Moroccan king announces official return to African Union
Moroccan king announces official return to African Union
Moroccan King Mohammed VI has officially announced Rabat's intention to return to the African Union it left in 1984
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Morocco returns to African Union after a long absence [AFP]
Moroccan King Mohammed VI has officially announced Rabat's intention to return to the African Union it left in 1984, the kingdom's official news agency reported on Sunday.
"It took much time before we were asked by our friends to come back so that Morocco would find its natural place among this institutional family. The moment has come," Mohammed VI said, as quoted by MAP news agency.
Morocco left the bloc 32 years ago in protest at its decision to accept Western Sahara, a territory seeking independence from the kingdom, as a member.
The announcement was made in a message sent to an African Union summit taking place in Kigali, Rwanda.
Morocco's intentions were revealed by an anonymous source speaking to Moroccan newspaper Akhbar al-Youm last week.
Morocco enjoys special status within the African Union but it is the only UN-recognised state in Africa that is not a member.
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