaphosa's ouster. They criticized what they termed as the ANC president's «negative record» since he assumed office on February 14, 2018.
This development unfolds amid escalating tensions between the ANC and the Democratic Alliance (DA). The latest chapter in this political showdown between the country's two leading parties occurred on Friday, July 18. In a statement, Ramaphosa's party voiced its «concerns over the disinformation campaign led by Democratic Alliance MP Emma Powell against South Africa, and her apparent attempts to undermine the South African government's response to the new U.S. tariff regime».
These events echo the turbulent weeks preceding the ousting of Pedro Castillo, a former Polisario ally in Peru, in December 2022. A few months after his arrest, the new Peruvian president rescinded in September 2023 her recognition of the «SADR».
In Morocco, Jacob Zuma reiterated from Rabat his support for Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara and advocated for establishing an economic and diplomatic partnership between South Africa and the kingdom. The MK stands as the third-largest political force in South Africa.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Morocco's PJD criticizes government based on controversial Numbeo ranking [Fact-check]
Morocco's PJD criticizes government based on controversial Numbeo ranking [Fact-check]

Ya Biladi

time6 hours ago

  • Ya Biladi

Morocco's PJD criticizes government based on controversial Numbeo ranking [Fact-check]

Archive When it comes to attacking the government, the source or accuracy of the data no longer seems to matter. This is evident in the Justice and Development Party's recent criticism of the government's healthcare performance, based on a questionable ranking derived from the opinions of a small group of internet users. Despite its own extensive experience in public governance, the party ignored credible reports from official Moroccan and international institutions, such as Bank Al-Maghrib, the High Commission for Planning, the Court of Auditors, and the WHO, which, backed by rigorous methodology and field data, have themselves pointed to the government's shortcomings. Instead, the PJD chose to rely on the «Health Care Index by Country 2025», published by Numbeo, a platform whose credibility is highly disputed. In a lengthy article published on its website, the opposition party claimed that «despite the Akhannouch government's social-state rhetoric», Morocco ranked 94th out of 99 countries. It attempted to legitimize the ranking by describing Numbeo as «a site specializing in data analysis and international surveys», in an effort to lend credibility to its findings. The party went on to describe Morocco's position at the bottom of the African healthcare rankings as «alarming», noting that Rabat and Casablanca ranked 303rd and 310th, respectively, in terms of healthcare quality. The Truth Behind the Ranking Numbeo, the platform the PJD relied on, was founded in 2009 by Serbian national Mladen Adamovic and is registered in Serbia. The site openly admits that «the structure of the project allows anyone with an Internet connection to modify its content», and warns that «nothing found here has necessarily been reviewed by people with the expertise required to provide you with complete, accurate or reliable information. Use our content at your own risk». It further adds: «We do not provide any warranties that our services will meet your requirements, be uninterrupted, timely, accurate, or error-free, or that your information will be secure», and makes clear that «there is absolutely no assurance that any statement on the website is correct or precise». A closer look at the site reveals the weakness of its methodology. A single user can skew a city or country's overall rating simply by submitting multiple opinions. For instance, Rabat's healthcare rating was based on only 30 users, and Casablanca's on just 67, while Kaohsiung, Taiwan topped the global list based on only 47 submissions. Shifting Positions Ironically, back in 2019, when the PJD held the Ministry of Health under Saad Eddine El Othmani's leadership, it had firmly criticized Moroccan media for citing Numbeo's rankings. In an official statement at the time, the ministry dismissed the site's methodology, saying it lacked «scientific accuracy, sound methodology, and the standards used by recognized international institutions». The ministry stated that the rankings «were based on a small, unrepresentative sample, no more than 100 visitors to the site, and could not be used to evaluate national healthcare systems». It also warned media outlets to treat Numbeo's data with caution, describing it as «misleading and unaffiliated with any recognized international statistical health organization».

Spain deploys frigate as Moroccan NGO eyes operation on Leila Islet
Spain deploys frigate as Moroccan NGO eyes operation on Leila Islet

Ya Biladi

time6 hours ago

  • Ya Biladi

Spain deploys frigate as Moroccan NGO eyes operation on Leila Islet

The Spanish army is taking seriously the initiative launched by the «Coordination Committee for the Defense of the Kingdom's Causes», which plans to carry out an operation on the islet of Leila. In response, the Ministry of Defense has dispatched a frigate to monitor the area, according to a committee member who spoke to Yabiladi. Rachid Hssaine, spokesperson for the NGO, had previously mentioned the project in statements to our editorial team. The Spanish military later shifted its attention to the Chafarinas Islands, where a vessel docked on Tuesday. This deployment comes amid what Iberian media describe as «growing assertions in recent weeks from the neighboring country regarding the so-called 'Moroccan identity' of these territories». The maneuvers by the Spanish navy are seen as a move to reassure right-wing and far-right circles, which have raised concerns about the potential impact of the committee's creation on the security of Ceuta, Melilla, and other nearby islets. Vox party MPs have called on Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to take action against what they describe as «a Moroccan project to invade the islet of Perejil». They are urging the left-wing coalition government to ensure the protection of Spain's sovereign territories, including Perejil, Alhucemas, Vélez de la Gomera, Chafarinas, Ceuta, and Melilla.

First Regional Green Economy Forum Kicks Off in Tangier
First Regional Green Economy Forum Kicks Off in Tangier

Maroc

time8 hours ago

  • Maroc

First Regional Green Economy Forum Kicks Off in Tangier

The first edition of the Regional Green Economy Forum (RGEF) kicked off on Thursday in Tangier with a focus on the theme 'Empowering African Cities, Paving the Path to Carbon Neutrality.' This event, organized under the High Patronage of HM King Mohammed VI, is an initiative of the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO), supported by the Moroccan Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Regional Council, and United Cities and Local Governments of Africa (UCLG Africa), with the aim of promoting sustainable solutions to support African cities. The Forum brings together experts and representatives from local governments, national, African, and international institutions, to support Africa's efforts toward sustainable, low-carbon urban development, strengthen cooperation between local, national, and international actors, encourage the exchange of experiences and best practices, and promote investment in green infrastructure, renewable energy, and sustainable mobility. The Forum also serves as a platform for discussion on current themes such as multi-level governance, energy transition, circular economy, sustainable mobility, and financing mechanisms, with the aim of supporting strategies that lead African cities toward carbon neutrality. Morocco's Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Leila Benali, reiterated the Kingdom's commitment to supporting joint African action to build a green, resilient, and prosperous future for the continent, one that meets the aspirations of its people and protects the rights of current and future generations. In a video message, the minister emphasized that Morocco, under the farsighted leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, has made South-South cooperation a strategic choice and a central pillar of its foreign policy, based on active solidarity and integration, highlighting several pioneering initiatives launched by the Kingdom to strengthen climate action in Africa. WGEO President Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer noted that the Forum is taking place as climate change becomes a tangible reality, with African cities on the front lines facing rising temperatures, water scarcity, and environmental degradation. He pointed out that these challenges are also drivers of positive transformation toward sustainable development. He stated that WGEO, through the Global Alliance on Green Economy (GAGE), which includes representatives from 100 countries, works to ensure inclusive, resilient green growth, with Africa as 'the cornerstone of this alliance,' aiming to build fair and sustainable cities capable of adapting to climate change by strengthening their capacity to develop feasible green projects, renewable energy solutions, sustainable mobility, and waste-to-energy initiatives. President of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima Regional Council, Omar Moro, emphasized the region's aspiration to become a model of green economy transition, leveraging its role as a bridge between Africa and Europe, underlining its efforts to promote investment in renewable energy, develop sustainable infrastructure, support green innovation, raise awareness of the green economy, and engage citizens in environmental preservation. He also stressed that the Forum is an effective platform for experience-sharing between local governments, the public and private sectors, and civil society, helping unite the efforts of city leaders and local stakeholders to design practical projects and foster public-private partnerships aimed at achieving carbon neutrality in urban areas. Secretary General of UCLG Africa, Jean Pierre Elong Mbassi, pointed out that although Africa contributes only 3-4% of global greenhouse gas emissions, it is one of the continents most exposed and vulnerable to climate change effects. He stressed that Africa has the capacity to surpass polluting and unequal development models by building greener, smarter cities, as already demonstrated by numerous African cities, both large and small, committed to innovative sustainability initiatives. United Nations Resident Coordinator in Morocco, Nathalie Fustier, highlighted that this regional forum fits within a critical momentum of South-South cooperation and experience-sharing among African cities, describing it as a strategic platform for peer learning, identifying bankable projects, building coalitions, and developing carbon neutrality pathways tailored to African realities. She also emphasized the efforts of the UN System in Morocco to support cities and territories in this ambitious green transition and reiterated the UN's full commitment to accompanying this process with all partners, adding: 'It is our collective responsibility to make African cities more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient living spaces.' Tangier Mayor Mounir Laymouri, also President of the Moroccan Association of Municipal Council Presidents (AMPCC), affirmed that Africa lies at the heart of the green transition, stating that this transformation depends on empowering cities and local authorities with the necessary resources to play their role. He also noted that African local governments often face limitations in financial and human resources. The two-day event includes debates on various green economy-related topics, such as carbon neutrality, policies and governance, greening African cities, renewable energy solutions, sustainable transport, waste management and circular economy, smart water management, and green industrialization.

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