Latest news with #Saharawi
IOL News
4 days ago
- Politics
- IOL News
MKP, Morocco Alliance A Betrayal of the Saharawi Struggle
Sahrawi refugees attend the military parade celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Polisario Front and the outbreak of the armed struggle for the independence of Western Sahara in Aousserd in Tindouf southwest of Algiers, Algeria, May 20, 2023. Image: AFP Reneva Fourie The Umkhonto we Sizwe Party's (MKP) growing relationship with the Kingdom of Morocco, as laid out in the document titled 'A Strategic Partnership for African Unity, Economic Emancipation and Territorial Integrity: Morocco', was recently strengthened during a high-profile visit to Morocco by MKP leader, Jacob Zuma. This deepening alliance raises serious questions about the MKP's ideological commitments and political motivations, especially in light of Morocco's controversial political stance and human rights record. MKP's partnership with a country with deep links to Israel – and one that has been complicit in the ongoing occupation and human rights violations against the Saharawi people – is a marked departure from the party's earlier messaging as a champion of anti-colonialism and African self-determination. Rather than standing in solidarity with the oppressed, MKP now appears to be embracing and legitimising imperialist interests, thereby aligning itself with Western political and economic agendas on the continent. Morocco's relationship with Israel is particularly contentious and is rejected by significant segments of its population. On 10 December 2020, the US government announced a normalisation agreement between Israel and Morocco. By 22 December 2020, the two countries signed a joint statement committing to initiate direct flights to enhance economic collaboration and establish full diplomatic ties. As part of this arrangement, the US agreed to recognise Morocco's annexation of Western Sahara and endorsed Morocco's autonomy proposal as the only framework for negotiations. Among Morocco's acts of complicity in Israel's current genocide in Gaza is allowing an Israeli warship to dock at Tangier for refuelling and resupplying while en route from the US. In openly supporting Morocco's position on Western Sahara, the MKP has abandoned its previous support for the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). The party's endorsement of Morocco's so-called autonomy proposal, a model widely spurned by the Saharawi people, represents a profound betrayal of Africa's last colony and a reversal of MKP's previously stated values. This change in posture was publicly confirmed by former MKP Secretary-General Floyd Shivambu during a media briefing held on 19 June. Shivambu alleged that following his removal from the party, MKP reversed its pro-Western Sahara position and quietly adopted a pro-Moroccan outlook. More alarmingly, he revealed that this change was transactional. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ He said: 'You can see that statement which is issued in the name of MKP is written by the Moroccan embassy here in South Africa to impose a position on MK on the basis that there would be money exchanges. ' This revelation endorses speculation around the commodification of MKP's foreign policy. A party that earlier claimed to be rooted in progressive, pan-Africanist values now appears to be for sale to the highest bidder. In aligning with Morocco, MKP is turning its back not only on the Saharawi people but also on SA's historical and principled stance in support of decolonisation, justice, and international law. The betrayal is not just political; it is also historical. MKP's formation was controversial from the start, particularly due to its appropriation of the name 'Umkhonto we Sizwe', the military wing established by the ANC and SACP, that had fought bravely against apartheid. In adopting this name, the party sought to draw legitimacy from a liberation movement it does not authentically represent. Now, the MKP is further distorting history by omitting key facts, such as the role of Algeria's National Liberation Front (FLN) – which had resistance bases operating from the Moroccan border – in training Nelson Mandela. By erasing this history, MKP not only misleads the public but also insults the legacy of those who fought for Africa's true liberation. The MKP's foreign policy shift brings it uncomfortably close to the Democratic Alliance (DA), a party long criticised for undermining SA's official positions on international solidarity. Like the DA, MKP now travels abroad to make pronouncements that directly contradict SA's stated policies and undermine the dignity of its people. One of the most disturbing displays of this was the presence of the South African flag next to that of Morocco during an MKP press briefing in the country. The use of national symbols in partisan activities hosted by foreign governments is deeply deceptive. It not only misrepresents the country's position but also compromises its sovereignty and diplomatic integrity. SA's position on Western Sahara has long been consistent with international law. Since 2004, it has officially recognised the SADR and called for a United Nations-backed referendum on independence. The UN classified Western Sahara as a non-self-governing territory as early as 1963. General Assembly resolutions 2072 and 2229 emphasised the need for a self-determination process. In 1975, Spain conferred administrative control of the territory to Morocco and Mauritania, ignoring UN resolutions and the rights of the Saharawi people. This led to the formation of the Polisario Front, a staunch ally of the FLN and ANC. Although Mauritania relinquished its claims in 1979, Morocco has persisted in its occupation, with regular reports of oppression, imprisonment, and abuse of the Saharawi people. MKP's current position places it in direct violation of domestic, continental, and international legal frameworks. The leaders of the MKP are well aware of this legal and historical context, but have chosen to repackage it to justify the newfound leaning towards the ally of the US and Israel. Morocco's strategy of using economic incentives to shift foreign policy in its favour is not new. Since becoming king, Mohammed VI has led a diplomatic offensive that also encompasses Sub-Saharan Africa. The SADR had initially received recognition from 84 UN member states. Some have since either frozen or revoked their recognition. The MKP is among those that have succumbed to Morocco's seduction. By turning its back on the people of the SADR and disregarding SA's official foreign policy, the MKP is also abandoning the very people it claims to represent. This betrayal must be seen for what it is: a dangerous pivot toward political expediency and opportunism, masquerading as a strategic partnership. In doing so, MKP has positioned itself not as a defender of African liberation, but as a willing participant in its erosion. * Dr Reneva Fourie is a policy analyst specialising in governance, development and security. ** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL, Independent Media or The African.
The South African
21-07-2025
- Politics
- The South African
Malema, Mbalula agree: Former president 'is a sellout'
Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) leader Julius Malema says former president Jacob Zuma is a sellout for supporting the kingdom of Morocco. The sentiment comes as the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party leader visited the Moroccan Foreign Minister in Rabat and endorsed the country's sovereignty over Western Sahara. Speaking to journalists on the sidelines at the East London Magistrate's Court on Monday, 21 July, Malema weighed in on Zuma's recent visit to the North African country. 'On Morocco, that was a complete sell-out position. Now there is maneuvering; they are no longer emphasising their party position on Morocco. They are saying, no, a former head of state can visit any country and have interactions with those people. 'No one is questioning that. We are questioning his position and that of his party concerning Morocco. We are very clear. We are for the people of Western Sahara, and we must make sure that they too realise their freedom in their lifetime,' he said. Malema's comment comes as the African National Congress (ANC) also criticised Zuma at the weekend for the visit. ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula also told journalists that the recognition of Morocco by Jacob Zuma is not a surprise. Mbalula said Zuma represents everything wrong, which is pursued by sell-outs. 'We, as the ANC, will fight side by side for the self-determination of the Sahrawi people. We are in solidarity with them, and Morocco must stop the occupation of Western Sahara. Zuma is no messiah. He's a sell-out of note. For whatever reason that he's doing all of this, it's no surprise to us. 'The very decision to steal the assets of the ANC to form a political party and call it what it is, to divide our people, weaken the African National Congress for his aggrandisement, is what he has been. He will be remembered for that by history,' Mbalula said. It has been reported that Morocco controls approximately 80% of Western Sahara and has pushed for its authority over the territory to be officially recognised. The Polisario Front, backed by Algeria, controls the remaining 20% as the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SARD). The African Union recognises the SARD as a full member. The Western Sahara, a sparsely populated desert region on Africa's northwest coast, was a Spanish colony before its annexation by Morocco in 1975. This has led to a protracted territorial dispute between Morocco and the indigenous Saharawi people, represented by the Polisario Front, IOL reported. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X, and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
20-07-2025
- Politics
- IOL News
ANC criticises Jacob Zuma for supporting Morocco in Western Sahara dispute
ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has said that the party is not surprised by the move from the leader of the Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, Jacob Zuma, to show support for the Kingdom of Morocco. Image: Ayanda Ndamane/Independent Newspaper ANC secretary-general Fikile Mbalula has branded Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party leader Jacob Zuma a "sellout" for his support of the Kingdom of Morocco, stating that the party is not surprised by Zuma's actions. The Western Sahara, a sparsely populated desert region on Africa's northwest coast, was a Spanish colony before its annexation by Morocco in 1975. This has led to a protracted territorial dispute between Morocco and the indigenous Saharawi people, represented by the Polisario Front. The ANC criticism comes after Zuma visited Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita in Rabat. Zuma shared his support for the Kingdom of Morocco, which considers the Western Sahara territory as its own, against the Algeria-backed Polisario front, which seeks an independent state in the desert territory. The MK Party released a policy position earlier this week explaining that they believe South Africa and the Kingdom of Morocco should be committed to strengthening their bilateral relations, grounded in shared principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, and African unity. 'The MK Party's identity is deeply rooted in the historic struggle for liberation and dignity in South Africa. Similarly, Morocco's history is marked by its resistance to colonial domination and its determined pursuit of national unity. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'Both nations were shaped by their anti-colonial struggles — South Africa from apartheid and Morocco from French and Spanish rule. 'In this regard, Morocco has played a pivotal role in supporting South Africa through its fight for liberation. Morocco was the first country to lend financial and military support to Umkhonto weSizwe in 1962. 'Morocco's efforts to reclaim its full territorial integrity align with the MK Party's commitment to preserving the sovereignty and unity of African states,' the policy states. On Saturday, the party lambasted the use of the national flag in Zuma's meeting with Moroccan officials. 'This reckless and provocative act constitutes a flagrant violation of international diplomatic norms and an unacceptable intrusion into South Africa's internal political affairs. It is a dangerous attempt to delegitimise our constitutional order and discredit the authority of a democratically elected government. 'The inclusion of our national symbols in partisan activities hosted by foreign powers is not only misleading but also part of a broader agenda of foreign interference,' the ANC said. 'The ANC urges the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) to issue a formal diplomatic protest and to demand an immediate explanation and apology from the Moroccan authorities. 'We also call on all South Africans, regardless of political affiliation, to reject this dangerous precedent that threatens our sovereignty, our democracy, and our national unity. 'We further 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 anticolonial solidarity that he once purported to uphold,' the party said. 'The leader of the MKP has revealed his true colours by demonstrating a lack of belief in the ANC's political, economic, and ideological principles of progressive internationalism, Pan-Africanism, and solidarity on both international and continental levels. 'It is shameful that a former leader of a liberation movement is betraying our historical mission and showing his true colours as he stands in opposition to the aim of contributing to the creation of a better Africa and world that is more humane, just, equitable, democratic, and free world,' the ANC said. Former president and current leader of uMkhonto weSizwe Party are seeking to overturn President Cyril Ramaphosa's recent reforms to the police ministry. Image: Timothy Bernard / Independent Newspapers On Sunday, Mbalula said that Zuma's actions are not a surprise as 'Jacob Zuma represents everything that is... pursued by sellouts'. Mbalula came out to address the media during a short interval at the Cape Sun Hotel, where the ANC's National Working Committee (NWC) met with the Provincial Executive Committee. This forms part of the ANC's ongoing efforts to strengthen its organisational capacity and engage directly with structures of the movement across regions and districts. 'We, as the ANC, will fight side-by-side for the self-determination of the Sahrawi people. We are in solidarity with them, and Morocco must stop the occupation of Western Sahara. 'Zuma is no messiah. He is a sellout of note. For whatever reason, he is doing this is no surprise to us,' Mbalula said. 'The very decision to steal the assets of the ANC to form a political party, and call it what it is, to divide our people, to weaken the African National Congress, for his own personal aggrandisement, is what he has been. He will be remembered for that by history.' The MK Party was contacted for comment, but indicated that they will respond to Mbalula's comment at a future briefing.
Business Insider
15-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
I'm a Gen Xer who can't find a full-time job 2 years after a layoff. I'm struggling to rebuild my identity.
A recent piece in The New York Times has been making the rounds among my friends. It outlines the struggles Gen Xers working in the creative fields face in the job market and how in the last few years, they've found that their skills are less valuable. "I'm 53," writes one commenter on Reddit, "and I already pivoted from one career to the next, and now that's looking dicey. I have a little kid. I'm soiling my pants." I can relate. It's been just over two years since I opened my email and read that I'd been let go from my 20-plus-year career as a multimedia and press relations expert in the humanitarian field. I still haven't found new full-time work. I watched my dad go through this as a kid I remember when my dad lost his job in the 1980s. He went from owning his own business to moving us out of our fashionable North London neighborhood to a semi-detached in a much different part of town. My parents gently shifted our lives in a new direction, and they did a pretty good job. We each had to adjust to our new situation. My dad, with bills to pay, had to adjust most of all. As he looked for another profession, I wondered if he felt his confidence under attack with each failed interview. Did he look in the mirror and wonder who he was? Whether he did or not, I know I feel the impact Losing a job can significantly change your identity, especially if your job informs your sense of self, status, and purpose. Grief and anxiety can aggravate a potential identity crisis. My loss of income heralded substantial challenges for my family, from struggling to find the tuition for my son's special needs school to the inevitable toll on my marriage. Not a day went by where I didn't question my self-worth or didn't feel like a weight dragging my family down. I spiraled into heavy substance abuse, and on my worst days, I even considered ending it all, my lack of nerve the only thing keeping me sane. I loved the work I had been doing My profession certainly informed who I was. In my mid-30s, I was a digital content creator and comms expert at a small NGO advising marginalized groups and democratic governments. I worked with Saharawi refugees, Syrian Opposition members, and other populations fighting against regimes and oppressive governments that restricted their freedoms. By 2019, the waves from Trump's first term were hitting smaller NGOs pretty hard. I jumped to an international humanitarian organization. When I lost that job in 2023, it took me more than a minute to realize what had happened. I found interviewing difficult and settled on gig work At first, I interviewed for positions similar to the work I'd done. My imposter syndrome kicked in, and while I attempted to shift gears to something like PR or media, this time, it felt like the entire ground beneath me was shifting. I picked up a few comms gigs, but the money wasn't reliable. Eventually, I found work designing book covers and then doing project management for a small boutique publishing company in LA. In my previous career, I made six figures. Now, I'm making $25 an hour, plus any commissions I can secure. The financial hit meant we had to seriously scale back our expenses while trying not to let our fiscal situation affect our two small children. There's nothing like trying to smile, joke, and answer the demands of a chatty 5-year-old while the bills are mounting and you're just trying to keep your head together. I know I'm not the only one in this situation There are a lot of Americans in the same boat. The pressure at times of trying to stay afloat while protecting your kids from the realities you and your partner are facing is pretty heavy, and I'm lucky that I have my wife. This isn't her first rodeo. She's been a freelancer, chasing checks and making those dollars stretch for over 20 years. When adversity strikes she relishes the bite. My wife has taken on more teaching jobs, pitched more articles, and applied for grants, and I know it has taken a toll on her mental health, and, ultimately, her feelings toward her partner. For me, shifting from a full-time salary to gig work has taken me a minute to find myself. I'm working on rewriting my identity As I stood up at the end of a session recently, my therapist said to me, "You don't know your core personality. Other people are different. They know in their core who they are. 'I know I am a good father!' they say to themselves. You don't know in your core that you are a good father." The conclusion made me sway as the words slowly sunk in. "I don't know what's at my core!" And it's no wonder. In the West, the first question we ask when we meet someone new is "What do you do?" For today, I have no answer. I remain optimistic I'm still hopeful I can find work similar to my past career. Friends still send job descriptions, and I still browse job boards, but I'm also cognizant that my field has changed considerably. I'm realizing it's time to shapeshift for my next chapter, whatever that may be. For the last two years, every time I've looked in the mirror, the face staring back at me has been one of disappointment. I'm trying to change that and give that guy in the mirror a break. I think back to my father and have a new appreciation not for what he did for work but for how he showed up for his family in those times of tensity. Do you have a story to share about job loss? Contact this editor at lhaas@
El Chorouk
15-04-2025
- Politics
- El Chorouk
The French Are Firing The 'Coup De Grace' On Bilateral Relations
The fragile signs of reconciliation between Algeria and France have collapsed, and the hope of a rapprochement that was not serious from the beginning, especially on the French side, has been set back by pockets of resistance from within the administration of President Emmanuel Macron, led by Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who used the Algerian file as a tool to pave his way to the presidency of his right-wing party (the Republicans), in anticipation of what is bigger than his previous bid for the Elysee Palace. The statement issued by the French Foreign Ministry on Tuesday, April 15, which reiterated Paris' position on the Western Sahara issue, is the last nail in the coffin of Macron's policy towards Algeria, because it came at the wrong time and in the wrong direction, exposing the French administration's poisonous intentions towards Algeria and its vital interests. 'France's support for the autonomy plan proposed by Morocco in 2007, which enjoys a growing international consensus, is clear and firm. This is the only basis for reaching a just and lasting political solution.' The timing of this statement contains more than one message, because it coincided with a circumstance where the statement had to repair what it had messed up since last summer. France realizes that the main reason for the tension in its relations with Algeria is due to Macron's position on the Sahrawi issue, as evidenced by the withdrawal of the Algerian ambassador from Paris following that decision, yet it insisted on going in the wrong direction, unlike Spain, which knew how to contain the dispute over this sensitive file, in a very clever diplomatic way. The statement revealed beyond any doubt that Paris does not want to lower the level of its provocation towards Algeria. The announcement came in the context of the UN Security Council meeting on Western Sahara, in the midst of an unprecedented escalation between the two countries, characterized by the expulsion by Algeria of 12 French diplomats working at their country's embassy in Algeria, in response to the imprisonment of an Algerian consular officer in Paris, outside consular norms and against the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963. Following the visit of French Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noël Barrot to Algeria, information was leaked about the possibility of a consensus between the two countries on the Saharawi issue. However, the rise in tension after the French slippage by imprisoning an Algerian consular officer outside the norms in violation of the 1963 convention prompted the French side to pursue a policy of running away from the issue. Prior to this, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot had threatened to escalate tensions against Algeria in an interview with France 2, if it persisted with its decision to expel the 12 French diplomats, whom Algeria considered persona non grata, and asked them to leave the country within 48 hours. The serious repercussions of the French provocations on bilateral relations began to emerge, the first of which was the decision by the head of the Algerian Economic Renewal Council, Kamel Moula, to cancel a planned visit to France at the invitation of his counterpart, the head of the French business movement MEDEF. The French Foreign Minister had complained that French economic interests in Algeria were being restricted, and mentioned among the sectors concerned a shipping company, which was advised by the authorities in Paris not to travel to Algeria, indicating a lack of intention on the part of the French side to normalize its relations with Algeria in a logical and equitable manner. The visit of French Minister of Justice Gerald Moussa Darmanin to Algeria, which was scheduled for next month, is facing an unknown fate, just as the case of Franco-Algerian writer Boualem Sansal sank into the mud of the escalation, as it became a secondary file in the recent French agenda, indicating that this file was only a card to provoke Algeria, as he is not a second-class French citizen.
