Four Moroccan truck drivers were abducted earlier this year in northeastern Burkina Faso. They have been released unharmed. The Malian government announced their release.

According to an official statement read on Mali’s national television, the drivers were kidnapped on January 18, 2025. This happened near the Burkina Faso-Niger border. They were freed on Sunday evening, August 3.

“The government of the Republic of Mali informs the national and international community. Four Moroccan truck drivers were kidnapped on January 18, 2025, and released unharmed on the evening of Sunday, August 3,” the statement declared.

Authorities confirmed that the abductees had been held by the Islamic State terrorist group in the Sahel Province, the regional affiliate of the so-called Islamic State (Daesh).

The successful rescue operation was the result of a joint effort between Mali’s National Agency for State Security and Morocco’s General Directorate of Studies and Documentation (DGED).

Both agencies had reportedly launched a coordinated investigation from the early hours of the abduction and maintained close collaboration throughout the months-long effort.

The Malian government commended the professionalism and determination of the security services involved. The outcome marks a significant victory against terrorist networks. These networks operate in the volatile tri-border area between Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso.

Further details about the circumstances of the drivers’ release were not disclosed.

Former South African President Jacob Zuma has voiced his support for Morocco’s Autonomy Proposal on Western Sahara, describing it as a pragmatic framework that promotes local governance while safeguarding Morocco’s sovereignty.

Speaking after a high-level meeting with Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita, Zuma emphasised that his party, Umkhonto weSizwe (MK), supports Morocco’s territorial claims based on historical and legal grounds.

Former South African President,  Jacob Zuma, makes his stand clear on Morocco’s Autonomy Proposal on Western Sahara

“Our party believes that Morocco’s Autonomy Proposal allows for significant local governance by the populations of the Sahara region, while ensuring that Morocco retains its sovereignty,” Zuma stated in a press release issued after the talks.

Zuma, now leader of the MK Party, further noted that Morocco’s efforts to reclaim full territorial integrity align with the MKP’s broader commitment to African sovereignty and unity.

“The historical and legal context that underpins Morocco’s claim to Western Sahara cannot be ignored,” he said. “Morocco’s approach is consistent with our party’s platform aimed at preserving the sovereignty of African states.”

Zuma highlighted the growing international and continental support for Morocco’s Autonomy Plan, which he called “a balanced path forward that promotes stability, peace, and development in the region.” He urged the global community to rally behind the initiative as a viable solution to the long-standing Sahara issue.

This position reflects the MK Party’s strategic policy framework titled “Strategic Partnership for African Unity, Economic Emancipation, and Territorial Integrity,” released last month. The document supports Morocco’s claim to the Sahara based on historical allegiance of the region’s tribes to the Moroccan Throne before Spanish colonization in the late 19th century.

It also refers to Morocco’s 1975 Green March as “a unique and non-violent liberation movement,” hailing it as “an act of decolonization” and a powerful symbol of the bond between Morocco and its southern provinces. Over 350,000 unarmed Moroccans participated in the mass mobilization to reclaim the Sahara.

Zuma’s latest statement marks a notable shift in rhetoric compared to past South African leadership stances on the Sahara issue. It follows his 2017 meeting with King Mohammed VI on the sidelines of the AU–EU Summit in Abidjan, which helped reset bilateral ties between Morocco and South Africa after years of diplomatic tension.

The MK Party’s endorsement adds to a growing list of African and international actors supporting Morocco’s autonomy initiative as the basis for a negotiated political solution to the Sahara conflict under United Nations auspices.

BY KUNLE SOLAJA.

King Mohammed VI of Morocco has sent a message of condolence to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the people of Nigeria following the death of former President Muhammadu Buhari.

In his message, the Moroccan monarch expressed deep sorrow over the passing of the former Nigerian leader, describing him as “an illustrious son” who worked tirelessly for the progress and prosperity of his nation.

“On this sad occasion, I extend my sincere condolences and deepest sympathy to President Tinubu, the bereaved family, and the entire people of Nigeria,” King Mohammed VI stated. “Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the bereaved.”

The King also reflected on his personal working relationship with the late President Buhari, recalling collaborative engagements that, he said, resulted in the launch of key development projects between the two countries. He hailed the efforts as laying the foundation for a new era of strengthened friendship and cooperation between Nigeria and Morocco.

“I share your grief and want you to know how much I appreciated the working sessions I had with the deceased,” the King added. “They culminated in the launch of promising development projects that have ushered a new era grounded in friendship and close cooperation between our two sister nations.”

King Mohammed VI’s message highlights the close diplomatic and economic ties that grew between Nigeria and Morocco during Buhari’s presidency, including landmark agreements in energy, agriculture, and infrastructure development.