Russian authorities strictly adhered to international law by inviting only the 54 African countries that are members of the UN to participate in the Russia-Africa Ministerial Conference held on Sunday, November 1, in Sochi, in preparation for the 3rd Russia-Africa Summit.
The warm welcome extended by the Russian Foreign Minister to the Moroccan Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Abroad upon his arrival in Sochi, along with words underscoring Russia’s desire to strengthen relations with Morocco, reflect Russia’s alignment with the international momentum driven by HM King Mohammed VI in favor of Morocco's territorial integrity.
In contrast, the Algerian regime, represented by its Foreign Minister, believed it held sway on Russian soil. However, it was quickly disappointed to see, once again, its Polisario allies completely ignored. Even Russia, a supposed “friend,” rejected the fringe it persistently tries to impose wherever it can. This rejection from Russia, a UN Security Council member, is a clear rebuke of the separatism championed by Tebboune and Chengriha. The Mauritanian Foreign Minister, presiding over the Sochi conference as AU chair, witnessed this stance firsthand.
This is not the first time Russia has acted this way, despite Algerian attempts to sway it. During the Russia-Africa Summit in Sochi in 2019, separatists were declared unwelcome, as they were last year in St. Petersburg, and as they have been at the Africa-China, Africa-South Korea forums, and the Bali Forum.
Like the Russian authorities, who shut the door in Ben Battouche’s face, their Chinese, South Korean, and Indonesian counterparts support the international momentum for Morocco's territorial integrity, driven by HM King Mohammed VI, as reiterated in his recent Green March speech.
This momentum was emphasized by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Abroad, Nasser Bourita, during his participation in the ministerial conference in Sochi. During the event, Bourita also held a bilateral meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov.
This meeting provided an opportunity to discuss bilateral issues and exchange views on regional and international matters of shared interest, according to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccans Abroad.
The rich and longstanding relations between Morocco and Russia are grounded in the deep strategic partnership launched by HM King Mohammed VI and Russian President Vladimir Putin during the historic Royal Visit to Moscow in 2016, the ministry’s statement added.
Bourita’s meeting with Lavrov follows their recent encounter on September 27, held on the sidelines of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, as well as another on December 21, 2023, during the 6th Russia-Arab World Cooperation Forum in Marrakech. These meetings reflect the strong rapport between Morocco and Russia, despite the complex current context.
