Morocco, South Africa 鈥榯o resume talks鈥�

Moroccan expats wait to welcome King Mohamed VI in Tunis. (File photo/AFP)

JOHANNESBURG: South Africa and Morocco will resume diplomatic ties more than a decade after Morocco withdrew its ambassador from Pretoria, South African President Jacob Zuma said in a newspaper interview published on Sunday.
Morocco recalled its ambassador from South Africa in 2004 after former South African President Thabo Mbeki recognized a breakaway region in the Western Sahara which Morocco claims as part of its territory.
鈥淢orocco is an African nation and we need to have relations with them,鈥� Zuma told City Press in the interview. 鈥淲e never had problems with them anyway; they were the first to withdraw diplomatic relations.鈥�
Zuma met Morocco鈥檚 King Mohammed last week on the sidelines of an AU-EU summit.
鈥淭hey felt that even if we differ on the Western Sahara issues, the two countries should have a relationship,鈥� Zuma said about Moroccan officials鈥� position at the meeting.
South Africa鈥檚 official government position 鈥� as re-affirmed by Zuma in one of his state of the nation addresses 鈥� is to support 鈥渟elf determination and decolonization for the Western Sahara.鈥�
The decision to re-establish ties with Morocco is likely to go down badly in South Africa鈥檚 ruling African National Congress (ANC) party, of which Zuma is leader.
The ANC 鈥� as one of Africa鈥檚 oldest liberation movements 鈥� has long backed those seeking independence in the Western Sahara.
A spokesman for South Africa鈥檚 Foreign Ministry could not be reached for comment on Sunday.