Kenya backs down and confirms its recognition of the Saharawi Republic

Sep. 18 (EUROPA RPESS) –

The Kenyan government has issued an official note that means reversing the withdrawal of recognition of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) announced last week.

“Kenya’s position regarding the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic is fully aligned with the decision of the Organization for African Unity (former name of the African Union) to admit the SADR as a member on August 22, 1982 and with the Charter of the African Union that defends the unquestionable and inalienable right to self-determination of peoples”, explains the official note from the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The note has been sent to the embassies and representative offices of international organizations based in Nairobi and represents a 180 degree turn with respect to the message published last week on Twitter by President William Ruto, who expressed his support for the “plan of serious and credible autonomy proposed by the Kingdom of Morocco as a unique solution based on the territorial integrity of Morocco”.

The text is dated September 16 and has the signature of the main secretary of the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Macharia Kamau. It makes explicit Kenya’s support for UN mediation efforts and support for the Saharawi people in deciding their own future.

Ruto published the message of support for the Moroccan position on September 14, the day after his inauguration as president of the country and after meeting with the Saharawi president, Brahim Ghali, and the Moroccan Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita , who attended his inauguration in Kasarani. The message was later deleted.

The document highlights that all the statements will be published from now on in official diplomatic documents and not on social networks and ensures that they seek to promote relations with Morocco “in the commercial, agricultural, health, tourism or energy sectors, among others, for the mutual benefit of our countries.

The former Spanish colony of Western Sahara was occupied by Morocco in 1975 despite the resistance of the Polisario Front, with whom it remained at war until 1991, when both parties signed a ceasefire with a view to holding a self-determination referendum, but Differences over the preparation of the census and the inclusion or not of Moroccan settlers have so far prevented its convening.

The SADR was admitted as a member of the African Union in 1982, which is why Morocco has been outside this regional forum for many years. In 2017 Rabat decided to rejoin this organization.