Morocco hosted a Conference on AU role in supporting UN-led political process

The city of Marrakech has hosted on 25th march 2019, a ministerial conference on the African Union’s role in supporting the UN-led political process.

38 African countries have participated to this conference which aims to express support for the Decision Assembly / AU / Dec.693 (XXXI), adopted at the 31st African Union Summit, held on July 1 and 2 in Nouakchott 2018.

The Decision N° 693, "puts the Moroccan Sahara issue back into its appropriate framework, that of the United Nations" and "allows, therefore, to immunize the AU against any inappropriate attempt to divert the path of unity and integration," said, Monday in Marrakech, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Nasser Bourita.

This decision "contributes to strengthening serenity within the AU regarding the Moroccan Sahara issue," Bourita said at the opening of the African Ministerial Conference on African Union (AU) support to the United Nations political process on the regional dispute over the Sahara.

The decision to establish an African mechanism comprising an AU Troika to extend effective support to the UN-led efforts in this issue is shared by an overwhelming majority of African countries that support the UN-led political process, he pointed out.

This decision should be "neither reinterpreted, nor circumvented nor instrumentalized", he insisted.

Decision 693 has enshrined the exclusive competence of the United Nations in the management of the conflict over the Sahara, kicked out any other parallel process to that of the United Nations and stressed the AU support to the UN-led efforts, Bourita pointed out.

It is these parameters that allow the AU to support the political process led by the United Nations and to be in accordance with the Security Council resolutions, which call for a "political, realistic, pragmatic and sustained solution based on compromise", the Minister said.

The Marrakech conference is held at a time when "Africa addresses substantial challenges, which require us to meet more, to consult more and to work more together", he said, while underlining the importance of unity and cohesion to serve Africa’s interests.

In the Royal Speech that marked the return of Morocco to its institutional family, HM King Mohammed VI set a roadmap for the Kingdom within the African Union, the Minister said, adding that the Marrakech Conference reflects this Royal Vision, in that it intends, precisely, to federate and go forward.

This spirit of togetherness stems from the very essence of HM the King's African Policy, which is based on the principles of "responsibility, solidarity and clarity", he said, adding that this orientation pushes Morocco to "oppose any sterile debate exploiting the issue of the Moroccan Sahara, and to condemn any political manipulation”.

In the Final Declaration adopted by the conference, the representatives of the 38 countries have warmly welcomed the constructive initiative of the Kingdom of Morocco to convene this conference and support the United Nations political process on the regional dispute over the Sahara. They also reaffirmed their unwavering commitment to a united, stable, proactive and prosperous Africa, speaking with one voice and able to respond to the multidimensional challenges of today's and tomorrow's complex world.