By FRED OLUOCH
In Summary
Kenya has expressed support for the Saharawi Arab Democratic
Republic's (SADR) self-determination as part of the campaign by Foreign
Affairs Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed for the chairperson of the
African Union Commission.
Speaking when she made a historic visit to the Western Sahara
country, Ms Mohamed said that Kenya supports the SADR quest for full
self-determination and its membership to the African Union (AU).
“Kenya fought for its self-determination and supports the people
of Saharawi whose land is still occupied. The suffering the people of
this country have undergone should come to an end,” she said.
Morocco considers Saharawi as part of its territory.
Ms Mohamed met and held discussions with SADR Prime Minister Abdelkader Taleb.
She also presented a special message from President Uhuru
Kenyatta, on her nomination for the AU Commission seat and requested for
support.
Drum up support
The development could go against the rapport Kenya recently
struck with Morocco that saw President Kenyatta travel to Rabat to drum
up support for Ms Mohammed.
Morocco—that is seeking a comeback to AU since withdrawing from
the continental body in 1981—has been lobbying for the expulsion of the
SADR from AU before it is reinstated.
It is going to be one of the major issues to be discussed at the
sidelines of the January 2017 AU heads of state summit in Addis Ababa.
Morocco withdraw from the then Organisation of African Unity
(OAU) in 1981 because of the admission of SADR, which it believes it
part of its territory.
Most of the citizens of SADR live in camps administered by Algeria and UNHCR.
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