‘Morocco has not applied to join BRICS’

Morocco has not made a formal request to join the BRICS grouping and will not attend its summit in South Africa.

BRICS is a grouping of the world economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa.

Citing an unnamed diplomatic source, state news agency MAP, denied a statement by South Africa’s foreign minister, Anil Sooklal who earlier this month said Morocco was among the nations seeking to join the bloc.

“South Africa allowed itself to speak about Morocco’s ties with the BRICS without prior consultation,” it said.

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The group of major emerging economies is now made of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, but its potential expansion will be discussed at the summit and South Africa has said more than 40 countries have expressed interest in joining.

South Africa’s diplomatic support for the Algeria-backed Polisario front, which seeks to establish an independent state in Western Sahara, a territory Morocco considers as its own, has strained relations between the two countries.

According to MAP, Morocco would not attend the BRICS meeting in South Africa, adding: “South Africa has in fact always shown a primary hostility towards Morocco and has systematically taken negative and dogmatic positions on the Moroccan Sahara issue.”

It said Morocco is attached to a non-divisive multilateralism and has good ties with the rest of BRICS member states.