King hails ‘return home’ to AU after 33 years

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI Tuesday said he’s “finally home”, as the African Union readmitted the country after a 33-year absence, deferring the issue of Western Sahara for another day. Morocco’s return came a day after 39 of the AU’s 54 member states agreed to allow it back in the fold, despite stiff resistance from countries […]

Morocco’s King Mohammed VI Tuesday said he’s “finally home”, as the African Union readmitted the country after a 33-year absence, deferring the issue of Western Sahara for another day.

Morocco’s return came a day after 39 of the AU’s 54 member states agreed to allow it back in the fold, despite stiff resistance from countries such as South Africa and Algeria over the status of the disputed former Spanish colony.

“It is a beautiful day when one returns home after too long an absence,” Mohammed VI told the closing ceremony of the AU summit in Ethiopia. 

Morocco quit the then Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1984 after the bloc admitted the former Western Sahara as a separate member.

Morocco maintains that the territory under its control is an integral part of the kingdom, while the Polisario Front, which campaigns for independence, demands a referendum on self-determination.