Rabat – Republican politician Markwayne Mullin will be replacing James Inhofe, known for his support for the Polisario front, in the US senate, starting on January 3, 2023.
Mullin this week defeated his Democratic opponent Kendra Horn with nearly 62% of the vote, and is set to become the first Native American to serve in Congress since Ben Nighthorse Campbell retired in 2005.
Inhofe announced his retirement from the senate earlier this year, with Mullin set to serve the rest of his term until 2026.
As one of the most vocal supporters for the Polisario front in US politics, Inhofe has repeatedly supported the group’s claims for independence in the Western Sahara region.
In 2021, he addressed a letter co-signed by 26 other senators urging US President Joe Biden to revert his predecessor’s decision to recognize Moroccan sovereignty over the region.
Donald Trump had announced US support for Morocco’s autonomy initiative for Western Sahara and formally recognized the country’s sovereignty over the region in late 2020.
Inhofe has also repeatedly called to revoke hosting rights of the African Lion military exercise, the largest of its kind in Africa, from Morocco, citing the country’s stance on Western Sahara as the main reason for his objections.
Authorized sources confirmed to Morocco World News (MWN) in October that the country would continue to host the large-scale military exercises in 2023.
