• President Cyril Ramaphosa vowed unapologetic support for the partially recognised Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic in Western Sahara.
• He said he is concerned about the silence that persists in the world about the struggle for self-determination for the people of Western Sahara.
• It is a former Spanish colony considered a non-self-governing territory by the United Nations.

President Cyril Ramaphosa on Tuesday vowed the government’s “unapologetic” backing for the partially recognised Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in Western Sahara.

The disputed status of Western Sahara – a former Spanish colony considered a “non-self-governing territory” by the United Nations – has pitted Morocco against the Algeria-backed pro-independence Polisario Front since the 1970s.

“We are concerned about the silence that persists in the world about the struggle for self determination for the people of Western Sahara,” Ramaphosa said during a visit by Polisario leader Brahim Ghali to Pretoria.

“We find that other struggles are articulated at a higher decibel… and that is why as South Africans we are clear, we are firm and we are unapologetic in relation to our support for Sahrawi people.

“It’s a just struggle, it’s a noble struggle, it’s an honourable struggle, a people who want to determine their own destiny through self determination,” said Ramaphosa, drawing comparison with the fight against apartheid.

The Polisario Front is campaigning for an independent state in the Western Sahara, a vast stretch of phosphate-rich desert that was controlled by Spain between 1884 and 1975.

The Polisario proclaimed the SADR in 1976, placing it in conflict with Morocco, which considers the Western Sahara to be part of its own territory.

Rabat controls nearly 80% of the territory and is pushing for autonomy under its sovereignty.

The international community has long backed a referendum to be held to decide the territory’s status.

But Morocco rejects any vote in which independence is an option, arguing that only granting autonomy is on the table for the sake of regional security.

The SADR is a member of the African Union and says it has been recognised by more than 80 countries.

The dynamics of the long-simmering conflict changed in 2020 when then United States president Donald Trump recognised Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara in exchange for the kingdom’s normalisation of relations with Israel.

(C)  AFP