Pretoria, January 31, 2017 (SPS) – The African National Congress (ANC) expressed on Tuesday its regrets over the African Union’s (AU’s) decision to readmit Morocco into the organization, which represents an "important setback for the cause of the Saharawi people"
In a statement from the ruling party, which was sent to the media this morning, stressed that the vote at the 28th AU Summit in favor of the Morocco's return to the AU bloc is against the search for self-determination and independence in the Western Sahara
The statement said that SA’s ruling party enjoyed longstanding fraternal ties with the Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el-Hamra and Río de Oro (Polisario)‚ and with the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).
"The ANC notes that this decision paves the way for the Kingdom of Morocco to take their place amongst the community of nations and to enjoy the benefits of AU membership — whilst the Sahrawi people continue to suffer under an unjust occupation of their ancestral land.
"The ANC‚ whilst respecting the decision of the AU‚ hopes that in coming months the AU will not allow the matter of the independence of Western Sahara to be swept under the carpet of political expediency." SPS
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