EXPLAINER | Why Morocco, SA are at odds over more than the UN human rights chair

• Algeria and South Africa do not want Morocco to take up the presidency of the UN Human Rights Council.
• The Kingdom of Morocco and Israel enjoy close ties that is endorsed by the US.
• Morocco and South Africa differ on Western Sahara and Palestine.

If Morocco and South Africa get to meet in the later stages of the Africa Cup of Nations, it will not just be about football anymore.

On Wednesday, Morocco shrugged off an attempt from South Africa to take over the presidency of the UN Human Rights Council for 2024.

Of the 47 members of the UN Human Rights Council, 30 supported Morocco's bid, while South Africa obtained only 17 votes.

Morocco, in a statement, said Algeria and South Africa failed to derail its ascendency to the presidency.

READ | Morocco defeats South Africa’s attempt to take over UN Human Rights Council - by a lot

"The kingdom's election, thanks to the adherence of a large number of countries from all regions of the world, and despite the mobilisation of Algeria and South Africa to counter it, also reveals the trust and credibility inspired by Morocco's external action under the Royal Impetus in Africa, on the international stage, and in the multilateral system," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation, and Moroccan Expatriates added.

African countries tend to show a more united front at the UN, and rarely air their differences so publicly.

The beef

South Africa and Morocco are at odds over Israel.

Morocco supports Israel, along with the US, even as South Africa charges Israel with genocide at the International Court of Justice.

Morocco's support for Israel has been persistent, despite popular opposition; thousands of protesters staged one of the largest pro-Palestinian marches in late December in Rabat, organised by leftist groups.

Since 2020, relations between Morocco and Israel have blossomed into full cooperation in various sectors, such as intelligence cooperation, arms, and technology trade.

They have also engaged in joint military drills.

That came at the urging of the US, with a deal that if Morocco endorsed Israel, then the US would support Morocco's claim over Western Sahara.

Last year, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a letter addressed to Morocco's King Mohammed VI, reaffirmed Jerusalem's support for Morocco's claim on Western Sahara.

That is the exact opposite of South Africa's position, which sides with Algeria on Western Sahara.

Algeria and South Africa also see eye-to-eye on Palestine.

Following the Palestinian Declaration of Independence on 15 November 1988, Algeria became the world's first country to recognise the nascent State of Palestine and officially established full diplomatic ties with it on 18 December the same year.

Mandla Mandela and Western Sahara

Last year, Mandela scion Mandla was invited to Algiers for the inauguration ceremony of Nelson Mandela Stadium in Algeria.

In his speech, he said: "Free Free Palestine, Free Free Palestine, From the river to the sea, Free Free Palestine."

Mandla added Western Sahara was Africa's last colony that needed emancipation.

Morocco reacted negatively to Mandela's statements - on a sporting level.

The country's football association wrote to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), claiming his statement breached the organisation's guidelines against political involvement in football.

CAF said it was investigating the situation.

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