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Morocco fails for the sixth time to break the African consensus on the issue of partnerships
The Fifth Partnership Conference between the African Union and the League of Arab States, scheduled to be held in Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) on 11 November 2023, was postponed due to the failure of a frantic attempt by which Morocco sought once again to exclude a founding member of the African Union, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, which was completely rejected by most of member states of the African Union.
African countries and governments made clear that holding such a partnership conference, without the presence of all AU member states, would be unfair and a flagrant contradiction with the founding principles of the African Union, and an infringement on Africa and interference in its affairs, which Africa rejects and condemns. Moreover, they made clear that it would be a violation of decision 762 of the Summit of the Heads of State of the African Union, which provides for the right of all member states to participate in partnership conferences to which the African Union is a party.
The announcement of the postponement of the African-Arab event, which came after the African Union insisted on defending its historic resolution 762, is a political and diplomatic setback for the occupation regime in Morocco. It is also a complete failure for its policies and attempts to circumvent and distort the decisions and positions of the Union and to break the African consensus on the issue of Western Sahara.
In this regard, we salute the Countries and Governments of member states of the African Union for their relentless defense of the principles and decisions of the African Union, and for confronting anyone trying to undermine the interests, unity, and dignity of Africa or to distort its positions as the Kingdom of Morocco has been trying to do in relation to all events related to partnerships between the African Union and international partners.
Morocco’s attempts to divide the African ranks must always be confronted head-on first by the African Union Commission and then by member states. In this regard, the Sahrawi Republic calls for serious reflection on the enforcement of Article 23 of the Constitutive Act of the Union, which provides for imposing sanctions on any member state that fails to comply with the decisions and policies of the Union and its policy- making organs so that together we send a strong message to both internal and external stakeholders that respect for the law and the decisions of the Union is a red line that must not be crossed.
Long live a united, free, dignified, and independent Africa that is sovereign in its decisions.
Bir Lehlou, 7 November 2023
