Rabat: Fatima Ezzahra El Mansouri, coordinator of PAM’s collective leadership, which also includes Mohamed Mehdi Bensad and Fatima Saadi, met with former South African President Jacob Zuma to discuss prospects for strengthening cooperation and partnership between the two political formations and their respective countries on various matters of mutual interest.
According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, the meeting was attended by several key figures, including Najwa Koukos, president of PAM’s National Council, and Younes Maamar, a member of the political bureau in charge of external relations. Zuma described the talks as “fruitful and forward-looking” and emphasized the potential roles of Morocco and South Africa in advancing development across Africa.
Zuma praised Morocco’s economic progress, identifying it as one of the continent’s dynamic economies. He stressed the importance of African unity, urging countries to take ownership of their development and leverage their resources free from external interference. He further highlighted the need for engaging younger generations in shaping Africa’s future and noted that the two parties agreed to exchange visits and establish a dialogue platform on shared concerns.
El Mansouri stated that the meeting is part of parallel diplomacy efforts aimed at bolstering cooperative ties, particularly with southern African countries. She emphasized that this approach aligns with the vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI to strengthen South-South cooperation, aiming for a shared future based on cooperation, solidarity, and integration.
El Mansouri also remarked that the support expressed by Zuma’s party for Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara is a significant boost to joint efforts between the two countries. Earlier, after discussions with Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates Nasser Bourita, Zuma’s party recognized Morocco’s autonomy plan as a pathway to local governance for the Sahara while preserving Morocco’s sovereignty.