South Africa voices disappointment over UN’s rejection of Polisario proposal

South Africa has voiced its disappointment following the United Nations Security Council's adoption of Resolution 2797 on Friday, October 31, which leans in favor of Morocco.

«We are disappointed that, although Security Council resolutions since 2007 have considered both the Moroccan autonomy proposal and the Sahrawi people's aspirations, the latest resolution exclusively favors the Moroccan plan for negotiations, thereby sidelining self-determination and the Sahrawi proposals», declared Marthinus van Schalkwyk, South Africa's Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN.

The South African diplomat highlighted that centering the resolution around the Moroccan proposal as the «sole framework» for negotiations undermines the core mandate of MINURSO, which is to facilitate a referendum that leads to a just, lasting, and mutually acceptable political solution ensuring the self-determination of the Sahrawi people.

Since 2004, South Africa has recognized the «Sahrawi Republic» and has been a staunch supporter of the Polisario Front on both African and international platforms. However, this support appears to be diminishing. Morocco has successfully bolstered its influence within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), a region once seen as Pretoria's stronghold. This shift is evident with the opening of consulates in Dakhla and Laâyoune by the Union of the Comoros, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Eswatini, all members of this regional bloc.