2 days ago
South Africa's Last Push to to Keep Polisario Relevant
Rabat – South African President Cyril Ramaphosa is mounting a last-ditch effort to prop up the Polisario Front as its support across Africa fades. Leaning on loyal ANC allies, he has arranged carefully staged meetings with Polisario figures at recent summits, a move that highlights the group's shrinking network and growing dependence on South Africa's backing in the face of Morocco's rising influence over Western Sahara.
At the First African Investment Summit on Water held in South Africa on August 13-14, Polisario's delegation, led by their 'Foreign Minister' Mohamed Yeslem Beissat, met with South African Minister of Water and Sanitation, Pemmy Majodina, herself an ANC member.
Meanwhile, in Accra, a meeting took place between Abdelkader Taleb Omar, a Polisario representative, and Jeffrey Radebe, Ramaphosa's special envoy, during a summit of African political parties. Radebe, a former ANC minister, hosted the encounter.
The ANC under Ramaphosa has visibly ramped up its support for the Polisario following former President Jacob Zuma's public endorsement of Morocco's position on Western Sahara.
Zuma, leader of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party, visited Morocco last month and met with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita .
South Africa's government strongly protested the visit, notably because the South African flag was displayed during Zuma's meeting, which the government felt implied official endorsement. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) lodged a formal objection.
Zuma's MK Party, which split from the ANC, published a document endorsing Morocco's autonomy plan and rejecting Polisario's claims. The text affirms that Western Sahara historically belongs to Morocco and commends the 1975 Green March as a liberation moment. This stance marks a sharp departure from the ANC's policy.
Read also: South Africa's MK Party Recognizes Morocco's Sovereignty Over Western Sahara
The party later hosted a press briefing, during which the spokesperson of the party dismissed criticism from the South African government and said their foreign policy is 'directionless.' The spokesperson said that the party would continue to push for African unity under Zuma's leadership, adding that supporting Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara is part of this vision.
South Africa has long supported the self-styled Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). Meanwhile, over the past years, Morocco has made significant headway in winning international support for its 2007 autonomy proposal for Western Sahara.
The US recognized Moroccan sovereignty in 2020. Two years later, Spain endorsed Morocco's autonomy plan, calling it the most realistic and credible solution. In July 2024, France made a strong shift by formally backing Morocco's claim as the sole basis for a just, lasting settlement, followed by investments and diplomatic agreements.
The UK joined this growing list in June 2025, describing the plan as 'the most credible, viable and pragmatic' solution, placing it alongside the US and France as UN Security Council members supporting Rabat. Other African nations, including Kenya and Ghana, have also recently thrown their support behind the autonomy proposal.
This cascade of recognition, from Western powers to African nations, reflects a broader breakdown of the Polisario's diplomatic isolation. Tags: MoroccoPolisarioSouth AfricaWestern sahara
