The Umkhonto weSizwe (MK) party, led by former President Jacob Zuma and now South Africa’s third-largest political force, has formally endorsed Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, ra, challenging decades of pro-Polisario alignment under the ruling African National Congress (ANC)..
In a policy document titled “South Africa and Morocco: A Strategic Partnership for African Unity, Economic Emancipation, and Territorial Integrity,” the MK party presents what it calls a “principled position” supporting Morocco’s claim.
“Western Sahara has been an integral part of Morocco for centuries,” the party asserts. “The Moroccan claim predates colonization and is rooted in tribal allegiance to the Moroccan throne.”
The document also redefines the 1975 Green March not as aggression, but as “a peaceful and powerful act of decolonization” involving over 350,000 unarmed Moroccans reclaiming territory left in legal limbo following Spain’s withdrawal.
The MK party describes Morocco’s autonomy initiative as “a realistic alternative and a means to end the suffering and instability in this region.”
This shift places MK in direct opposition to the ANC, long one of the Polisario Front’s most vocal backers.
It also introduces a potential turning point in Southern African diplomacy. If Pretoria were to adopt the MK position, it could recalibrate regional dynamics and further isolate Algeria, the Polisario’s primary sponsor.
The MK party frames its proposal not just as a foreign policy realignment but as part of a broader pan-African strategy.
Citing Morocco’s early support for South Africa’s liberation struggle, “Morocco was the first country to provide financial and military support to Umkhonto weSizwe in 1962”, the party proposes a renewed axis of cooperation.
“The alliance between South Africa and the Kingdom of Morocco will mark a significant chapter in the African renaissance,” the statement declares, advocating for bilateral coordination in diplomacy, security, education, and trade.
It calls for “a Free Trade Agreement between South Africa and Morocco” and deeper alignment under the African Continental Free Trade Area.
While the MK party does not currently hold national office, its rising influence gives its positions political weight.
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