President William Ruto today, September 14, made his stand clear that Kenya does not recognise Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) as an independent state.
President Ruto after meeting Morocco’s King, His Majesty Mohammed VI, revoked the country’s commendation of the West African partly recognized State arousing sovereignty from Morocco.
The first in command further noted that he had started the process of winding down the element’s presence in Kenya which includes closing down its embassy found in the Kilimani area, Nairobi.
“At State House in Nairobi, received a congratulatory message from His Majesty King Mohammed VI. Kenya rescinds its recognition of the SADR and initiates steps to wind down the entity’s presence in the country,”
Adding;
“Kenya supports the United Nations framework as the exclusive mechanism to find a lasting solution to the dispute over Western Sahara,” noted President Ruto.
His rebuke came just a day after SADR’s President Brahim Ghali joined other delegates at Ruto’s inauguration ceremony at Kasarani Stadium. Ghali arrived dressed in a sky blue conventional gown with golden needlework at the torso and was escorted by security.
Ahead of Ruto’s unexpected rebuke, Kenya had been among 41 United Nations (UN) member states that recognised it as a state and advocated an end to its confrontation with Morocco.
The country has been pursuing to change from its existing semi-autonomous state into a full-blown state awash with self-rule.
In February 2022, President Uhuru Kenyatta convened high-level talks aimed at examining the questioned sovereignty.
“A meeting at the Heads of State and Government level will be held on 16th February which among other things will discuss the situation in Western Sahara and follow up on the Nairobi declaration on Terrorism and Violent Extremism,” read a memo from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the time.
It is however not known why the president has decided to delete the Tweet which could have been educative and so intriguing.
Senior counsel Ahmenassir Abdulahi had condemned that denouncement by President Ruto, here is what he wrote;
“On this, I respectfully disagree with President William Ruto. The Sahrawi People of Western Sahara have the right of Peoples to self-determination. Morocco is a colonising State,” wrote Ahmednassir.
