Latest news with #AutonomyPlan
Maroc
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Maroc
The Gambia Reiterates Support for Morocco's Sovereignty over Sahara, Fully Backs Autonomy Plan as Only Credible, Serious, and Realistic Solution
The Republic of Gambia reiterated its support for Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara region and for the Autonomy Initiative as the only solution to the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara. This clear and consistent stance was reaffirmed in a joint communiqué issued following talks held Wednesday in Rabat between the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Gambians Abroad, Sering Modou Njie. In the joint communiqué, the Gambian Foreign Minister "reaffirmed Gambia's support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Kingdom of Morocco over its entire territory, including the Sahara region," and "reiterated the Republic of Gambia's full support for the Moroccan Autonomy Plan as the only credible, serious, and realistic solution to this issue." The Gambian Minister also "praised the growing international consensus, driven by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, in support of the Autonomy Plan and Morocco's sovereignty over its Sahara," while recalling "the opening of the Consulate General of the Republic of Gambia in Dakhla in January 2020", the first consulate general to open in Dakhla. MAP: 23 July 2025
Ya Biladi
a day ago
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
The Gambia reaffirms support for Morocco's sovereignty over Sahara
The Republic of The Gambia has reiterated its support for Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara and for the Autonomy Initiative as the only solution to the regional dispute. This clear and consistent position was reaffirmed in a joint communiqué issued following talks held on Wednesday in Rabat between Nasser Bourita, Morocco's Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, and Sering Modou Njie, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation, and Gambians Abroad. In the joint statement, the Gambian foreign minister «reaffirmed The Gambia's support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the Kingdom of Morocco over its entire territory, including the Sahara region», and «reiterated the full support of the Republic of The Gambia for the Moroccan Autonomy Plan as the only credible, serious, and realistic solution to this issue». In this regard, the Gambian minister «welcomed the growing international consensus, led by His Majesty King Mohammed VI, in support of the Autonomy Plan and Morocco's sovereignty over its Sahara», while also recalling «the opening of the Consulate General of the Republic of The Gambia in Dakhla in January 2020», the first consulate general to open in Dakhla.
Morocco World
a day ago
- Politics
- Morocco World
Gambian FM: Gambia Will Continue to Support Morocco's Autonomy Plan
Rabat – Gambia's Foreign Affairs Minister Sering Modou Njie reiterated his country's support for Morocco's Autonomy Plan as a credible plan to end the dispute over Western Sahara. 'This is the position of Gambia and all Gambians. We will continue to promote and stand ready to support the Moroccan autonomy plan. We believe this is a credible plan,' the Gambian minister said today in Rabat. He made his remarks following his meeting with his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita, where he reaffirmed his country's readiness to continue to support the Moroccan initiative. Gambia has been among the staunch supporters of Morocco's territorial integrity. The country further reflected this full support and recognition in January 2020, when it opened a general consulate in Morocco's Dakhla. Dakhla and Laayoune host over 30 consulates from African, Caribbean, and Arab countries, all of whom have voiced their explicit support for Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces in Western Sahara throughout the years. For Rabat, the opening of the consulates strengthens the vocation of the region as the African continent's gateway to Morocco. The region of Dakhla hosts several representations, including those of Haiti, Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, Suriname, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Togo, Equatorial Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Cape Verde, Djibouti, and Burkina Faso. Laayoune, meanwhile, hosts Jordan, Bahrain, UAE, Burundi, Central Africa, Comores, Malawi, Zambia, Eswatini, Sao Tome and Principe, Gabon, and Cote d'Ivoire. Gambia's reaffirmation comes as Rabat has been witnessing a momentum of support for its sovereignty over its southern provinces in Western Sahara, in a stark contrast to Algeria's hostility, challenging Morocco's territorial integrity by backing Polisario's separatism claims. Tags: algeria western saharaGambia and morocco
IOL News
a day ago
- Politics
- IOL News
The Hypocrisy of Jacob Zuma: A Betrayal of Sahrawi Solidarity
A demonstration in support of the March for Freedom, which aimed to raise awareness of the Sahrawi cause and that of political prisoners held in Toulouse, France on April 19, 2025. Image: AFP Carl Niehaus As a Member of Parliament for the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), I am consumed by a righteous fury that words can scarcely contain. Jacob Zuma's recent reversal on Western Sahara is opportunism and inexplicable hypocrisy of the highest order – a man who, as South Africa's president from 2009 to 2018, upheld Sahrawi solidarity with rhetorical flourish, now suddenly flip-flops to champion Morocco's so-called 'Autonomy Plan' for 'peace and development.' Twisting a dubious story about Morocco's 'historic support' for anti-apartheid exiles into justification for this betrayal, Zuma has sold his soul – and our principles – down the river. Allegations of financial lures, with Morocco's funds reportedly propping up his uMkhonto weSizwe party (MK party), swirl like a dark, toxic cloud, painting this flip-flop as crass opportunism at its ugliest. By displaying our national flag during his July 16, 2025, meeting in Rabat, Zuma falsely creates the impression that he speaks for all South Africans, undermining our sovereignty and the progressive foreign policy that has long stood with the oppressed Sahrawi people. This fractures African unity, weakens the African Union (AU), and emboldens oppressors across the continent. It is nothing less than counterrevolutionary betrayal – a stab in the back to the very ideals Zuma once professed to defend. Not in our name, Zuma! Your actions disgrace the liberation struggle and expose you as a fallen icon, prioritising personal gain over Pan-African solidarity. To appreciate the magnitude of this hypocrisy, let's revisit Zuma's record. During his presidency, Zuma aligned with South Africa's longstanding pro-Sahrawi stance, rooted in the anti-colonial ethos that progressive forces like the EFF champion as a cornerstone of our foreign policy. He hosted Polisario delegations, recognised the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), and condemned Morocco's occupation, viewing it as akin to apartheid's domination. This was no mere rhetoric; it reflected a commitment to self-determination for Africa's last colony. Yet, after having formed the MK party, Zuma's principles evaporated into thin air for the lure of easy money to finance the MK party, which is nothing but a family enterprise for himself and his close family members. Now, as MK party leader, he jets to Rabat on July 15-16, 2025, meets Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, and declares his party 'recognises the historical and legal context underpinning Morocco's claim to Western Sahara.' He praises the 'Autonomy Plan' as a path to 'peace, development, and stability,' ignoring its repressive core. This sudden about-face is inexplicable, save for the whispers of self-interest. Zuma justifies this by invoking Morocco's 'historic support' – referencing ANC training camps in Oujda during exile. But as is the case with so many of Zuma's stories, this mostly fake and twisted narrative lacks authenticity: Morocco's aid was selective and overshadowed by its covert alliances with apartheid South Africa, including arms deals. 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 ✕ To use it now as cover for endorsing colonialism is betrayal incarnate. And the financial allegations? Reports suggest Moroccan incentives have swayed the MK party's stance, turning policy into a transaction. These claims, emerging amid the MK party's internal turmoil, paint Zuma's pivot as crass opportunism – dirhams for doctrine, propping up a fledgling and faltering party at the expense of principles. The flag display is the crowning insult. In Rabat, Zuma unfurled our national colours during the meeting, creating the illusion of official South African endorsement. This falsely claims he speaks for the nation, undermining our sovereignty by misrepresenting our voice on the world stage. It erodes the progressive foreign policy that has positioned South Africa as a champion of decolonisation – recognising SADR, advocating referendums, and isolating occupiers. Zuma's opportunistic stunt fractures African unity, handing Morocco a propaganda win to weaken the AU's anti-colonial resolve and embolden oppressors from Rabat to Tel Aviv. This is counterrevolutionary betrayal: a former freedom fighter aiding imperialism, diluting the ethos of Mandela, Hani, and Sankara for personal vendettas and gain. The 'Autonomy Plan'? A Bantustan redux: nominal local rule under Rabat's boot, echoing apartheid's segregated Homelands – unviable puppets denying true freedom. As the late revolutionary icon Winnie Madikizela-Mandela aptly put it in her 2010 speech on Western Sahara, 'We also experienced an attempt at so-called autonomy. Several 'Bantustans', which were ethnically based, totally unviable, 'independent' states, were created on 13% of the most unproductive parts of the country. They were led by puppet dictators. The people rejected these 'countries' outright despite some having been given official recognition by certain Western and African countries.' This led her to suggest that Morocco must have taken lessons from the apartheid regimes. To fully grasp why Zuma's endorsement of this plan is so odious, one must understand the short but brutal history of the oppression of the Sahrawi people. Western Sahara, a vast desert territory on Africa's northwest coast, was colonised by Spain in 1884, becoming known as Spanish Sahara. The indigenous Sahrawi, nomadic Arab-Berber tribes with a rich cultural heritage of poetry, camel herding, and resistance, endured harsh Spanish rule for nearly a century. By the 1970s, as decolonisation swept the continent, the Sahrawis formed the Polisario Front in 1973 to demand independence, inspired by global anti-colonial movements. Spain's withdrawal in 1975, amid UN calls for a self-determination referendum, opened the door to betrayal. Morocco, under King Hassan II, launched the 'Green March' – a mass civilian invasion backed by military forces – claiming historical ties dismissed by the International Court of Justice. Simultaneously, Mauritania invaded from the south. The secret Madrid Accords partitioned the territory, ignoring Sahrawi rights and sparking a guerrilla war. Mauritania withdrew in 1979, but Morocco annexed its share, escalating oppression. Moroccan forces bombed civilian camps with napalm and phosphorus, displacing over 100,000 Sahrawis into Algerian refugee camps, where generations have grown up in exile. Morocco's tactics grew more insidious: constructing the 2,700-kilometre Berm wall in the 1980s – fortified with landmines, radar, and troops – to bisect the territory and contain Polisario fighters. This 'wall of shame' symbolises division, trapping Sahrawis in poverty while Morocco exploits phosphates, fisheries, and potential oil reserves worth billions. Human rights abuses abound: arbitrary arrests, torture, forced disappearances, and suppression of Sahrawi culture and language. A 1991 UN ceasefire promised an independence referendum, but Morocco has obstructed it for decades, proposing instead the Autonomy Plan – limited self-rule under its sovereignty, excluding full freedom. The 2020 ceasefire collapse, triggered by Moroccan incursions, reignited low-intensity conflict, with Polisario resuming armed resistance. Over 170,000 Sahrawi refugees remain in Algerian camps, facing food shortages and harsh conditions, while occupied zones see protests met with brutality. This oppression, violating over 100 UN resolutions, echoes colonial patterns, denying self-determination and perpetuating Africa's last colony. As the EFF, we reject it with the utter contempt that it deserves; we will continue to protest, boycott, and demand justice. Zuma's actions won't deter us; they fuel our revolutionary fire. We call for probes into the MK party's financial ties with the very wealthy Moroccan Royal family, mass protests, and AU expulsion for Morocco. Forward to liberation for the Sahrawi people. The betrayal and oppression of the Sahrawi people will certainly not be tolerated in our name. * Carl Niehaus is a Member of Parliament for the Economic Freedom Fighters. ** The views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of IOL, Independent Media or The African.
Zawya
2 days ago
- Politics
- Zawya
Portugal Fully Supports Autonomy Initiative as Most Serious, Credible & Constructive Basis to Settle Moroccan Sahara Dispute
As part of the international momentum generated under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, in support of Morocco's sovereignty over its Sahara and the Autonomy Plan, the Portuguese Republic expresses "its full support for the Moroccan autonomy initiative as the most serious, credible and constructive basis to settle this dispute." This position was expressed in the Joint Statement signed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Mr. Nasser Bourita, and the Portuguese Minister of State and Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel, following their meeting on Tuesday in Lisbon. Portugal recognizes the importance of this issue for Morocco, as well as the serious and credible efforts undertaken by the Kingdom within the framework of the United Nations to achieve a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, the Joint statement notes. The two ministers reaffirmed their support for UN Security Council Resolution 2756, which emphasizes the role and responsibility of the parties in seeking a realistic, pragmatic and lasting political solution based on compromise, the document adds. Through its new stance, Portugal sends a clear message reflecting its adherence to the international consensus around Morocco's autonomy Plan, in line with the strong international dynamic driven by His Majesty King Mohammed VI. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Kingdom of Morocco - Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates.
