Morocco seeks Uhuru's support to rejoin AU after 32 years out

Morocco is seeking President Uhuru Kenyatta’s support in its quest to rejoin the Africa Union, after leaving the body 32 years ago.

The northern Africa country withdrew from the AU' predecessor the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1984 over the admission of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) as a full member of the body.

According to a paper published in the Brenthurst Foundation, in the the nearly 30 years since it pulled out, Morocco has refused — until now — to rejoin the OAU/AU and remained the only African country that was not a member.

Morocco had insisted that it would only join the OAU/AU on the condition that the membership of SADR was withdrawn or frozen in spite of the fact that the Sahrawi republic's membership was only partially recognised internationally.

Morocco special envoy Taieb Fassi Fihri said King Mohamed VI considers Kenya as an honest and neutral broker who can partner with his country in achieving peace and security in the continent.

Mr Taieb made the remarks this morning when he paid a courtesy call on President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House, Nairobi.

“All we want is our membership to be reinstated without pre-conditions. We want to be part and parcel of the African Union as we want to work for all people,” said the special envoy.

He said Morocco believes in the strong leadership of President Kenyatta and that’s why King Mohammed VI of Morocco would like Kenya’s support in his country’s efforts to be reintegrated back to the African Union.

“The Moroccan leadership is very optimistic and hopeful on your leadership as a neutral and honest broker on this issue,” said the special envoy.

President Kenyatta thanked the Moroccan government for their willingness to be re-admitted to the African Union saying it is only through partnership that solutions to global problems can be reached.

“We have to work together to find solutions to our problems. Kenya believes in not imposing solutions but being an honest broker, we look at how we can be part of the solution and not part of the problem,” said President Kenyatta.

(Editing by Joel Muinde)