During an official visit to Morocco, former South African President Jacob Zuma was received by Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita in Rabat on Tuesday, July 15.
On this occasion, Zuma explicitly voiced his support for the Moroccan autonomy initiative regarding the Sahara, marking a symbolically significant moment in relations with a prominent South African political figure.
Jacob Zuma, who served as South Africa’s President from 2009 to 2018 and currently leads the uMkhonto we Sizwe (MK) party, utilized his meeting with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita to offer clear backing for the Moroccan autonomy initiative as a viable political solution to the Sahara dispute. This stance aligns with a position recently adopted by his MK party, which in June publicly recognized “Morocco’s historical and legitimate sovereignty over its Sahara” and described the autonomy initiative as “the only credible and sustainable path” for a peaceful resolution of the conflict. This statement was previously published on the party’s official website, reflecting MK’s alignment with a growing continental and international momentum favoring the Moroccan proposal.
Founded by Zuma in December 2023, the MK party has rapidly emerged as the third-largest political force in South Africa, challenging the long-standing hegemony of the African National Congress (ANC). While MK’s position does not immediately commit the South African state, it signifies an internal shift in political sensibilities within a country long perceived as an unconditional supporter of the Polisario Front. Jacob Zuma’s visit to Rabat occurs amidst increasing international support for the Moroccan initiative, which the Kingdom has advocated since 2007. Following endorsements from several African and European countries, including, most recently, the United Kingdom, the support of a leading figure from Southern Africa could intensify pressure on Pretoria to re-evaluate its diplomatic stance on this enduring issue.
Jacob Zuma emphasized the importance of an African and pragmatic approach to resolving this regional dispute. Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, for his part, commended Zuma’s “position marked by lucidity and responsibility,” reiterating the Kingdom’s desire to strengthen dialogue with emerging political forces across the continent.
This high-profile meeting in Rabat could thus pave the way for renewed dialogue between Morocco and various components of the South African political landscape, at a time when intra-African relations concerning issues of sovereignty and regional integration are undergoing profound transformations.
MK/te/Sf/fss/abj/APA