Rabat, Morocco (TMT)- Only few hours following Morocco officially formulating its demand to reclaim its seat back at the African Union’s (AU) table, 28 countries from the 54-state bloc filed a motion calling for the suspension of the the Polisario Front and the activities of its self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) within the organization.
The motion was sent to the President of the African Union, Mr. Idriss Deby.
The 28 countries that signed the motion have asked the president of the AU to consider their demand as “an official” one, one that should be presented to all members of the organization.
Morocco, a founding member of the African Union was forced to leave the organization in 1984 following the majority of the AU countries back-then recognizing the Polisario Front and its self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).
However, at the request of various African countries who asked the North African kingdom to return back, King Mohammed VI sent a letter yesterday to the president of the AU stressing that “that time has now come” where Morocco will take “its natural place within its institutional family.”
“On reflection, it has become clear to us that when a body is sick, it is treated more effectively from the inside than from the outside,” King Mohammed VI’ letter to the AU president read, hinting out that Morocco, as an African country, will solve its issues from now on within the framework of brotherhood of the AU, not outside it.
Here follows, as relayed by Morocco’s Ministry of Foreign Cooperation, the full text of this motion addressed by His Excellency Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of Gabon, on behalf of Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Eritrea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Libya, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sao Tome, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Togo, Zambia.
“Mr President,
The 28 Heads of State,
A/ Bearing in mind the authentic ideals of the African construction;
B/ Faithful to the principles and objectives of the African Union, particularly the achievement of greater unity and solidarity between African States, the protection of their sovereignty and territorial integrity, the promotion of peace, security and stability on the continent, the promotion of international cooperation, taking due account of the Nations Charter and the creation of appropriate conditions for the continent to play its role in the global economy;
C/ Regretting the absence of Morocco in the instances of the African Union, and aware of the specific circumstances in which the “Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic” was admitted to the Organization of African Unity;
D/ Welcoming enthusiastically the content of the historic message of HM King Mohammed VI, the King of Morocco, to the current President of the 27th AU Summit for distribution to Heads of State and Government participating in this event.
1. Welcome the decision of the Kingdom of Morocco, a founding member of the OAU and whose active contribution to the stability and development of the Continent is widely recognized, to rejoin the African Union; and intend to work so that this legitimate return be effective as soon as possible;
2. Decide to act for the immediate suspension of the “Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic” from the activities of the African Union and all its bodies, to enable the AU to play a constructive role and contribute positively to UN efforts for a final settlement to the regional dispute over the Sahara.
On behalf of these 28 countries, I urge you to include this motion among the documents of the Summit and ensure its distribution among Member States.
Please accept, Mr. President, the expression of my highest consideration”.
The Moroccan Times.
