What does South Africa gain from supporting Polisario Front in the Moroccan Sahara conflict?

South Africa’s support for the Polisario Front’s separatist ambitions in the Moroccan Sahara is well-documented. Its alliance with Algeria, which aims to undermine Morocco’s regional influence by backing separatist groups, is a key aspect of this dynamic. Observers of this issue often wonder: What are South Africa’s interests in this alignment?

They suggest that South Africa’s alignment with Algeria, along with Algeria’s efforts to promote its agenda in Africa, could limit its benefits.

As Morocco expands its economic and diplomatic influence across Africa, solidifying its role as a pivotal African player, South Africa’s involvement in the Moroccan Sahara issue risks damaging its ties with a prominent African nation.

In this regard, Abbas El Wardi, a public law professor at Mohammed V University, argued that South Africa’s support for the Polisario Front is rooted in the intricate dynamics of its political system, which suffered from colonial exploitation and marginalization.

In a statement Hespress AR, El Wardi said that “South Africa’s stance is largely influenced by misinformation spread by Algeria’s military regime. Being geographically distant from the Maghreb region, South Africa lacks a deep understanding of the complexities surrounding the Moroccan Sahara issue.”

He added that “Morocco has consistently shown goodwill in its efforts to improve relations with South Africa, including dispatching top diplomats to strengthen bilateral cooperation. Yet, the relationship remains cold and distant, seemingly due to South Africa’s alignment with Algeria’s narrative.”

The professor underscored “the need for South Africa to reassess its stance in light of evolving global dynamics, noting that “the Polisario Front has been recognized by numerous countries and international organizations as a separatist movement supported by Algeria.”

He pointed out that South Africa’s ongoing support for the separatist claims will not serve its own long-term interests. This is especially true as more and more countries recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over the region and as Morocco continues to expand its diplomatic influence on the global stage.

For his part, Abdelfatah Al Fatihi, Head of the Sahara and Africa Center for Strategic Studies, noted that “South Africa, which frequently diverges from the United States on international and African issues, is working to strengthen its global influence by aligning with China and Russia through the BRICS framework. As part of this strategy, it seeks to build an alliance with Algeria—despite Algeria’s failure to secure a seat in BRICS—to bolster its position on the Moroccan Sahara dispute.”

In a statement to Hespress AR, Al Fatihi noted that “South Africa, in its pursuit of continental leadership, sees the need for a North African partner to bolster its standing with China and Russia, both vying for influence in Africa.”

He added that South Africa regards Algeria as “a diplomatic ally that can assist in this endeavor, particularly in light of Algeria’s recent diplomatic defeats against Morocco.

The expert explained that “South Africa’s support for Algeria aims to strengthen its regional influence, but it’s costly, as Algeria faces growing isolation after Morocco’s diplomatic wins.”

He added that “South Africa also views Algeria as a potential diplomatic card to pressure the U.S., especially with Trump’s return to the White House, who secured U.S. recognition of Morocco’s Sahara sovereignty through the Abraham Accords.”

Al Fatihi noted that “the alliance between the two countries is also reflected in their opposition to granting Israel observer status in the African Union, aiming to assert their political stances and gain concessions from the U.S., while strengthening South Africa’s role as Africa’s voice.”

He concluded that “the U.S. views Morocco as a key strategic ally outside NATO, which concerns South Africa as it strengthens Morocco’s growing influence in Africa. This aligns Algerian and South African interests in trying to slow Morocco’s rise, which threatens their positions on the continent.”