Following Moroccan Ambassador Omar Hilale's criticism of UN envoy Staffan de Mistura's trip to South Africa, Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita has downplayed its importance. Speaking at a press conference, Tuesday, Bourita labeled South Africa a «marginal actor» lacking the «influence or effectiveness» to impact the Western Sahara issue. He emphasized Morocco's diplomatic achievements, showcasing the recognition of its position by five Southern African Development Community (SADC) members : the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, Eswatini, the Comoros Islands, and Malawi. Further emphasizing Morocco's stance, Bourita stated, «If South Africa had the capacity to change the situation, it would have done it twenty years ago». Since formally recognizing the self-proclaimed «SADR» in 2004, South Africa has served on the UN Security Council for three terms : 2007-2008, 2011-2012, and 2019-2020. Notably, South Africa's first term on the council overlapped with the UN's shift from prioritizing a referendum solution in Western Sahara to advocating for a mutually agreed political solution. Morocco reiterates its opposition to South African involvement through its UN representative, Omar Hilale, who declared, «Morocco will never allow South Africa to have any role in the Moroccan Sahara issue. Pretoria has been and remains toxic for the question of the Moroccan Sahara».
