African Union must suspend Morocco immediately
We commend Botswana for the principled stance it took by condemning Morocco’s blatant aggression on Western Sahara at the 14th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union Heads of State and Government on “Silencing the Guns”.
Indeed the AU’s theme for this year – ‘ Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africa’s Development’ - is meaningless if the continental body continues to harbour within its midst a rogue member.
Emboldened by France inside the United Nations Security Council, Morocco has proven to be a terror within the African Union.
She doesn’t flinch at the thought of violating the AU’s sacrosanct principles of anti- colonialism; respect for sovereignty of other members; good neighbourliness and the right to self determination for all peoples.
Botswana, like other principled members of SADC is unequivocally clear. She condemned Morocco in the strongest terms for the recent attacks on peaceful Saharawi demonstrators in their own country.
This attack abruptly ended the UN- monitored ceasefire imposed in 1991 and left Polisario Front and its Liberation Army with o option but to resort to a resumption of armed conflict to liberate Western Sahara from the clutches of an occupying power, Morocco. In his speech, which was delivered by International Affairs and Cooperation Minister Lemogang Kwape to the Assembly, President Dr. Mokgweetsi Masisi was incisive in his analysis.
“We can never enjoy real peace and security in Africa when a fellow member of the African Union continues to endure long years of suffering, turmoil and oppression at the behest of another Member State”. He promised that Botswana will continue to call on the international community to redouble the efforts to right the wrong that continue to torment the peace- loving Saharawi people. We concur with President Masisi without a shadow of doubt that a conflict- free Africa, anchored on pillars of democracy, good governance, respect for human rights, good neighbourliness and respect for each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity will be “catalytic in fast- tracking” Africa’s integration, economic transformation and the success of the African Continental Free Trade Area. This is so because more resources will be channelled towards development, as opposed to waging wars and mitigating the impact of conflicts on our economies. In the same vein we condemn unreservedly the cowardly positions adopted by Democratic Republic of Congo; The Comoros and Zambia of kowtowing to a bully and siding with an aggressor against a peaceful people fighting for their freedom.
Even with all the money at its disposal, Morocco cannot defeat the ends of justice, especially the concerted and gallant efforts of a people united in the search for its own freedom.
The best that the AU can do for now to demonstrate its intolerance for those who violate it’s Constitutive Act, is to suspend Morocco’s membership. As for the UN, it has failed dismally to organise a Referendum for the people of Western Sahara. It must likewise do the needful and that is to deploy its peace- keeping forces to end the war between these two neighbours.