In a move that has irked officials of the African National Congress (ANC), former South African President Jacob Zuma has once again voiced his support for Morocco's sovereignt over the Sahara. Speaking from Ghana during a leadership conference at the University of Professional Studies in Accra, Zuma reiterated his position, as reported by a South African media outlet on Wednesday, August 20. Leading the uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, South Africa's third-largest political faction in the lower house with 38 seats, Zuma «commended Ghana for its stance on the Western Sahara issue, advocating for the Moroccan autonomy plan over the separatist agenda», according to the same source. It is worth recalling that Ghana halted its recognition of the so-called «SADR» last January. This shift was officially communicated via a document from Ghana's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to its Moroccan counterpart. During his speech to students at the University of Accra, Zuma underscored «the twenty bilateral agreements signed between Morocco and South Africa, stressing the importance of enhanced cooperation between the two nations», as reported by another South African media outlet. These agreements were initially established in May 1998 in Cape Town, during the inaugural session of the Morocco-South Africa Joint Commission, co-chaired by Ms. Aicha Belarbi, Morocco's Secretary of State for Cooperation, and Aziz Pahad, South Africa's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. However, this diplomatic progress faced setbacks following South Africa's recognition of the «SADR» in 2004, under President Thabo Mbeki's leadership. Since Zuma's endorsement of Morocco's sovereignt over the Sahara, the ANC has ramped up its support for the separatist cause. This was highlighted by recent efforts by senior ANC figures, including a minister, to assist the Polisario Front in overcoming its diplomatic isolation in Africa. Accra served as a strategic stop in this campaign orchestrated by President Cyril Ramaphosa. The Ghanaian capital hosted a meeting between Polisario representative Abdelkader Taleb Omar and Jeffrey Radebe, an envoy of Ramaphosa, during the African parties' summit. Radebe, a former influential minister, is also a member of the ANC.
