JOHANNESBURG, South Africa
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has vowed his government's "unapologetic" backing for the partially recognised Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in Western Sahara.
The disputed status of Western
Sahara – a former Spanish colony considered a "non-self-governing
territory" by the United Nations – has pitted Morocco against the
Algeria-backed pro-independence Polisario Front since the 1970s.
During a visit to Pretoria by
Polisario leader Brahim Ghali, President Ramaphosa said,"We are concerned
about the silence that persists in the world about the struggle for self-determination
for the people of Western Sahara.
"We find that other
struggles are articulated at a higher decibel ... and that is why as South
Africans we are clear, we are firm and we are unapologetic in relation to our
support for Sahrawi people," he added.
Drawing comparison with South
Africa's fight against white minority apartheid regime, Ramaphosa called the pro-independence
movement's struggle "just, noble and honourable."
The Polisario Front is campaigning for an independent
state in Western Sahara – a vast stretch of phosphate-rich desert
that was controlled by Spain betwen 1884 and 1975.
The Polisario proclaimed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in 1976,
placing it in direct conflict with Morocco, which considers the Western Sahara
to be part of its own territory.
Rabat controls nearly 80
percent of the region and is pushing for autonomy under its sovereignty.
The international community
has long backed a referendum to be held to decide the Western Sahara's status,
but Morocco rejects any vote in which independence is an option.
The kingdom argues that
only the granting of autonomy is on the table for the sake of regional
security.
The SADR is a member of the African Union and says it has been
recognised by more than 80 countries.
The dynamics of the
long-simmering conflict changed in 2020 when then US president Donald Trump
recognised Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in exchange for the
kingdom's normalisation of relations with Israel. - Rfi
No comments:
Post a Comment