Latest news with #Polisario
Ya Biladi
6 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.
The South African
6 days ago
- Politics
- The South African
Western Sahara: 50-year independence fight blocked by Morocco
Western Sahara is a disputed territory in northwest Africa, bordered by Morocco, Algeria, and Mauritania. It spans 266 000 km² and is home to approximately 620 000 people, mostly Sahrawis. Spain colonised the region in 1884 and withdrew in 1975 under the Madrid Accords, transferring administrative authority to Morocco and Mauritania, though no sovereignty was ceded. This triggered Morocco's annexation and the rise of the Polisario Front. Additionally, the United Nations (UN) recognises it as Africa's last non-self-governing territory. Morocco controls 70-80% of the land; the Polisario governs the rest as the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). The region remains under UN supervision pending decolonisation and a referendum. The Sahrawi population includes hundreds of thousands of Sahrawi refugees in Algerian camps near Tindouf. The Polisario Front is led by Brahim Ghali, who also heads the Sahrawi Republic. Morocco's 2007 autonomy plan proposes local governance under Moroccan sovereignty. France endorsed the plan in July 2024, joining the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK). Ghana reaffirmed its backing in June 2025, calling the plan 'the only viable solution'. The UK signed a joint communiqué supporting Morocco's proposal as 'credible and pragmatic'. The US maintains its recognition of Moroccan sovereignty, initially stated in 2020. Furthermore, Morocco claims support from many countries, including Kenya and Guatemala. Despite this, the UN still considers Western Sahara a non-self-governing territory. Algeria backs the Polisario Front and hosts Sahrawi refugees in Tindouf. The Polisario insists on a UN-supervised referendum including independence. In July 2025, it reaffirmed the 1991 UN-African Settlement Plan as the only legal solution. Internal dissent is growing in Tindouf camps, with calls for leadership reform. Algeria condemned France's recognition of Moroccan sovereignty and recalled its ambassador. The UN has criticised Morocco's refusal to allow human rights monitoring in the region. The European Court annulled trade deals involving Western Sahara due to a lack of Sahrawi consent. As a result, the conflict remains unresolved, with sporadic clashes and diplomatic tensions persisting. Morocco continues to exploit Western Sahara's phosphates and renewable energy. The Sahrawi Observatory (SONREP) reports illegal wind and solar projects, excluding locals. Green hydrogen projects in occupied Western Sahara risk exacerbating water scarcity and violating international legal standards due to a lack of Sahrawi consent. Foreign firms from France, China, and the UAE are involved in resource extraction and renewable energy projects in Western Sahara without Sahrawi consent. UN human rights experts condemned Morocco's demolition of Sahrawi homes linked to energy and infrastructure expansion. Human rights abuses include arbitrary detention, torture, and suppression of dissent. On the other hand, Morocco severely restricts UN access to Western Sahara for human rights monitoring. Civil society demands immediate humanitarian assistance and legal responsibility for any violations. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
