Latest news with #AutonomyPlan
Morocco World
4 days ago
- Politics
- Morocco World
South Africa Objects to Former President Zuma's Morocco Visit Over Flag Display
Rabat — South Africa's government expressed today strong objections to former President Jacob Zuma's recent visit to Morocco. The government mainly criticized the use of national symbols during Zuma's meeting with Morocco's Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) issued a statement condemning the circumstances surrounding Zuma's mid-July visit to Rabat. The DIRCO 'has registered its strong objection and concern regarding circumstances around the recent visit of an eminent South African leader, former South African President Mr Jacob Zuma, who is Leader of Umkhonto We Sizwe Party, visited the Kingdom of Morocco and held a meeting in Rabat on 15 July 2025, with His Excellency Mr Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates,' the ministry's statement said. Flag display sparks protest While acknowledging Morocco's sovereign right to invite and host individuals or groups, South Africa's government strongly protested the display of the South African flag during Zuma's meeting with Morocco's foreign minister. 'The use of the South African National Flag in a meeting with a member of a political party in opposition, which is a non-state actor, constitutes an abuse of existing protocol and decorum, and undermines official bilateral relations between the Republic of South Africa and the Kingdom of Morocco,' the statement read. DIRCO expressed outrage over the fact that Rabat displayed South African national symbols, which they claimed naturally imply official state approval and elevate public perception of the event to the level of state-to-state engagement. However, according to the statement, the participants did not represent official South African positions or state commitments, making such characterization contrary to established diplomatic practices. 'This portrayal cannot be recognised as an official bilateral meeting, and the implications drawn from it are firmly rejected,' the ministry noted, urging Morocco's government to avoid such actions in the future. What's truly behind this outrage? South Africa's government's discontent with the visit is most probably linked to Zuma's newly found position over Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara and his endorsement of the country's Autonomy Plan. Following his July 15 meeting with Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita in Rabat, Zuma announced that his MK party supports Morocco's autonomy proposal for Western Sahara. The former president said his party believes the Moroccan proposal 'will allow meaningful local governance by the populations of the Sahara region, while guaranteeing Morocco its sovereignty over the Sahara.' Zuma added that his party 'recognizes the historical and legal context that strengthens Morocco's claim to the Sahara' and believes Morocco's efforts to recover its full territorial integrity align with the MK party's commitment to preserving African states' sovereignty and unity. Describing the autonomy plan as offering 'a balanced path that promotes stability, peace, and development in the region,' Zuma called on the international community to support Morocco's offer as the most viable path to ensuring peace, stability, and prosperity for the Sahara. Tags: Jacob ZumaMoroccoSouth AfricaWestern sahara
Morocco World
6 days ago
- Politics
- Morocco World
Algerian Regime's Online Trolls Caught Faking US Statement to Undermine Morocco-US Ties
Rabat – Algerian regime mouthpieces are again resorting to social media to fuel their Morocco-bashing campaigns. Unsurprisingly, this time Algeria's regime online trolls revived their fraud and disinformation machine, especially after US President Donald Trump's recent strong-worded statement reaffirming support for Morocco's territorial integrity and sovereignty over its southern provinces in Western Sahara. The Algerian regime's fraud machine went so far as to fabricate official statements from the US State Department and the White House. In the past few days, Algeria's regime mouthpieces on social media fabricated a statement from the US State Department, inventing a fake name to claim that the message received by King Mohammed VI from Trump was allegedly false. Algeria's online trolls, however, failed to forge the document, leaving behind glaring typos and inconsistencies that no State Department release would contain. Looking closer at the forged document, the fake release reveals serious errors, with a forged signature as well as blatant linguistic errors like 'Amrica' instead of America.' The errors took minimal fact-checking, which was swiftly carried out by Moroccan social media, which caught Algeria's mouthpieces red-handed. The recent situation marks a pattern of disinformation tactics that the Algerian regime uses in an attempt to undermine Morocco's interests, especially as Rabat continues to gain momentum in the Sahara dossier. Over 115 countries are on a growing list that explicitly support Morocco's Autonomy Plan as a serious and credible political solution, or the only or most political framework able to end the dispute over Western Sahara. This momentum leaves Algeria's regime lobbying attempts and advocacy for separatism and Polisario's 'self-determination' narrative isolated within the international community. This is not the first time that Algeria's regime fabricated a release from the US State Department. In July, the Algerian presidency, Algeria's regime mouthpiece press, as well as the state media, fabricated a letter from Trump. Algeria's affiliated media claimed the US president had praised a 'lasting' partnership and expressed hope for flourishing ties between the two countries. However, some critics exposed the regime's attempt, noting that Trump has indeed sent a letter to Tebboune. Unlike the claims reported by Algeria's regime, the letter sought to inform Tebboune about the 30% tariffs on Algeria. The Algerian latest disinformation attempts come as the regime continues to turn a deaf ear to a direct opportunity to end tensions with Morocco. In his speech on Throne Day on Tuesday, King Mohammed VI reiterated Rabat's readiness to open a bridge of dialogue and discussion, stressing the importance of good neighborly relations to address regional challenges. Yet, as on many occasions, Algeria's regime responded with silence. However, many regional and international officials emphasized the significance of the King's appeal. Tags: Algeria and Moroccorelations between the US and Morocco
Morocco World
01-08-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
US Expected to Greenlight $5 Billion Investment for Morocco's Southern Provinces
Rabat – The US is turning its pledges into reality, preparing to invest $5 billion to support the socio-economic development of Morocco's southern provinces in Western Sahara. For years, especially after the US recognized Morocco's territorial integrity over the region in 2020, Washington has pledged to support the inclusive growth of the southern provinces. 'A policy limited under Joe Biden's administration, the possibility for American companies to invest in Western Sahara is expected to be eased by Donald Trump,' the African Intelligence wrote on Thursday. The report said that the Trump administration is preparing to encourage American companies to invest in Morocco's southern provinces. The US Development Finance Corporation received a green light from Washington to find projects in the region. The development finance cooperation has already held meetings with Moroccan stakeholders, including Moroccan banks and companies, to identify promising projects, the report added. For years, the US has been pledging to continue to support the development of Morocco's southern provinces. The US further emphasized this commitment following its newfound position in 2020, when it officially recognized Morocco's full sovereignty over its southern provinces in Western Sahara. Following its decision, former U.S. Ambassador to Morocco David Fischer announced the US' willingness to open a consulate in Dakhla and to support and encourage investment and development projects that bring 'tangible benefits' to the region's residents. 'I come from a business background in the United States, and I am 100 percent certain that Morocco has a strong economic future ahead of it as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic,' he said in December 2020. The development of the region is a pillar of King Mohammed VI's vision. In his speeches, the monarch has been sharing his vision, emphasizing Morocco's determination to transform southern provinces into an 'engine of development at the regional and continental levels.' The North African kingdom launched several projects to fulfill this commitment, including the Dakhla Atlantic Port. Morocco and the US enjoy strong relations. Now, the two countries seek deeper ties. The US repeatedly emphasized its support for Morocco's territorial integrity. This was confirmed just a few days ago by the US ambassador nominee to Morocco, Richard Duke Buchan III . During his hearing on July 30, Buchan reiterated his country's position, hailing Morocco's Autonomy Plan as the only viable basis for a just and lasting solution for the Western Sahara dispute. He also reiterated his country's determination to facilitate the UN-led political process, calling on all parties to the dispute to engage in the process without further delay. Tags: relations between the US and Morocco
Morocco World
28-07-2025
- Business
- Morocco World
First Lady Visit: El Salvador Seeks Stronger Ties with Morocco
Rabat – Morocco welcomed on Sunday the First Lady of El Salvador, Gabriela Rodrigues de Bukele, as the two countries explore ways to further enhance bilateral relations at all levels. Princess Lalla Asmae of Morocco welcomed Rodrigues De Bukele at the Rabat-Sale Airport upon her arrival. The visit comes as part of a shared determination from the two countries, which are committed to strengthening bilateral relations across all sectors. Bilateral ties experienced a momentum following the country's decision to withdraw recognition of the self-styled SADR run by Polisaio and controlled by Algeria in 2019. Earlier this month, Felix Ulloa, Vice President of El Salvador, renewed his country's commitment to strengthening bilateral ties. He also reiterated his country's steadfast support for Morocco's territorial integrity and for the Autonomy Plan as a serious, realistic, and credible political solution to the regional dispute. In June, the official said his country seeks to expand the areas of cooperation with Morocco, shedding light on his country's interest in building partnerships in several sectors such as fisheries and agriculture. In May, Felix Ulloa recalled the same position in a meeting with Moroccan officials in Quito, Ecuador, where they discussed the possibility of opening of El Salvador consulate in Laayoune. Layoune and Dakhla have been serving as hubs of the international community's support for Morocco's position. At least 30 countries from different regions across the world have opened consulates in Morocco's southern provinces to reflect their support for Morocco's sovereignty over its southern provinces in Western Sahara. Dakhla hosts consulate representatives from several countries, including Haiti, 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 Jordanian representatives, as well as consulates of Bahrain, UAE, Burundi, Central Africa Republic, Comores, Malawi, Zambia, Eswatini, Sao Tome and Principe, Gabon, and Cote d'Ivoire. Tags: el salvador and morocco
Maroc
24-07-2025
- 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
