In South Africa, the third-largest political force in the lower house has expressed its support for Morocco's sovereignty over Western Sahara. On this issue, President Cyril Ramaphosa's party appears increasingly isolated, as the Democratic Alliance—representing the white minority—has shown little enthusiasm for supporting the Polisario. The South African political party uMkhonto weSizwe (MK), founded in December 2023 by former president Jacob Zuma, has supported Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara. In contrast to the position of the African National Congress (ANC), led by current president Cyril Ramaphosa, MK states in an official document that «Western Sahara was a part of Morocco before Spanish colonization in the late 19th century. Indeed, Western Sahara has been an integral part of Morocco for centuries». «When Spain withdrew in 1975, the region's status was left unresolved, and Morocco moved to reclaim it. This action was in line with Morocco's territorial integrity, which has been a cornerstone of its foreign policy. Our party recognizes the historical and legal context that underpins Morocco's claim to Western Sahara. The region has long been a part of Morocco, both before and after the colonial occupation of the Spanish, and Morocco's sovereignty over it should be respected». Jacob Zuma Met King Mohammed VI in 2017 MK adds that «Morocco's proposal for autonomy in Western Sahara must be looked into within the context of the unification of African people and the principles of self-determination. Morocco's proposal allows for significant local governance by the Sahrawi people, while ensuring that Morocco retains its sovereignty over the region. This approach could offer a balanced path forward that promotes stability, peace, and development in a region long plagued by conflict», the document explains. The uMkhonto weSizwe party affirms that «any solution must take into account the interests of all parties involved, including Morocco and the Sahrawi population. In this regard, the autonomy plan could possibly be a realistic alternative and a means to end the suffering and instability in this region». Zuma's party has also advocated for strengthening ties between South Africa and Morocco. It is worth recalling that former president Jacob Zuma met King Mohammed VI on the sidelines of the African Union–European Union summit held in November 2017 in Abidjan. The meeting was condemned by the dominant faction within the ANC, forcing Zuma to offer explanations to appease his political base. «Morocco is an African nation, and we need to have relations with them. We've never had issues with them. It was they who cut off diplomatic ties», he said at the time, referring to Morocco's 2004 decision to sever relations in response to Pretoria's recognition of the self-proclaimed «Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic» (SADR). Regarding his meeting with the Moroccan monarch on November 29, 2017, Zuma remained vague: «We met and talked». He acknowledged, however, that the two countries did not see eye-to-eye on the Sahara issue. Umkhonto weSizwe is currently the third-largest political force in South Africa's lower house of Parliament, holding 58 seats, behind the Democratic Alliance (DA) — led by John Steenhuisen and widely seen as representing the white minority — with 87 seats, and the ANC with 159 seats. Since the beginning of this year, South Africa has also been facing an independence movement in the Cape region, reportedly backed by U.S. president Donald Trump.
