Johannesburg (South Africa) 27 July 2025 (SPS) – The Secretary-General of the African National Congress (ANC), Mr. Fikile Mbalula, delivered a powerful message of solidarity with the Sahrawi people, calling for renewed continental and global action to end the occupation of Western Sahara, in his opening speech of the Liberation Mouvements Summit held in South Africa from the 26th to 28th July 2025 in Johannesburg.
In a speech charged with historical reflection and contemporary urgency, Mbalula drew a direct link between the Palestinian and Sahrawi struggles, criticizing global double standards and the impotence of the United Nations system in addressing protracted conflicts and foreign occupation.
Quoting South Africa’s iconic leader Nelson Mandela, Mbalula reaffirmed the ANC’s historical commitment to global liberation movements, stressing that African freedom is incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians and Sahrawis.
Turning to the Sahrawi issue, Mbalula described the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) as “the last colony on the continent,” and condemned Morocco’s ongoing occupation as a blatant violation of African unity and sovereignty.
“The Actions of Morocco, which have demonstrated scorn and disdain for the many resolutions of the Organization of African Unity and its successor, the African Union, represent the actions of a colonial master propped up by some on our continent who have been hoodwinked by checkbook politics,” he warned.
He concludes that “the people of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic are looking to us to translate our solidarity into tangible actions that will deliver self-determination.”
Mbalula’s remarks were received with strong support from attending representatives of liberation movements across Africa and beyond. His statement reaffirms the ANC’s consistent position that the question of Western Sahara is not merely a regional dispute but a litmus test for the continent’s commitment to justice, decolonization, and pan-African solidarity.
The Liberation Movements’ Summit continues through July 28, with discussions focused on strategies to resist neocolonialism, strengthen South-South cooperation, and advance the rights of all oppressed peoples.
The Sahrawi Republic and Polisario Front were represented in this high-level conference by the Sahrawi Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Mohamed Yeslem Beisat.
The Sahrawi Minister gave a speech yesterday during the works of the Summit, emphasizing that the same old colonial forces that colonized African nations are still supporting neo-colonialism in Western Sahara, and asserting that the Sahrawi people are willing to continue the liberation struggle until the achievement of independence.
The Sahrawi minister held various meetings on the sideline of the Summit with heads of delegations, whom he briefed about the latest developments of the Sahrawi cause.
The head of the Sahrawi delegation also attended a dinner hosted by the President of South Africa, Mr. Cyril Ramaphosa, which was attended by the heads of delegations of the participating liberation movements. (SPS)
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