Latest news with #Polisario
Morocco World
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Morocco World
Italy-Algeria Summit: Abdelmadjid Tebboune Embarrasses Himself With Isolated Support for Polisario
Rabat – Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has once again put himself in an isolated position by expressing support for Polisario's separatism claims in Western Sahara. Following a meeting and discussions with Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Tebboune claimed the European country 'shares' Algeria's perspective on the Western Sahara dispute, asserting 'a perfect convergence' of views between the two countries regarding Polisario's right to 'self-determination.' Yet a statement by the Italian government conveyed a different story, omitting any mention of the country's reported support for the Polisario's outdated self-determination cause. In the declaration it issued following the Italian-Algerian summit on July 23, the Italian government instead announced its commitment toward a balanced, mutually acceptable political solution in line with UN resolutions. 'On the issue of Western Sahara, both parties reiterated their support for the efforts of the UN Secretary-General's Personal Envoy, Mr. Staffan de Mistura, to relaunch direct negotiations and achieve a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution, in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and the relevant Security Council resolutions,' the statement said. The joint declaration reveals a clear divergence from Tebboune's claims, and the Italian response comes as no surprise. Tebboune's recent claims reflect a familiar approach deployed by the Algerian regime. In recent years, Algeria has repeatedly used international and regional forums to promote Polisario's separatist agenda in southern Morocco. Tebboune deployed the same approach in June with Rwanda, and he was caught red-handed disseminating false information regarding the country's position on Western Sahara. Following a meeting with Rwandan president Paul Kagame in June, Tebboune and Algerian mouthpiece media claimed that Kagame had joined his Algerian counterpart in stressing their alleged support for the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination. Yet, Kagame's official website published a communique detailing his remarks with no explicit or implicit mention of Rwanda's support for Polisario's self-determination and referendum aspirations. Such distortion attempts by Algeria show the Algerian regime's desperation to undermine Morocco's growing momentum in the Sahara dossier. Algeria's desperation comes as more countries now embrace the Moroccan Autonomy plan as the most serious and credible path to a lasting political solution to the Western Sahara dispute. Even in Italy, many MPs are viewing the autonomy initiative as a viable political solution to end the long-standing dispute. In 2020, several Italian political parties formed a parliamentary group to voice their support for the initiative. 'Our objective is to reinforce the United Nations' efforts to reach a pragmatic, political, and realistic solution based on compromise,' they said. 'Numerous European states consider the autonomy plan as the most serious and credible solution to put an end to this dispute.' Morocco believes it is only a matter of time before more countries from the EU and beyond join the growing chorus in support of diplomatic pragmatism and political compromise as the only horizon for peace, security, and prosperity in the Sahara. Currently, as many as 114 countries support the Moroccan Autonomy Plan, viewing it as the most viable route to a genuine and sustainable end to the Sahara dispute. Tags: Algeria and polisarioAlgeria and the Western Sahara
Ya Biladi
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Latin America : Left-wing presidents disappoint the Polisario Front
In a significant diplomatic gathering, Santiago, the capital of Chile, became the venue for a high-level meeting that united five leaders from left-leaning countries, all advocating for a multipolar world order. The presidents of Chile, Gabriel Boric; Uruguay, Yamandu Orsi; Colombia, Gustavo Petro; Brazil, Lula Da Silva; alongside the Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, collectively endorsed a joint declaration on Monday, July 21. 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.
Ya Biladi
2 days ago
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
After Zuma's visit to Morocco, South Africa hosts forum backing Polisario
Former South African President Jacob Zuma's recent endorsement of Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara has sent shockwaves through political circles in both Pretoria and Algiers. In response, the South African Embassy in Algeria quickly organized a diplomatic forum in support of the Polisario Front. According to Algerian media, representatives from «around fifteen countries» attended the event, while the Polisario's press agency reported the presence of «about twenty ambassadors». Interestingly, both sources highlighted only two speeches: those of the South African ambassador and the Polisario representative in Algiers. The forum ended with a joint statement reiterating positions long familiar to attendees of similar pro-Polisario gatherings, whether held in Africa or elsewhere. Notably, South Africa had already held a session of this diplomatic forum in Algiers on April 2 9. It is unusual for such events, typically initiated by South Africa's diplomatic mission in Algeria in support of the Polisario, to occur in such close succession. This latest edition was clearly prompted by Jacob Zuma's backing, as leader of the MK party, for Morocco's autonomy plan in Western Sahara, a position strongly condemned by the ruling African National Congress (ANC). Just last week, Algeria sent envoys to Pretoria for discussions with South African officials and ANC members on the political fallout of Zuma's stance, and its implications for South Africa's recognition of the so-called «SADR», which it officially recognized in 2004. The issue was also raised on July 18 in Algiers during a meeting between Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf and his Polisario «counterpart», Mohamed Yeslem Beissat.
Ya Biladi
2 days ago
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
«We won't criticize him publicly», says Polisario after Zuma's Morocco visit and Sahara support
South Africa's former President Jacob Zuma remains under scrutiny following his recent visit to Morocco, where he expressed support for the 2007 autonomy plan for the Sahara in his capacity as leader of the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party. The latest reaction comes from Mohamed Yeslem Beisat, the Polisario's former ambassador to South Africa and «foreign minister» of the self-proclaimed «SADR». «We as Polisario will never make public comments about comrade Jacob Zuma because of his age and because he has been friends with us for the last 50 years», Beisat told South Africa's Mail & Guardian. «Unless we meet and hear from him directly, we will never make Morocco happy by speaking badly or negatively about him», he added. Zuma's position has triggered strong political backlash in South Africa. The ruling African National Congress (ANC) condemned the move and called on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to demand an official apology from Morocco for displaying the South African flag during a partisan meeting. Julius Malema, leader of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), also weighed in. On Monday, he harshly criticized Zuma, calling him a «sellout». In response, Magasela Mzobe, head of the MK party's presidential office, defended Zuma's stance. He praised Morocco as «a prime example of how democracy and modernity can coexist under traditional leadership». Mzobe argued that after decades of deadlock, the most pragmatic solution is autonomy within Morocco, akin to South African provinces with self-governance under one national flag. «That's why we propose an autonomous region of Sahrawis under one country and one flag, Morocco», he argued. He added that the MK party intends to meet with the Polisario Front to explain why it believes autonomy, rather than independence, is the most realistic path forward after decades of unresolved conflict. It is worth noting that Zuma and a delegation from the MK party visited Morocco last week, meeting with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita in Rabat. During the visit, Zuma described Morocco's autonomy proposal as «a meaningful framework for local governance that also upholds Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara». The visit took place just weeks after the MK party, founded in December 2023 and now the third-largest political force in South Africa's National Assembly, officially recognized Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara.
Ya Biladi
3 days ago
- Politics
- Ya Biladi
Polisario leadership rift deepens as Brahim Ghali blocks extraordinary congress
In the Tindouf camps, opposition to Brahim Ghali's leadership is gaining momentum, with a new petition signaling growing discontent. Reviewed by Yabiladi, the document warns that the «national cause is going through a critical and fragile phase», marked by «setbacks and failures, both internal and external», and a «troubling decline in how the national project is being managed». This stark assessment stands in sharp contrast to the triumphant rhetoric often echoed by the Polisario Front's media apparatus. The petition first criticizes the «war» launched on November 13, 2020, against Morocco, acknowledging «a loss of control over liberated territories, reduced room for maneuver on the ground, and a lack of a clear strategy to regain the initiative». This erosion of control, they add, has gone hand in hand with a «steady decline in international recognition of the Sahrawi Republic and growing acceptance of the reality imposed by the Moroccan occupation». Brahim Ghali Moves to Delay Polisario Congress The petition also highlights «the near-total breakdown of security in the camps and in areas previously under control», along with «a rise in arms trafficking and weapons falling into the hands of drug dealers». The authors also warn of «external attempts to undermine the national cause», noting that the first major test of these threats will come in October, when the UN Security Council is set to review the Western Sahara issue. «Despite repeated calls for the leadership and political elites to take these threats seriously, the national leadership, during its latest meeting on July 12–13 in the Tindouf camps, chose to ignore these dangers altogether», the petition states. «Even worse, it carried on as if everything were under control, showing just how disconnected it has become from reality and how far it's drifted from the national cause». Turning their criticism directly toward Brahim Ghali's camp, the signatories stress that «the legitimacy of any leadership is not a blank check, it's a contract between the rulers and the people». They accuse the Polisario leadership of breaking that contract by failing in its core duties: defending the homeland, protecting civilians, and upholding their dignity. The petition ends with a call to convene «an emergency national congress to correct the current course, restore balance, reinforce national unity, and rebuild public trust in the leadership». A similar appeal was made in July 2024 by Bachir Mustapha Sayed in a published article. Last May, other Polisario members had also called for an extraordinary congress to «save the movement from collapse». At the latest meeting of the Polisario's General Secretariat, held last week, calls for holding a regular congress in January 2026 clashed with a veto from Brahim Ghali and his allies, who pushed to delay the gathering by a full year. «That delay is still technically legal under Polisario's internal rules», a former member of the movement told Yabiladi. The outcome of the upcoming UN Security Council resolution on Western Sahara, expected at the end of October 2025, could prove decisive for Ghali's critics and their demands for change.
