Morocco, South Sudan, Western Sahara, SADR, African Union,
South Sudan rejects Morocco’s request to sever relations with the Sahrawis.
September 24, 2022 (JUBA) – South Sudan has rejected Morocco’s request to sever diplomatic ties with the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, saying it supports the position of the African Union (AU) and the United Nations (UN). ) regarding this question.
The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is a state partially recognized by 41 United Nations member states, located in the Western Maghreb, which claims the non-self-governing territory of Western Sahara, but controls only the easternmost fifth of that territory.
On Tuesday, South Sudan’s Vice President for Services, Hussein Abdelbagi Akol, met and held talks with the Sahrawi Foreign Minister on the sidelines of the 77th regular session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. .
The two leaders discussed bilateral relations, how to advance the interests of Africans, advocate for peace, security and support a more than decade-old policy in which they supported the call of the continental body to the free self-determination of the Saharawi people.
The meeting between the two leaders angered the Moroccan government, which protested in a letter sent to the South Sudan embassy in the North African country.
However, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of South Sudan has informed the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco that “the meeting between our delegation and the Sahrawi Minister of Foreign Affairs does not call into question our strategic bilateral relations with the Kingdom. »
“The Republic of South Sudan is a member of the African Union and the United Nations and would like to reiterate that it does not consider it useful to hold opinions contrary to the position of the African Union and Security Council Resolution 690. United Nations security, as a viable framework of engagement to find a lasting solution to the dispute over Western Sahara,” he added.
Juba added that she has not deviated from her support for the position of the AU and the UN, which insists that the Saharawi people be allowed to decide their future.
“The leaders of South Sudan and the government’s position on the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic fully support the decision of the Organization of African Unity, now the African Union, to admit the SADR into its midst on August 22, 1982, as well as than the AU Charter which calls for the indisputable and inalienable right of a people to self-determination”, underlines the press release of the ministry.
In 2017, Morocco’s King Mohammed VI visited South Sudan and held talks with President Salva Kiir aimed at “promoting friendship and solidarity” between the two nations. This visit came at a time when Morocco was seeking support to rejoin the AU.
Foreign policy experts, however, say South Sudan’s stance would have backpedaled a decade-old policy in which African countries generally support calls for a referendum in an area Morocco claims to be part of its territory.
Sudan Tribune24/09/2022
