Zuma slammed over high-profile Morocco visit

Moses Kau, a leading expert in international relations and protocol has raised serious concerns about former South African President Jacob Zuma’s recent announcement, where he pledged his uMkhonto weSizwe Party’s (MKP) support for Morocco’s control over Western Sahara. This move, made during a high-profile visit to Rabat, has sparked debate about its impact on SA’s long-standing foreign policy and could open the door to risky shifts in the country’s approach to global disputes, reports Central News. Zuma, now leading the uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP), travelled to Morocco’s capital, Rabat, on 16 July 2025. During talks with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita, Zuma voiced strong backing for Morocco’s autonomy plan in Western Sahara. He described it as a practical way to ensure stability while upholding what he called the historical and legal basis for Morocco’s claim over the area. This endorsement marks a clear break from traditional views held by many in SA. Photos from the event show Zuma speaking at a platform adorned with both the South African and Moroccan national flags, adding to the controversy. The MKP argues that Morocco’s proposal offers self-governance to the people of Western Sahara under Moroccan oversight, a step they believe could end decades of deadlock and foster regional growth. However, Kau has sharply criticised Zuma’s actions. From a protocol standpoint, Kau points out that using the South African flag during what was essentially a party-to-government meeting was improper.

‘From a protocol perspective, for Mr Zuma to be talking from a platform with the South African flag, it is wrong,’ Kau explained. The talks were between the MKP and Moroccan officials, with Zuma acting as the party’s president, not in any official South African capacity or even as a former head of state.’ Reactions have been swift. The African National Congress (ANC), Zuma’s former party, condemned the move as a betrayal of South Africa’s principles. The ANC accused Zuma of seeking personal relevance and called him ‘political bankrupt’. The ANC urged a formal protest against Morocco for allowing the use of SA’s flag in a way that blurred lines between party politics and national representation. Other voices in SA and across Africa have echoed these concerns, seeing it as a sign of growing divisions within the country’s political landscape. SA has long stood with the Sahrawi people, viewing their fight as akin to its own anti-apartheid struggle, according to Central News. Official policy supports self-determination, leading to full independence if chosen in a fair referendum. The country recognises the S Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and hosts its embassy in Pretoria. Zuma’s statement has rippled across Africa and beyond. Algeria, a staunch Polisario ally hosting over 170 000 Sahrawi refugees in Tindouf camps, sees it as a threat to regional stability. The rivalry between Morocco and Algeria, fuelled by this dispute, has led to closed borders since 1994 and severed diplomatic ties in 2021. Morocco’s growing influence, with over 20 African countries opening consulates in Western Sahara towns like Dakhla and Laayoune, signals shifting alliances.