Algeria: Polisario to hold talks with South Africa on Western Sahara
Algeria intensified its diplomatic engagement over the Western Sahara issue by hosting high-level discussions with the Polisario Front, the Yabiladi reported on July 18th.
This happened just days after former South African President Jacob Zuma publicly supported Morocco’s claims over the contested territory.
On July 18th, Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf received Mohamed Yeslem Beissat, a senior Polisario figure, in Algiers. As detailed in a statement by Algeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two sides reviewed recent developments linked to the Western Sahara issue and addressed priority topics on the African Union’s agenda.
This meeting came shortly after Zuma’s remarks during a visit to Rabat on July 16th, where he voiced backing for Morocco’s sovereignty over the region — a surprising shift given South Africa’s long-standing solidarity with the Sahrawi cause. Zuma, a prominent figure in the ruling African National Congress (ANC), has long been perceived as an ally of Algeria and the Polisario.
In a direct reaction to his comments, Algeria dispatched a diplomatic mission to Pretoria on July 17th to meet ANC leadership, including figures close to South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa. The visit was seen as an effort to reaffirm bilateral ties and clarify South Africa’s position following Zuma’s statements, which diverged from official ANC policy.
On June 27th US Congressman Joe Wilson has introduced legislation to designate the Algeria-backed Polisario Front as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in support of Morocco. In a post shared on X, Wilson described the Polisario as “a Marxist militia backed by Iran, Hezbollah, and Russia providing Iran a strategic outpost in Africa and destabilizing the Kingdom of Morocco.”
The episode highlights how the Western Sahara issue continues to stir political realignments across Africa, with Morocco gaining traction diplomatically while Algeria and the Polisario seek to preserve longstanding alliances.
Yabiladi, Maghrebi
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