African Union Excludes Polisario from Meetings: The Straw that Broke the Camel’s Back for Polisario’s Survival
In a significant diplomatic development, the African Union (AU) has announced that participation in its meetings and summits will be restricted to United Nations member states. This decision represents a severe blow to the Polisario Front and its supporter, Algeria, and highlights the deepening isolation of this unrecognized entity. It also underscores the effectiveness of Morocco’s diplomatic efforts, which have strengthened the kingdom’s position on the Western Sahara issue both within Africa and globally.
AU Decision: A Diplomatic Setback for Polisario
The new resolution stipulates that only UN member states will be allowed to participate in major international forums organized by the AU, including those of significant economic and political importance attended by heads of state and government.
This development has provoked a strong reaction from Algeria, which supports the separatist Polisario Front and provides political backing to its leaders. Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf accused unnamed parties within the AU of trying to exclude a “founding member of the organization,” ignoring the fact that many countries do not recognize the Polisario Front.
Attaf criticized the refusal of several African countries to allow the separatist front to participate in AU summits and other major international events, and expressed regret over what he described as a “deadlock” facing the “policy and strategic framework” project, accusing some parties of attempting to exclude the Polisario from the upcoming Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD).
French and African Support for Moroccan Sovereignty
Algeria had attempted to pass a controversial proposal aimed at legitimizing the Polisario’s participation in AU summits, but this plan was thwarted by the majority of African countries that have established strong relationships and strategic partnerships with Morocco, which is viewed as a gateway to Africa.
The majority of African nations support Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara and endorse the autonomy proposal under Moroccan sovereignty as the only viable solution. Efforts by the Polisario Front to gain international recognition have consistently failed, leading to deepening international isolation, while Algeria’s erratic diplomacy has failed to alter the reality, despite resorting to misinformation and baseless narratives.
International Reactions and Moroccan Diplomacy
Abbas El Wardi, a professor of international relations and international law at Mohammed V University in Rabat, stated that “excluding the Polisario militia from participating in international meetings and summits, while restricting participation to UN member states, confirms that Morocco is on the right track and that international consensus is shaping up to confront such fictitious and terrorist entities within an organization governed by principles of international legitimacy.”
Ibrahim Belali Assouih, a member of the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs, noted that Morocco welcomed the AU’s decision, emphasizing that “most members of the AU Peace and Security Council and the AU Commission remain committed to legitimacy and legality.”
The Moroccan news site “Al-Sheih” reported that the decision reflects support from influential African countries, such as Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Gabon, and Guinea, which have opened consulates in Moroccan Sahara. These countries’ backing highlights their conviction that their economic and political interests align with supporting Morocco’s initiative to resolve the longstanding conflict.
In conclusion, the AU’s decision to exclude the Polisario Front from its meetings signifies a critical setback for the separatist group, emphasizing the effectiveness of Morocco’s diplomatic strategy and its growing influence in regional and international arenas.
