Sahrawi Republic triumphed and Morocco admitted adherence with no conditions, says Ambassador

What happened in the African Union’s Summit on Monday is a triumph for Sahrawi people and their fair cause. “Morocco joined the Union without any condition and with no reserves. It accepted all the members including the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic. This is an implicit recognition of the Sahrawi Republic,” Sahrawi Ambassador to Algiers Hammoudi Bouchraya told Echorouk in an interview.

How do you consider the results of the African Union’s Summit?

Morocco left the Organisation of African Unity protesting against the Sahrawi Republic’s membership. It has tried to come back for 34 years using all possible means to kick the Sahrawi Republic out. Yet, it failed. At the end, it recognized the Sahrawi reality and had to accept the charter without any condition.

Morocco’s attempts failed. What happened is a triumph for the Sahrawi people and their fair fight. They imposed on Morocco recognition.

Morocco says its adherence to the African Union is a great triumph. How do you explain that?

Morocco transmits an internal message only. There are voices in Rabat telling the King you joined the African Union to kick out the Sahrawi Republic but this did not happen. Western Sahara is still in the Union. So, what did change?

Those voices repeat that Hassan II left the Organisation of African Unity to protest against its decision to accept Western Sahara’s adherence. The Sahrawi Republic still exist in the African Union. So, what did change? The Makhzen is just talking about illusions and saying lies. What happened is a failure for it. Morocco has tried to kick us out for 34 years. Yet, all its conspiracies failed. Now, it must look for a peaceful solution.

Did Morocco try to impose conditions to join the African Union? For instance, did it call for excluding the Sahrawi Republic?

In its message, Morocco talked about the exclusion of what it calls the “illusionary republic.” Afterwards, it changed its mind. Its foreign minister said his country does not set the exclusion of the Sahrawi Republic as a condition.

The debate was not about Western Sahara’s existence but Morocco’s adherence. Rabat knows that the Sahrawi Republic will not leave the African Union. African nations did not support Morocco. Rabat knows that Western Sahara is a red line.

Was the Sahrawi Republic against Morocco’s adherence?

Morocco joined the African Union following a unanimous decision with the condition to respect all the charter clauses. Rabat should respect borders inherited from colonization and the defence of territorial unity. We called for the respect of the charter.