Adala UK welcomes and fully endorses the official statement issued by the African National Congress (ANC) on 19 July 2025, which firmly condemns the misuse of the South African flag by the Kingdom of Morocco in a foreign political engagement that sought to legitimise its illegal occupation of Western Sahara.

The ANC’s position reflects a deep commitment to the principles of international law, state sovereignty, and the inalienable right of peoples to self-determination, as codified in Article 1 of the UN Charter, UN General Assembly Resolution 1514 (XV) on the decolonisation of non-self-governing territories, and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.

The use of South Africa’s national symbols during a meeting between Moroccan officials and former President Jacob Zuma, who holds no legitimate authority to represent South Africa’s foreign policy, constitutes a serious violation of diplomatic norms and an unacceptable attempt to manipulate public perception. It further represents a dangerous precedent of foreign interference in domestic political processes.

Adala UK commends the ANC for exposing this act as an attempt to delegitimise South Africa’s constitutional democracy and to undermine its historic role in supporting oppressed peoples around the world. The ANC’s statement powerfully reaffirms its solidarity with the Saharawi people, who remain under illegal occupation, facing daily violations of their human rights, including enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, torture of political prisoners, and systemic repression of freedoms of expression, assembly, and association.

We particularly welcome the ANC’s rejection of the so-called “Autonomy Plan” proposed by Morocco, which runs contrary to international law and seeks to deny the Saharawi people their fundamental right to a free, fair, and impartial referendum to determine their political status—a right repeatedly recognised by the United Nations and the International Court of Justice.

Adala UK also notes with concern the role played by Jacob Zuma and the MK Party in lending legitimacy to Morocco’s occupation. This represents a betrayal of South Africa’s liberation legacy and a shameful departure from the principled anti-colonial stance championed by Nelson Mandela, who consistently affirmed that “our freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.” That same moral clarity applies today to the Saharawi people.

We commend the ANC’s continued support for the Polisario Front, the internationally recognised representative of the Saharawi people, and its call for the intensification of international solidarity with Western Sahara. As the ANC rightly affirms, the liberation of Africa remains incomplete until the people of Western Sahara are free.

Adala UK urges all South African political actors, civil society organisations, and international partners to reject any efforts to normalise or legitimise Morocco’s illegal presence in Western Sahara. We call for increased international pressure on Morocco to comply with international law, respect the rights of the Saharawi people, and engage in a genuine, UN-led decolonisation process.

The ANC’s position sets a powerful example of ethical leadership and principled diplomacy. It reminds the international community that colonialism has no place in the modern world, and that the struggle for justice and self-determination must continue until it is fully realised.

End of Statement

Adala UK

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