Africa-Press – South-Sudan. South Sudan risks facing diplomatic turmoil and potentially strained relations with the Kingdom of Morocco over the latest move to reaffirm bilateral relations with Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.
Also known as Western Sahara, Sahrawi is partially recognised by 41 UN member states and is said to be controlling at least one-fifth of the territory of Western Sahara.
On Thursday, the ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation was pushed to a corner, by the Rabat administration, to explain Juba’s latest diplomatic decision. But Juba said that the meeting, between Vice President for Service Cluster, Hussein Abdelbagi and Sahrawi leaders, should not be construed to mean anything more than that – a meeting.
“Vice president informed the Sahrawi foreign minister that South Sudan’s position is in line with that of African Union (AU) in regard to relations with SADR,” the statement from the ministry read.
“On 21st September 2022, the ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation received communication from our embassy in Morocco regarding a clarification note to our friendly nation, Kingdom of Morocco.”
“In light of the above background, the ministry of foreign affairs and international cooperation would like to inform the government of the Kingdom of Morocco that the meeting between our delegation and the Sahrawi minister of foreign affairs does not negate our strategic bilateral relations with the Kingdom,” the statement continued.
However, the ministry maintained that the country could not neglect the position of the UN and the African Union regarding Sahrawi self-determination.
“The Republic of South Sudan is a member of the African Union and the United Nations and would want to reiterate that it does not see it fit to have contrary views to the position of the African Union and UN Security Resolution 690, as viable engagement frameworks to find a lasting solution over the dispute on Western Sahara,” it continued.
The resolution
The UN resolution 690, quoted by South Sudan, supports a referendum to determine the autonomy of the Western Sahara.
“The Security Council Expresses its full support for the efforts of the Secretary-General for the organization and the supervision by UN in cooperation with OAU, of a referendum for self-determination of the people of Western Sahara,” read a section of the resolution.
“UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara in accordance with the aforementioned report; decides that the transitional period will begin no later than 16 weeks after the General Assembly approves the budget for the Mission,’’ it further notes.
There had been a conflict between the Sahrawi Democratic Republic/Polisario Front and the Kingdom of Morocco which stemmed from an insurgency by the Polisario Front against Spanish colonial forces from 1973 to 1975 and the Western Sahara war against Morocco between 1975 and 1991.
The conflict is currently said to be dominated by unarmed civil campaigns by the Polisario Front and self-proclaimed SADR to be independent of Western Sahara.
By meeting the Sahrawi minister of foreign affairs and discussing bilateral relations prompting the Kingdom of Morocco, South Sudanese delegation to the UN General Assembly seemed to have stepped into a boiling pot of conflict between Morocco and Sahrawi.
Ruto’s barter trade
Self-determination of Western Sahara has left African Union member states divided with some supporting Sahrawi while others on the side of Morocco.
On September 20, 2022, Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs reversed the decision by President William Ruto to end ties with Sahrawi Democratic Republic (SADR).
This was after Ruto took to his Twitter account posting that SADR was not recognised as an independent state by African nations.
Macharia Kamau, Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary, said, “Kenya’s position on the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is fully aligned with the decision of the Organization of African Unity to admit the SADR to its membership on 22nd August 1982, and the AU (African Union) Charter, which calls for the unquestionable and inalienable right of a people to self-determination.
Kamau reiterated the country’s support for Sahrawi’s self-determination in line with UN Security Council Resolution 690 of 1991.
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