A reliable source from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and African Cooperation and Moroccans Residing Abroad revealed that Morocco has not shown any interest in participating in the upcoming “BRICS/Africa” meeting in South Africa or engaging with it at any level. The source stated that the interaction with the invitation has been non-existent from the perspective of the Kingdom of Morocco.
Addressing recent media reports suggesting Morocco’s possible nomination to join the “BRICS” group or its potential participation in the upcoming “BRICS/Africa” meeting scheduled for August 24th in Johannesburg, South Africa, the source clarified that the initiative does not originate from “BRICS” or the African Union. Instead, it is a unilateral initiative by South Africa on a national level.
The source further explained that “the meeting is organized based on a one-sided initiative by the South African government.” Despite this, hundreds of residents and fishermen in Khoms have been protesting since August 13th, upon learning from Turkish press reports about the annexation of the adjacent fishing port for a Turkish military base.
Khoms port is a significant hub in Libya, employing numerous individuals, but access for certain traders and fishermen has been restricted due to the military base plans. These developments have led to demonstrations and unrest.
The source indicated that South Africa has consistently shown overt hostility towards Morocco and systematically adopted negative and divisive positions regarding the Moroccan Sahara issue. The Kingdom of Morocco evaluated this initiative in light of its strained bilateral relations with South Africa.
Highlighting the diplomatic behavior of South Africa, the source noted its impulsive and improvised conduct in organizing events of this nature. The source also pointed to deliberate and provocative protocol breaches that marked Morocco’s invitation to the meeting. Moreover, many countries and entities were arbitrarily invited without a genuine basis or prior consultation with other “BRICS” member nations.
The source emphasized that it has become evident that South Africa intends to manipulate the nature and objective of this event to serve undisclosed agendas. Morocco, from the outset, rejected any positive response to South Africa’s invitation. As for Morocco’s relationship with the “BRICS” group, the source asserted that Morocco maintains important and promising bilateral relations with four of the group’s members and holds strategic partnership agreements with three of them.
The source confirmed that there is no official request for Morocco to join the “BRICS” group, and there is no established framework or specific procedures for expanding this association. The future of Morocco’s relations with this group will align with the Kingdom’s general foreign policy direction, as defined by His Majesty King Mohammed VI.
The source emphasized that Morocco remains committed to fostering diverse and solid relationships and underscores that platforms involving multiple parties should not be utilized to encourage division, intervene in a sovereign state’s internal affairs, or create precedents that could backfire on the initiators.