In South Africa, an executive from the ANC, Nelson Mandela’s political party, was reframed after a visit to Morocco, the presidential party historically supporting the Polisario Front in the Western Sahara issue. Explanations.
2 mins
With our correspondent in Johannesburg, Claire Bargelès
In South Africa, the African National Congress (ANC), the presidential party, is embarrassed after the visit of one of its executives, Obed Bapela, to Rabat, and his meeting with the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The historic political formation of Nelson Mandela has in fact always supported the cause of the Polisario Front, a recurring subject of tension with the Shereef kingdom. And the ANC therefore expressed its surprise to see that a delegation speaking on its behalf spoke with the Moroccan government, and summoned this representative to explain itself.
According to a letter addressed to him by the Deputy Secretary General of the party, Obed Bapela had indicated that he was going to Morocco as part of a private visit. But this long-time member of the ANC actually met the head of diplomacy, Nasser Bourita, and reportedly advocated strengthening economic ties between the two countries.
“ A serious violation of our principles and policies »
A meeting which could have hinted at the beginning of a warming of relations, while the President of the South African Parliament received her Moroccan counterpart in Johannesburg last month. However, it was very quickly reframed, and the Deputy Secretary is worried, “ a serious violation of our principles and policies “.
Obed Bapela, former deputy minister for public enterprises, is still part of the political party’s executive committee, and sits on its international affairs subcommittee. The ANC therefore fears that it has caused confusion regarding its position vis-à-vis the Polisario Front, and wanted to once again reaffirm its support for the right to self-determination of the Sahrawis. He is now prohibited, until further notice, from speaking on behalf of the party, with governments or political representatives.
THE Western Saharaa former Spanish colony, is controlled mainly by Morocco, which is proposing an autonomy plan under its sovereignty. But this territory is claimed by the Sahrawi separatists of the Polisario Front, supported in particular by Algeria, who are demanding a self-determination referendum planned during a ceasefire in 1991, but never organized. For its part, the UN considers this territory, with its rich fish waters and significant phosphate reserves, as a “ non-self-governing territory “.
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