Kenyans Embrace Morocco's Autonomy Proposal Amidst International Support
On April 9th, during a press conference in Nairobi, Kenya's Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi expressed strong support for Morocco's autonomy plan for Western Sahara, labeling it as "the only credible solution" to the long-standing territorial dispute. Mudavadi emphasized the significance of the growing international consensus and the efforts spearheaded by His Majesty King Mohammed VI in promoting this autonomy plan, which he believes presents a realistic pathway to resolving the ongoing conflict in the region.
Co-chairing the Kenya-Morocco Joint Cooperation Commission alongside his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, Mudavadi articulated that the Moroccan initiative offers a sustainable approach to addressing the complexities surrounding the Sahara issue. He called for closer collaboration with like-minded nations to bolster the realization of this plan, highlighting Kenya's commitment to supporting the United Nations framework as the exclusive mechanism for achieving a durable political solution to the dispute.
In reaffirming the importance of the United Nations' role, Mudavadi stated, "The exclusivity of the United Nations in this political process remains fundamental." The UN continues to classify the former Spanish colony as a "non-self-governing territory" pending decolonization, while the Polisario Front, which declared the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in 1976, insists that a referendum for self-determination is the only viable solution to the conflict.
Morocco's proposition of autonomy for Western Sahara falls within its territorial boundaries and is considered a key element in peace negotiations, as outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 2797, adopted on October 31. Since President William Ruto took office in 2022, Kenya has shifted its diplomatic stance towards Morocco, distancing itself from the SADR, a founding member of the African Union that Kenya historically supported. Ruto's administration made waves in September 2022 when he announced via Twitter that Kenya was withdrawing its recognition of the SADR, just a day after the Sahrawi president, Brahim Gali, attended his inauguration.
Shortly thereafter, the Kenyan Foreign Ministry confirmed its acceptance of the SADR as a country, a move that came in the wake of Ruto's controversial tweet, which he deleted shortly after posting. As part of this evolving relationship, Kenya and Morocco signed eleven cooperation agreements on April 9, covering various sectors including agriculture, health, trade, education, and security. This partnership underscores the strengthening bonds between the two nations, as evidenced by Mudavadi and Bourita's earlier meeting in May in Rabat, where they also inaugurated the Kenyan Embassy in Morocco.
As reported by infobae.com.
