South Africa: Voices within the ANC call for closer ties with Morocco and a shift in position on the Moroccan Sahara
Last Wednesday, several sections of the African National Congress (ANC), South Africa’s ruling party, submitted a memorandum to the party’s Secretariat in Johannesburg, advocating for a strategic rapprochement with Morocco. This document highlights the historical and current role of the Kingdom in supporting African causes, particularly its decisive backing of the anti-apartheid struggle.
The memorandum’s signatories recalled that Nelson Mandela, a global icon of the anti-apartheid movement, repeatedly acknowledged in his speeches and writings Morocco’s significant support for the ANC. This assistance included military training for ANC fighters in Morocco before Algeria’s independence, along with notable financial and political aid.
A Historical Partnership
This historic partnership also manifested in the establishment of the ANC’s military wing, uMKhonto WeSizwe, with Moroccan backing, and in Morocco hosting the ANC’s office on its soil. At the 1961 Casablanca Conference, Morocco, alongside other pan-African leaders, played a pivotal role in promoting the fight against colonialism and apartheid.
Morocco: A Leading Force in Africa
Today, the signatories emphasize that Morocco has become a major economic player in Africa, hosting significant South African investments and playing a central role in implementing continental economic projects. They believe that strengthened synergies between the two nations would help achieve the goals of the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and unlock the full potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The memorandum’s authors urge the ANC to recognize these strategic opportunities while calling for more constructive diplomatic dialogue between South Africa and Morocco.
A Call to Reassess South Africa’s Stance on the Sahara
Regarding the Sahara issue, the memorandum underscores the widespread international support for Morocco’s Autonomy Initiative, launched in 2007 as a realistic and sustainable solution to the dispute. More than 110 United Nations member states back this proposal, which aligns with Security Council resolutions, including Resolution 2756 adopted in October 2024.
The ANC sections call on South Africa to align with these developments by supporting a peaceful political solution and ceasing support for actors advocating military actions. The memorandum also urges Pretoria to encourage Algeria, Mauritania, and the “Polisario” to seriously consider Morocco’s proposal.
Protests Outside the ANC Headquarters
In parallel with the memorandum’s submission, protesters gathered outside the ANC headquarters in Johannesburg to criticize the party’s current diplomatic stance toward Morocco. They called for a revision of South Africa’s diplomatic relations to reflect the political and economic realities of the continent.
A Turning Point for the ANC and South Africa?
These internal calls within the ANC reflect a growing awareness of the need to redefine relations between South Africa and Morocco. As Morocco emerges as a pan-African leader, these voices advocate for a mutually beneficial strategic partnership, capable of fostering peace, economic development, and stability across Africa.
Only time will tell if these initiatives will bear fruit and strengthen ties between two African powers with shared ambitions.
The Editorial Team / Le7tv
