Morocco withdraws from attending BRICS summit in Johannesburg

Morocco withdraws from attending the upcoming BRICS summit in Johannesburg due to South Africa’s hostile actions.

Morocco’s decision to refrain from attending the upcoming BRICS summit in Johannesburg has sparked speculation about the reasons behind their absence, Anadolu reports.

In a statement released by the state news agency MAP, an undisclosed source from the Moroccan Foreign Ministry confirmed that the country had never intended to respond positively to the invitation or participate in the meeting at any level.

The source cited South Africa’s hostile actions towards Morocco as the primary reason for their absence. According to the source, South Africa has consistently exhibited antagonism towards the Kingdom and has taken adverse and entrenched stances on the Moroccan Sahara issue. This has resulted in actions that are detrimental to Morocco’s national interests and its standing within the African Union.

The source also criticized South African diplomacy for its impromptu and unpredictable approach to organizing events. It was suggested that South Africa extended invitations to a significant number of countries without valid justification and without consulting fellow BRICS members. This, according to the source, indicates that South Africa may have ulterior motives and is using the summit as a means to serve a concealed agenda.

It is important to note that while Morocco maintains bilateral relations with the other BRICS member countries and remains committed to multilateralism, it has not officially pursued membership. The statement from the ministry source reaffirmed Morocco’s stance on this matter.

The decision by Morocco to abstain from the BRICS summit comes as a blow to South Africa and highlights the strained relationship between the two countries. Morocco’s absence is likely to have significant implications for the summit and may impact the overall dynamics and discussions between the participating countries.

The Moroccan Sahara issue, which was mentioned by the ministry source as a primary factor in their decision, refers to the long-standing dispute between Morocco and the Polisario Front over the sovereignty of Western Sahara. Morocco claims sovereignty over the territory, while the Polisario Front seeks independence. The issue has been a source of tension between Morocco and several African countries, including South Africa.

It is clear that Morocco’s decision to skip the BRICS summit is a reflection of the strained relations between the country and South Africa. The decision sends a strong message about Morocco’s dissatisfaction with South Africa’s actions and its perceived disregard for Morocco’s interests and concerns.

Morocco’s absence from the summit also raises questions about the effectiveness and credibility of the BRICS bloc as a platform for cooperation and dialogue. The absence of a key African country like Morocco diminishes the African voice within the bloc and may undermine the relevance of the summit.

The upcoming meeting, scheduled for August 22-24, will be hosted by South Africa, one of the founding members of the BRICS group which includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. During this summit, there will be discussions regarding the potential expansion of the group. It is worth noting that several nations have shown interest in joining.

The relationship between South Africa and Morocco has been strained due to South Africa’s support for the Polisario front’s pursuit of an independent state in Western Sahara. This territory is claimed by Morocco as its own. These dynamics have had an impact on the interactions between these two nations.

As the summit approaches, it remains to be seen how South Africa and the other BRICS member countries will respond to Morocco’s absence. Will they address the concerns raised by the Moroccan government and take steps to repair the strained relationship? Or will they dismiss Morocco’s decision as inconsequential and proceed with the summit as planned?

Regardless of the outcome, it is clear that Morocco’s decision to boycott the BRICS summit has brought attention to the issues at hand and has created a sense of urgency for the other members to address these concerns. This development highlights the importance of open and honest dialogue between countries and the need to find mutually beneficial solutions to complex issues.