Struggling to find influential allies, the Polisario Front is intensifying its efforts to gain recognition for its self-proclaimed «republic». After a lackluster attempt with Moscow, the separatist movement is now trying to win over Brazilian President Lula to its cause. However, in Brazil, even the Workers' Party—once a steadfast supporter—is now leaning in favor of Morocco's autonomy plan. After an unsuccessful attempt to court Vladimir Putin, the Polisario Front is now focusing its efforts on Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. «Yes, we are trying to persuade His Excellency President Lula, who has recognized Palestine, to do the same with the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). This republic is a founding member of the African Union, and we already have numerous embassies», said the Polisario Front's representative in Brasilia during an interview with a Brazilian media outlet yesterday. «We believe the histories of Palestine and the Sahrawi people are closely linked. Lula first recognized the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), and years later, on December 5, 2010, he took a historic step by recognizing the Palestinian Republic. Now, we hope he will recognize the Sahrawi Republic and allow us to open an embassy», explained Ahmed Moulay Ali Hamadi. However, he acknowledged that the Brazilian president has so far ignored repeated requests from the Polisario to grant recognition to their «republic». «So far, we have tried to establish direct contact with Lula, but we have yet to receive a response. We are in discussions with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and have met with members of the Africa division, but it seems they have no decision-making power. Everyone says it's Lula who decides», added Hamadi. The Polisario Losing Ground in Brazil In reality, the Polisario Front is losing influence in Brazil, even within the Workers' Party (PT), currently in power and once a traditional ally of the separatist movement. «Morocco's autonomy plan for the Sahara is based on dialogue and international law and should contribute to the well-being of the populations concerned», declared Romenio Pereira, PT's Secretary for International Relations, in November 2024. «I believe Brazil should offer stronger support to the initiative proposed by the Kingdom and continue backing efforts that promote peace and stability in the region», he added. This marks a notable shift in the party's stance: in March 2014, PT MPs had voted in favor of a resolution urging then-President Dilma Rousseff (2011–2016), also from PT, to recognize the SADR. Moreover, Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira praised «the serious and credible efforts of Morocco to advance towards a settlement of the Sahara dispute within the framework of the autonomy initiative presented by the Kingdom in 2007». This position was expressed in a joint communiqué following his discussions on June 7, 2024, in Rabat with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita.
