Polisario front's Ghali attends BRICS summit as Rabat's strained relations with Pretoria take center stage

Brahim Ghali, the “Secretary General” of the Polisario Front, has arrived in Johannesburg today to take part in the BRICS summit as a guest. 

This comes shortly after the Moroccan Government denied its intention to attend the summit, and acknowledged tense political relations with South Africa.

Ghali is accompanied by a delegation that features prominent front figures, including Mohamed Sidati, responsible for the separatists’ interns relations.

Over the weekend, the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a strongly worded statement aimed primarily at South Africa.

The statement refuted claims, among other things, of any intention to participate in the forum that also involves Russia, India, China, and Brazil. The forum is now considering potential expansions.

According to Rabat’s perspective, South Africa has consistently shown principled hostility towards Morocco, taking a systematically negative and dogmatic stance on the issue of the Moroccan Sahara. 

The statement also accused South Africa of engaging in actions that are notably harmful to Morocco’s highest interests, both at the national level and within the African Union.

The Moroccan government, fearing underlying motives, has denied seeking BRICS membership while upholding its connections with the other four member countries.

Relations between Morocco and South Africa have strained due to the South African authorities’ persistence in openly and repeatedly supporting the Polisario’s separatist aspirations.