Confusion as Ruto rescinds decision revoking recognition of Western Sahara Sahrawi after Morocco protest
Ruto rescinds decision revoking recognition of Western Sahara Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic after a protest by Morocco.
Confusion over Kenya’s relations with Morocco and Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) appear to worsen after President William Ruto deleted the tweet denouncing the country.
On September 14, less than an hour after the announcement, the tweet was deleted.
The denouncing of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic came following a visit with His Majesty Mohammed VI, the King of Morocco, where Ruto denounced Sahrawi as an independent country from Morocco.
Ruto stated that his administration will initiate steps to wind down the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic’s presence in the country.
“At State House in Nairobi, received a congratulatory message from His Majesty King Mohammed VI. Kenya rescinds its recognition of the SADR and initiates steps to wind down the entity’s presence in the country.”
“Kenya supports the United Nations framework as the exclusive mechanism to find a lasting solution of the dispute over Western Sahara,” the president stated in the tweet that was deleted minutes later.
The kingdom of Morocco had welcomed Ruto’s decision- noting that it would work in strengthening the diplomatic relations between the two countries in the next six months.
Morocco also sought Kenya to open its embassy in Rabat.
The Sahrawi Republic has been seeking to transition from a semi-autonomous region to self-rule, a push that Morocco has vehemently objected to opposing proposals for Western Sahara to decide its future through a referendum.
Brahim Ghali, the President of Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, a partially recognized State agitating for independence from Morocco, was among the leaders in the country to attend President Ruto’s inauguration.
Kenya has been a leader in promoting the de-escalation of the dispute between Sahrawi and Morocco and is one of the 41 UN member states that recognize Sahrawi.
Kenya prioritized discussions on the disputed Western Sahara region while holding the presidency of the African Union Peace and Security Council (AU PSC) in February.
President Uhuru Kenyatta called for high-level talks on February 16.
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