Morocco to rejoin African Union after 32 years absence

Kigali, 18 July. - (ANA) - Morocco has formally announced its wish to rejoin the African Union (AU), 32 years after leaving the organisation following a controversial decision by the then sercretary general of the OAU (Organisation of African Unity which became African Union in 2002) to admit the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) as a member state.

Morocco withdrew from the Panafrican organisation in protest at the illegal admission of a state that does not meet the conditions and requirements in accordance with the organisation's charter especially articles 4,27 and 28.
 
In a message to the AU summit in Rwanda, the Moroccan King Mohammed VI said the time had come for his country to retake its place within its institutional family.

Moroccans describe Western Sahara as their country's "southern provinces".
For more than three decades, Morocco has refused to be part of the organisation after it was divided into two camps during the cold war.

Only 13 countries recognise the existence of the SADR and last week Zambia withrew its recognition and cut its diplomatic relations with the SARD.

The 17th AU summit is taking place in the Rwandan capital Kigali.

Morocco, a founding member of the panafrican organtion, is the only African country which is not an AU member. - (ANA)

AB/ANA/ 18 July 2016 - - -