Eswatini Joins African Nations Rejecting South Africa’s Maneuvers and Reaffirms Unwavering Support for Morocco’s Territorial Integrity
ALDAR/
The Kingdom of Eswatini, a member of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), has expressed its strong rejection of what it described as an “illegitimate maneuver” carried out by the Executive Secretary of the organization, who signed a memorandum of understanding with the separatist entity known as the “Sahrawi Republic,” without consulting or obtaining prior approval from the SADC member states.
This move, initiated by South Africa — the primary supporter of the separatists — has triggered widespread outrage within the African organization. Several countries, including Eswatini, swiftly issued official protest notes declaring they do not recognize any agreement signed in their name with an unrecognized entity.
The memorandum, signed on April 2, 2025, constitutes a blatant violation of the SADC Treaty and Charter, as it was not the result of a collective decision or mandate from the summit or the member states. Several African nations have expressed frustration over what they perceive as the misuse of the organization to serve specific political agendas, pointing directly to South Africa’s overbearing influence on the Executive Secretariat.
In this context, Eswatini firmly reiterated—through an official Note Verbale issued by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs—its outright rejection of any agreement or memorandum signed with an internationally unrecognized entity, and reaffirmed its unconditional support for Morocco and its autonomy plan as the only realistic and viable solution to the regional dispute over the Moroccan Sahara.
Eswatini has long been among the African countries that have explicitly expressed support for Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces. This support was translated into concrete diplomatic action in 2020, when Eswatini opened a Consulate General in Laayoune—an unequivocal recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the territory.
In its most recent communication, Eswatini stressed that the memorandum signed with the “Polisario” is not legally binding in any way and described it as a document lacking international legitimacy. It emphasized that the memorandum does not fall within the legal framework of the SADC, as defined by its founding charter.
Eswatini’s position comes amid a growing wave of discontent across Africa regarding attempts by certain parties—particularly Algeria and South Africa—to impose separatist agendas within continental institutions. Other SADC member states, such as the Comoros, Malawi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Zambia, have also voiced similar objections, refusing to see the organization dragged into a conflict that does not reflect the consensus of the continent.
Observers argue that this growing resistance is a direct result of Morocco’s calm, pragmatic, and effective diplomacy under the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI. This diplomacy has focused on economic cooperation and genuine African solidarity, steering clear of ideological rhetoric and outdated disputes.
Eswatini’s stance marks a pivotal moment in reestablishing balance within the African landscape. Increasingly, African nations are reassessing their alliances based on principles of sovereignty, development, and stability rather than political pressure or fleeting interests. This renewed backing for Morocco’s territorial integrity reinforces the reality that the 2007 Moroccan Autonomy Plan is now widely viewed as the only serious and credible path forward to resolve this artificially prolonged conflict.
