Following the message addressed by His Majesty King Mohammed VI to the new President of the Republic of Kenya, Mr. William Ruto, the Republic of Kenya decided to withdraw its recognition of the so-called "Saharawi Republic" and to initiate steps to close its representation in Nairobi.
A joint statement, excerpts of which were published on the website of the State House of the Republic of Kenya following the delivery of a message from His Majesty the King to the Kenyan President on Wednesday, stated that "the Republic of Kenya has decided to withdraw its recognition of the so-called 'Saharawi Republic' and to initiate steps to close its representation in the country."
The joint statement clarified that "out of respect for the principle of territorial integrity and non-interference, Kenya extends its full support to the serious and credible autonomy plan proposed by the Kingdom of Morocco, as the sole solution based on Morocco's territorial integrity" to settle this dispute.
The same source added that "Kenya supports the United Nations framework as the exclusive mechanism to achieve a lasting and sustainable political solution to the dispute over the Sahara issue."
In his message, His Majesty King Mohammed VI congratulated Mr. William Samoei Ruto on his election as the fifth President of the Republic of Kenya, praising the successful conclusion of the democratic elections in the country in August 2022. His Majesty stressed that these elections consolidate Kenya's position as a leading democratic country on the continent.
His Majesty the King also commended the Kenyan President's pledge to strengthen and deepen bilateral relations between his country and various African nations and beyond.
For his part, Mr. William Ruto expressed his will and commitment to work with His Majesty the King to consolidate relations between the two countries, praising the leadership of His Majesty King Mohammed VI in promoting policies of tolerance and consensus in the Maghreb region, as well as his contribution to global peace and security.
The statement indicated that the two countries committed to elevating their bilateral diplomatic relations to the level of a strategic partnership in the next six months, adding that the Republic of Kenya pledged to open its embassy in Rabat.
It was also agreed to immediately accelerate economic, commercial, and social relations between the two countries, particularly in the areas of fisheries, agriculture, and food security (fertilizer imports).
This also concerns the fields of health, tourism, renewable energies, and security cooperation, as well as cultural, religious, and people-to-people exchanges.
The message of His Majesty the King was delivered by a delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Mr. Nasser Bourita.
His Majesty King Mohammed VI stated that Morocco is entering a new phase focused on strengthening national sovereignty, supporting economic recovery, and implementing the New Development Model. He also called on the government and Parliament to fully assume their responsibilities.
The United Nations praised His Majesty King Mohammed VI’s forward-looking vision for future generations, highlighting the importance of collective action to build a human-centered and sustainable development model. It also noted that this vision has become even more relevant in light of the challenges exposed by the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly social inequalities and the spread of misinformation.
The Council of the League of Arab States praised the efforts of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, Chairman of the Al-Quds Committee, to protect Al-Quds Al-Sharif and support the resilience of the Palestinian people. It also highlighted the fieldwork of the Bayt Mal Al-Quds Agency in preserving the city’s Arab and Islamic identity.
