At the inaugural Russia-Africa Ministerial Conference held in Sochi on Sunday, only the 54 African nations recognized by the United Nations were invited, underscoring Moscow’s clear diplomatic stance towards its African partners.
This exclusion proved particularly stinging for Algeria, whose foreign minister was present but found his hopes thwarted by Russia’s consistent position.
Much like the 2019 and 2023 Russia-Africa Summits, Moscow maintained its policy of rejecting separatist movements and unrecognized entities, including the “rasd.”
The Sochi meeting once again underscored Russia’s view of the Polisario Front as merely a participant in a regional dispute rather than a recognized state.
This diplomatic move follows a recent UN Security Council resolution on the Western Sahara, where both Russia and Algeria are involved.
Mauritania, currently presiding over the African Union, co-chaired the meeting with Russia.
By inviting only the 54 internationally recognized African Union members, Moscow sent a clear message to those still influenced by Algeria’s lobbying efforts.
Within the context of the Russia-Africa partnership, it is evident that there is no place for the “rasd.”
The international community has increasingly supported Morocco’s sovereignty over the Western Sahara, viewing the autonomy initiative as the only viable solution.
This trend is reflected in the growing rejection of Polisario’s attempts at gaining international support, as seen in its exclusion from forums such as Africa-China, Africa-South Korea, and the Bali Forum.
The absence of the “rasd” at these key gatherings highlights the effectiveness of Morocco’s diplomatic vision and strengthens its position as a strategic African partner.
This ministerial meeting serves as a precursor to the upcoming Russia-Africa Summit, which aims to deepen cooperative ties between Russia and the continent.
Despite Algeria’s lobbying efforts, Russia’s refusal to grant Polisario participation has exacerbated tensions between Algiers and Moscow.
This fracture was evident during the recent UN Security Council vote on Resolution 2756 (2024), drafted by the United States regarding the Western Sahara.
Although Russia abstained from the vote, it did not exercise its veto power, as Algeria had hoped.
In September, Beijing also denied Polisario’s participation at the Sino-African Cooperation Forum.
Similarly, major powers such as the United States, Saudi Arabia, India, South Korea, Japan, Italy, Indonesia, and Turkey have consistently excluded the Polisario from their summits with African nations.
This string of international rejections underscores the diminishing influence of the Algeria-backed separatist agenda, further isolating Algerian leaders and their Polisario allies, now increasingly sidelined on the global stage.
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