South Sudan clarifies that restoration of relations with SADR does not negate bilateral ties with Rabat

Signing between the delegation of SADR and South Sudan on the restoration of diplomatic relations (FRENTE POLISARIO)

South Sudan has clarified that Tuesday's meeting in New York between the South Sudanese delegation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), with the consequent resumption of diplomatic relations between the parties, "does not negate" the "strategic" bilateral ties with Morocco after Rabat asked for explanations from Juba.

The authorities of South Sudan and SADR agreed on Tuesday, "in line with the principles and objectives of the African Union", to restore diplomatic relations "at the highest level" at a meeting on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, which brought together the South Sudanese vice-president, Husain Abdelbaki Akun, and the head of SADR, Mohamed Salem Salek.

The South Sudanese Foreign Ministry explained in a statement on its Twitter profile that on Wednesday it received from the Moroccan Foreign Ministry, through its embassy in the country, a request for "clarification" on the meeting between the two delegations in New York.

Yuba has also made clear in the statement that it is part of the African Union and that it does not seek to have positions that are in contradiction with this body, as well as with the United Nations, which are a framework for working on a solution to the conflict in Western Sahara.

The former Spanish colony of Western Sahara was occupied by Morocco in 1975 despite the resistance of the Polisario Front, with whom it was at war until 1991, when both parties signed a cease-fire with a view to holding a referendum on self-determination, but differences over the elaboration of the census and the inclusion or not of Moroccan settlers has so far prevented its convocation.

SADR was admitted as a member of the African Union in 1982, which is why Morocco has for many years been outside this regional forum. In 2017 Rabat decided to rejoin this organization.