Sahara : South Africa says US recognition «totally surprising», has «no force and effect»

Days after the United States announced that it has recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, the Polisario’s allies rushed into denouncing the decision. After Algeria, South Africa said that US President Donald Trump’s decision «has no force and effect».

Speaking on Monday, South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor argued that the American decision «was totally surprising». «It is essentially the recognition of an illegality», she told reporters during a briefing on South Africa’s international relations.

Pandor reiterarted its support for the separatist movement, insisting that South Africa would «continue to indicate that the United States is wrong in its assertion and it doesn’t go along with the multilateral bodies and global recognition of the position of occupation».

Furthermore, the South African Minister said that the US recognition «goes against international law and the African Union’s Constitutive Act».

For the record, the Trump administration announced last week that it recognizes Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, promising to open a consulate in the city of Dakhla. The decision comes as Morocco agreed to reestablish diplomatic ties with Israel, in a deal brokered by the United States.