Moroccan phosphate cargo : The court’s decision «contradicts international laws»

A decision taken by a South African court on Thursday to keep the seized ship carrying a Moroccan cargo of phosphate in port until the case goes to trial «contradicts international laws». The Minister of State in charge of Human Rights, Mustapha Ramid has stressed on that Thursday in Rabat.

This decision contradicts completely the ruling of the Panama court which declared itself that it is not the appropriate venue to consider purely political matters, the Minister recalls in a press conference held during the weekly council of the government. El Khalfi stated that the decision of the South African court is driven by a political matter and contradicts international laws. Putting forward Morocco's «reasonable» position in this case, the government spokesman said that the kingdom rejected this decision and denounced it and «will respond with all the necessary firmness».

Reacting to the court’s ruling, the Moroccan leading company, OCP said in a statement reported by Reuters that «the Polisario's complaint was «a political matter disguised as a legal claim».

For the record, the high court in Port Elizabeth, South Africa has pronounced on the 15th of June its verdict regarding the Moroccan phosphate cargo that was detained on the 1st of May in the African country. According to Western Sahara Resource Watch, a network close to the separatist front, the latter has won the first round of the court case claiming that «the detention of NM Cherry Blossom on 1 May 2017 was correct».