Received by Saharawi President Ghali, Zwelivelile Mandela reiterates unwavering, principled support for Saharawis’ right to independence

By: Hana Saada

ALGIERS- The Saharawi President of the Republic, Secretary General of the Polisario Front, Mr. Brahim Ghali, received, Tuesday evening, at the headquarters of the Presidency of the Republic, the grandson of the African leader, Nelson Mandela, Mr. Zwelivelile Mandla Mandela.

During the meeting, which comes within the visit of Zwelivelile Mandela to the Sahrawi Republic, President Ghali briefed his guest on the latest developments of the Sahrawi issue on various fronts, especially at this time of direct confrontation with the Moroccan occupation, praising, by the way, the firm and historical positions of South Africa towards the just Sahrawi cause.

For his part, Mr. Zwelivelile Mandla Mandela, renewed in a statement to the media after his meeting with the President of the Republic, South Africa’s unwavering support for the legitimate right of the Sahrawi people to freedom and independence.

“We will do our best for the Saharawi people to obtain their independence and restore their sovereignty over all their national territory,” he further noted.

The grandson of the African leader also discussed with the President of the Republic the strengthening of bilateral relations between South Africa and the SADR and raising them to the highest levels.

Mr. Zwelivelile Mandla Mandela arrived, on Tuesday, in the province (Wilaya) of Tindouf, where he was received by the wali of that province.

Upon his arrival to the Wilaya of Boujdour, Sahrawi Refugee Camp, Mr. Zwelivelile Mandla Mandela received a warm reception by the authorities and masses of the Wilaya. The governor of the Wilaya of Boujdour Ms. Azza Bobih, thanked Nelson Mandela’s Grandson and his Wife for this visit, which means a lot to the Sahrawis, welcoming the full solidarity of the South African people with the legitimate cause of the Sahrawi people.

For his part, Mr. Zwelivelile Mandla Mandela, after renewing his country’s position in support of the just Sahrawi cause, affirmed South Africa’s accompaniment and standing by the Sahrawi people until victory and independence.

As a reminder, Mr. Zwelivelile Mandla Mandela, was received in audience, Monday, at the headquarters of the Presidency in Algiers by the President of the Republic, Mr. Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

Sneak peek into South Africa-Western Sahara relations

South Africa remains steadfast in its support for the Saharawi people and continues to provide humanitarian and material support to alleviate the harsh living conditions that they have continued to suffer. It maintains a principled position on the right to self-determination for the Saharawi people as enshrined in the United Nations (UN) Charter and the African Union (AU) Constitutive Act. It also intensified its solidarity with the Polisario Front liberation movement, as they lead the people of Western Sahara in their quest for peace and independence.

Back in September 2004, South Africa recognized the SADR when it became clear that Morocco had ruled out any possibility for a referendum for Western Sahara in contravention of UN Security Council Resolution 1495 of 2003.

Diplomatic ties between both countries have been cemented with the SADR having a residential embassy in Pretoria, whilst South Africa’s Ambassador to Algeria is accredited to the SADR. Political and development assistance are rendered to the SADR through the African Renaissance Fund (ARF). In addition, areas of cooperation between both countries exist in the field of diplomatic consultations, arts and culture, youth sports development, as well as humanitarian relief and landmine removal.

The prolonged suffering of the people of Western Sahara and the lack of progress in finding a durable solution to the struggle for self-determination in the territory on the basis of international legality remains a major concern for the South African Government.

More recently, the Permanent Representative of South Africa to the UN, Mathu Joyini, affirmed that the inalienable right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination and independence is not negotiable.

“We are concerned that in our own continent, Africa, the Saharawi people still cannot exercise their right to self-determination, which is guaranteed under the Charter of the United Nations. South Africa stands by the African Union’s consistent position that the inalienable right of the people of Western Sahara to self-determination and independence is not negotiable,” she said in her statement, Tuesday, before the UN 4th Committee on Decolonisation.

In this vein, she recalled that “the International Court of Justice has given credence to this position when it stated, in its advisory opinion on 16 October 1975, that there were no links of territorial sovereignty between Morocco and the Western Sahara prior to the Spanish colonization of the Territory.”

On another note, she recalled the Committee that the Moroccan violation of the ceasefire, last Novmber 13th 2020, “resulted in the resumption of hostilities between the two sides, a major setback towards a negotiated settlement, which is of grave concern to us.”

She urged the parties to “abide by the terms of the ceasefire agreements and avoid any acts that could lead to a further rise in tensions and hostilities in the territory,” and further welcomed “the efforts of the Personal Envoy for Western Sahara, Mr. Staffan de Mistura, to resuscitate the political dialogue amongst the parties, paving the way towards a just, lasting and mutually acceptable negotiated political solution.”

Last October, the Saharawi President of the Republic, Secretary-General of the Polisario Front, Mr. Brahim Ghali, made a state visit to the Republic of South Africa, at the invitation of his South African counterpart, Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa.

The visit aimed to consolidate the already existing good political relations fortified by the strong historical ties dating back from the years of the struggle against colonialism and apartheid. It was an occasion to renew thanks and gratitude to the government and people of South Africa, headed by President Cyril Ramaphosa, for these solid principled positions, affirm the determination of the Sahrawi Republic to further strengthen relations of brotherhood, friendship and cooperation for the benefit of the two countries and peoples, and for the service of the countries and peoples of the African continent, as well as consecrate the position of Africa and its continental organization, the African Union, in the international arena.