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Rabat – Morocco’s return to the African Union unifies Africa, said Federica Mogherini, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.
Speaking in parliament, Mogherini, added that regional cooperation and integration are important for the prosperity, stability and peace of the continent. She noted that “Morocco and the African Union are basic partners of the European Union.”
Supported by 39 AU member states out of a total of 54, Morocco was re-admitted to the pan-African organization as a full-fledged member in January 2017, ending a 33-year-long absence.
Morocco’s late King Hassan II decided to withdraw the Kingdom from the AU in 1984, after the pan-African organization publicly accepted the self-proclaimed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) as a full-fledged member state.
Following the re-admission of Morocco during the 28th Summit of the African Union, King Mohammed VI delivered a speech, highlighting the position of Morocco in Africa. The monarch elaborated on projects that have been created to consolidate South-South partnership as well as Morocco’s initiative to provide Sub-Saharan immigrants emergency assistance.
“It was necessary to withdraw from the AU; it has enabled Morocco’s action to be refocused in Africa,” King Mohammed VI said.
“We have thought it through carefully and it is now so obvious!” he continued. “It is time to return home; at a time when the Kingdom is among the most developed African nations and when a majority of Member States looks forward to our return, we have decided to join our family again.”
