SA parties reject AU’s re-admission of Morocco

THE ANC, SACP and EFF have rejected the AU’s decision to re-admit Morocco after more than three decades in isolation.

The parties said yesterday the decision flew in the face of the occupation of Western Sahara by Morocco.

The ANC head of international relations, Edna Molewa, said out of 54 members of the AU, only those from the southern African region had opposed the re-admission of Morocco.

A majority of 39 member states of the AU backed the re-admittance of Morocco.

The ANC has close ties with the Polisario Front of Western Sahara, and in January President Jacob Zuma hosted his counterpart from Western Sahara, Brahim Ghali, who also attended the ANC’s 105th birthday celebrations at Orlando stadium in Soweto.

In his January 8 statement, Zuma expressed support for Western Sahara and called for its independence from Morocco.

This is a long-standing call of the ANC and the latest deci- sion from the AU was described by Molewa as “regrettable”.

She said they hoped the re-admission of Morocco would not lead to the matter of Western Sahara being swept under the carpet at the AU.

“The ANC notes that this decision paves the way for the Kingdom of Morocco to take a place amongst the community of nations and enjoy the benefits of AU members, while the Sahrawi people continue to suffer under an unjust occupation of their ancestral land,” she said.

Western Sahara remained Africa’s last remaining colonial outpost, Molewa said.

The SACP said it was shocked by the AU’s decision.

It said it still pledged solidarity with the people of Western Sahara.

The EFF also rejected the AU’s decision to readmit Morocco. Spokesman Mbuyiseni Ndlozi said this was a contradiction of Africa’s policy against colonialism.