As murmurs surrounding Morocco’s potential involvement with the BRICS group grew louder, the heart of the matter came to light: the Western Sahara question.
Historically rooted in a territorial dispute between the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (proclaimed by the Polisario Front) and the Kingdom of Morocco, the Western Sahara conflict started in 1975 when Spain withdrew from the region.
With a promised UN-brokered referendum on Western Sahara’s future still pending, the complexities of the issue persist.
Moroccan diplomats have elucidated, attributing the enduring Sahara dispute as the linchpin in their deliberations on potential BRICS involvement.
Johannesburg is abuzz, prepping for the BRICS summit slated for August 24th.
This high-profile congregation, representing powerhouses Brazil, Russia, India, China, and host nation South Africa, will converge to discuss international cooperation.
While the absence of France’s Emmanuel Macron is confirmed, whispers of Morocco’s involvement garnered attention.
However, official channels from Rabat have since quashed these rumors, firmly stating their non-participation.
The plot thickened when it surfaced that an official invite had indeed been dispatched to Morocco by the South African government.
In response, a spokesperson from Morocco’s foreign affairs department categorically declined the offer.
Drawing a distinction, they asserted that the invitation didn’t bear the seal of the BRICS consortium or the African Union; it was a unilateral gesture from South Africa.
This isn’t the first time that the Moroccan Sahara issue has caused diplomatic ripples.
Relations between Rabat and Pretoria have historically been tense, often marred by South Africa’s stance on the Moroccan Sahara, which resonates with the Polisario Front’s call for independence.
Rabat’s diplomats haven’t hesitated in voicing their concerns, pinpointing what they perceive as South African provocations during the invite process, and insinuating haphazard selection criteria for invitees.
Morocco sees an ulterior motive in this intricate geopolitical dance, suspecting South Africa of harboring a covert agenda behind the event.
Yet, it’s imperative to acknowledge Morocco’s significant diplomatic ties with the remaining BRICS members—three of them even sharing strategic pacts with the kingdom.
For the record, Morocco underlines that they’ve never officially eyed BRICS membership, citing the absence of any formal induction procedures.
In the backdrop of this diplomatic drama, the ongoing plight of Sahrawis in refugee camps in Algeria, a result of the Western Sahara conflict, cannot be overlooked.
Morocco’s unwavering allegiance to the Sahara cause lies the crux of this saga.
Renowned for its pursuit of global affiliations promoting development and security, Morocco perceives a BRICS alliance as potentially beneficial.
However, its unyielding Sahara stance, juxtaposed with South African reproach, casts a long shadow over its participation in any Pretoria-led summit.