Latin America : Left-wing presidents disappoint the Polisario Front
Despite the presence of staunch Polisario supporters, such as the presidents of Colombia and Uruguay, the final communiqué notably omitted any reference to the Front. Both nations, however, continue to recognize the so-called «RASD».
The Santiago declaration signatories reaffirmed their dedication to «peace and respect for international law and humanitarian law».
«We call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and demand full, safe, and unrestricted humanitarian access to the Gaza Strip, in accordance with the principles of humanitarian law and under the coordination of the United Nations».
For the record, during the 28th Ibero-American summit of heads of state and government in March 2023 in the Dominican Republic, the Colombian president had proposed including the Polisario as an observer member in this bloc. This proposal was swiftly dismissed by the Spanish Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares.
Moreover, the Uruguayan president, Yamandu Orsi, has extended an invitation to Brahim Ghali to attend his inauguration ceremony, set for March 2, 2025, in Montevideo.
Media outlets linked to the Front have remained silent regarding this meeting aimed at fostering a multipolar world. Meanwhile, Chile and Brazil maintain their stance of not recognizing the republic self-proclaimed by the Polisario on February 27, 1976. In contrast, Spain's head of government reiterated his support in March 2022 for Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Morocco World
9 hours ago
- Morocco World
Over 80 Irregular Immigrants Swim to Ceuta in Summer's Largest Irregular Migration Wave
Rabat — More than 80 people swam to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on Saturday in the largest irregular immigration wave of the summer. The group included at least 50 Moroccan and Palestinian minors who braved dangerous sea conditions marked by strong swells and thick coastal fog. Spanish media outlet El Faro de Ceuta reported that rescue operations stretched from Friday afternoon through Saturday night. Spanish maritime units and divers from the Civil Guard's Special Underwater Activities Group (GEAS) worked intensively to save lives in the treacherous waters. The news outlet indicated that official reports confirm that rescuers saved 54 minors and around 30 adults. Most swimmers are reportedly Moroccan, with several Palestinians among them. Children scatter through city streets Despite increased security measures, several minors managed to slip away into different neighborhoods of Ceuta. This suggests the actual number of arrivals may exceed official figures released by authorities. Local authorities immediately transferred the rescued children to temporary reception centers. They also called on the central government to provide emergency assistance to handle the influx. August brings annual migration surge August typically sees a spike in migration attempts to the Ceuta enclave each year, with structural and situational factors driving this pattern, including poverty and unemployment in the region. This time, migrants took advantage of the dense fog that affects Morocco's northern coasts during this period, reducing the effectiveness of maritime radars and making irregular crossings easier to attempt undetected. Morocco's efforts to counter irregular immigration In response to the pressuring irregular immigration challenges across its borders, Morocco succeeded in preventing a total of 78,685 attempts in 2024. The North African country has shown firm response to the growing number of irregular immigration and related practices. Moroccan authorities dismantled 332 human trafficking networks during the same year, defying these groups' collaborative criminal operations. Most intercepted migrants came from West Africa, accounting for 58% of the total, while migrants from the Maghreb represented 12%, and 9% came from East and Central African countries. Tags: ceutaIrregular immigrantsirregular immigration
Ya Biladi
a day ago
- Ya Biladi
Moroccan journalist Mohamed El Bakkali in danger aboard humanitarian ship to Gaza
The Moroccan journalist Mohamed El Bakkali, Al Jazeera's correspondent, is facing imminent danger. Currently aboard the Handala, a humanitarian sailboat bound for Gaza to challenge the Israeli blockade, the vessel is on the brink of interception by the Israeli army. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has issued an urgent call for his protection. El Bakkali is documenting this mission alongside American cameraman Waad Mohamed Salim Al Taii. They are the sole journalists on board for Al Jazeera, engaged in a perilous operation to report on the delivery of aid to Gaza, a territory isolated from the world. On Saturday, July 26, at around 8:15 PM, the Handala was approximately 100 kilometers off the coast of Gaza when the Israeli army approached. The vessel carried journalists and French MPs. Gabrielle Cathala from La France Insoumise announced on X: «The Israeli army is very close. We are going to throw our phones into the water. Glory to the Palestinian people and to those who resist.» The Handala follows in the wake of the Madleen, another ship seized in June while attempting to reach Gaza. Onboard were MEP Rima Hassan and activist Greta Thunberg. The passengers were expelled to Jordan, with Rima Hassan detained for three days. Since March, Israel has enforced an almost total humanitarian blockade on Gaza, pushing the Palestinian population to the brink of famine. According to the United Nations, over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed since the end of May while simply trying to secure food. «766 of them were killed near GHF sites», stated Thameen Al-Kheetan, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, to the BBC. The work of journalists like Mohamed El Bakkali is crucial. Their presence, their perspective, and their words serve as one of the few connections between Gaza and the outside world.
Ya Biladi
a day ago
- Ya Biladi
Africa : Polisario allies in SADC press agenda on other members
On July 24 and 25, Tanzania became the focal point for a significant meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) foreign ministers. At the close of this summit, the ministers expressed clear support for the Polisario. They «welcomed the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding between the SADC and SADR, recognizing its alignment with the UN-led process for the self-determination of Western Sahara», as stated in a press release. To revisit earlier developments, on April 2, SADC Secretary-General Elias M. Magosi and the Polisario's representative in Botswana, Bah El Mad Abdellah, inked a memorandum of understanding. This agreement aims to «implement the decisions adopted by the SADC heads of state and government in August 2019, as well as the Declaration on the SADC Solidarity Conference with the SADR held in March 2019 in Pretoria, South Africa». Nonetheless, this agreement faced immediate condemnation from Malawi, the Union of the Comoros, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Eswatini. These countries, members of the regional bloc, are actively seeking to distance themselves from South African influence. On the issue of the Sahara, they all acknowledge Moroccan sovereignty and have established consulates in Laayoune or Dakhla.
