South Africa Blocks Morocco and Nigeria from Joining BRICS Bloc
Recent reports from Western media indicate that South Africa has thwarted attempts by Morocco and Nigeria to join the BRICS bloc. This decision comes just before the group’s sixteenth summit in Kazan, Russia, where Algeria was granted “partner country” status.
Analysts suggest South Africa’s opposition to Morocco’s inclusion in BRICS stems from concerns over Morocco’s growing economic influence in Africa. Moroccan officials have denied seeking to join BRICS, emphasizing their focus on maintaining strong bilateral relationships with other influential nations.
Mohamed El Ghaith Maâlainine of the Moroccan Center for Parallel Diplomacy highlighted South Africa’s move as an attempt to protect its ally, Algeria, and prevent influential countries like Morocco from joining the organization. This opposition, according to international relations professor Abdul Fattah Belamchi, not only targets Morocco’s economic interests but also its national sovereignty.
Belamchi urged South Africa to reconsider its stance, emphasizing the benefits of collaboration in the face of expanding international influences in the region. The standoff between South Africa and Morocco reflects a broader geopolitical dynamic that underscores the complexities of regional alliances and power struggles.