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MOROCCO AND THE AFRICAN UNION: ACUTE CRISIS FOR THE “COMPLETE UNION”

Year 2019, Volume: 3 Issue: 1, 80 - 108, 24.05.2019

Abstract

In this article the Western Sahara conflict and Africa’ dealings with it is analyzed. Since the formation of the first continental organization in the Western Sahara, conflict has been on the agenda. However, that through admission of the SADR, which Morocco later reacted by cessation of membership became crisis for OAU. As Morocco becomes a member of the AU like SADR, this crisis became acute as those two countries do not recognize each other. AU, SADR and Rabat have different suggestions for the conflict which making the unity questionable. However, the crisis has not threatened the existence and functioning of the OAU and the AU yet.

References

  • “28 African Countries Call on the Immediate Suspension of the SADR”, Submit Press Release 123, https://newsreleases. submitpressrelease123.com/2016/07/20/28-african-countriescall- on-the-immediate-suspension-of-the-sadr/, (Date of Accession: 18.08.2016). “Africa: Senegal Faults SADR’s Admission into the OAU”, All Africa, http://allafrica.com/stories/199908100184.html, (Date of Accession: 26.06.2017). “AU’s Shakespearean Morocco Dilemma: To Admit or not to Admit?”, Solomondersso, https://solomondersso.wordpress. com/2017/01/28/aus-shakespearean-morocco-dilemma-toadmit- or-not-to-admit/, (Date of Accession: 16.02.2017). “Charter of the Organization of the African Unity”, University of Minnesota Human Rights Library, http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/africa/ OAU_Charter_1993.html, (Date of Accession: 07.05.2016). “Communiqué”, 668th Peace and Security Council Meeting, 20 March 2017, http://www.peaceau.org/uploads/psc-comm-westernsahara- en.pdf, (Date of Accession: 18.05.2017). “Constitutive Act of the African Union”, African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, http://www.achpr.org/instruments/ au-constitutive-act/#3, (Date of Accession: 19.04.2017). “Constitutive Act of the African Union”, African Union, http:// www.peaceau.org/uploads/au-act-en.pdf, (Date of Accession: 05.02.2017). “Kenya Freezes Recognition of SADR”, Autonomy Plan, http:// autonomy-plan.org/57-kenya-freezes-recognition-of-sadr.html, (Date of Accession: 08.04.2014). “King Mohammed VI: Morocco Wants to Take Back Its Natural Position in Africa”, Middle East Online, http://www.middle-eastonline. com/english/?id=79660, (Date of Accession: 30.11.2016). “Malawi Withdraws its Recognition of the so-called SADR”, Sahara Online, http://www.sahara-online.net/Western- Sahara/Malawi-withdraws-its-recognition-of-the-so-called- SADR--1306-2452-3916.aspx, (Date of Accession: 08.04.2014). “Morocco ‘Should Not Rejoin African Union’”, BBC News, http:// www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37941687, (Date of Accession: 29.11.2016). “Morocco Accuses African Union Chief in Obstructing Readmission”, Reuters, http://www.reuters.com/article/us-morocco-africaidUSKBN13P22H, (Date of Accession: 04.12.2016). “Morocco did not Attend or Address the 27th AU Summit in Kigali, Rwanda”, AU’S Directorate of Information and Communication, Press Release Nº26/27TH AU SUMMIT, http://www.usc.es/export9/ sites/webinstitucional/gl/institutos/ceso/descargas/AU_AUCpress- release-Morocco_25-07-16_en.pdf, (Date of Accession: 20.08.2016). “Morocco Rejoins African Union without Conditions”, Middle East Online, http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=81293, (Date of Accession: 11.02.2017). “Morocco should Return to the African Union”, The New Arab, https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/comment/2016/8/8/ morocco-should-return-to-the-african-union, (Date of Accession: 19.08.2016). “Morocco’s Adherence to AU Constitutive Act, Recognition of Sahrawi State”, Sahara Press Service, http://www.spsrasd.info/ news/en/articles/2017/02/06/6972.html, (Date of Accession: 16.02.2017). “Opening of Sahrawi Embassy in Nairobi”, Sahara Press Service, http://www.spsrasd.info/en/content/opening-saharawiembassy- nairobi, (Date of Accession: 08.04.2014). “Polisario Vows to Return to ‘Armed Resistance’ in Response to Moroccan King’s Speech”, Middle East Monitor, https://www. middleeastmonitor.com/news/africa/15196-polisario-vowsto- return-to-armed-resistance-in-response-to-moroccan-kingsspeech, (Date of Accession: 29.12.2014). “Press Release: African Union Special Envoy for Western Sahara, H.E. Former President Joaquim Chissano Conducts Consultations on Western Sahara in Geneva, Switzerland”, African Union, http:// www.peaceau.org/uploads/press-release-au-special-envoymission- geneva-feb-2017.pdf, 3 March 2017, (Date of Accession: 18.05.2017). “Right of Non-Self-Governing Territories to Self-Determination Reaffirmed, As Fourth Committee Approves Nine Decolonization Texts”, United Nations: Meetings Coverage and Press Releases, http://www.un.org/press/en/2002/gaspd238.doc.htm, (Date of Accession: 12.12.2014). “SADR, a Founding Member of AU, Its Suspension cannot be Requested”, Sahara Press Service, http://www.spsrasd.info/ news/en/articles/2016/07/21/3185.html, (Date of Accession: 18.08.2016). “The OAU Charter”, African Union, https://au.int/sites/default/ files/treaties/7759-sl-oau_charter_1963_0.pdf, (Date of Accession: 27.03.2016). “Western Sahara 2015 Profile”, The UN, http://www.un.org/ en/decolonization/pdf/Western%20Sahara%202015%20 profile_15Dec2015.pdf, (Date of Accession: 24.04.2016). AMAN, Ayah, “Why Morocco Really Wants Back in the African Union?”, Al-Monitor, https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/ originals/2016/07/morocco-join-african-union-western-saharadispute- egypt.html, (Date of Accession: 05.08.2016). BENNIS, Samir, “Morocco Rejoining AU is a Boon to the Continent”, The New Arab, https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/ comment/2017/1/31/morocco-rejoining-au-is-a-boon-to-thecontinent, (Date of Accession: 19.03.2017). CLARK, R. S., “Chapter 4: Western Sahara and the United Nations Norms on Self-Determination and Aggression”, Karin Arts-Pedro Pinto Leite, ed., International Law and the Question of Western Sahara, International Platform of Jurists for East Timor, Leiden 2007. EROL, Mehmet Seyfettin-Emre Ozan, “Dış Politika'da İdolojinin Rolü”, Ertan Efegil-Mehmet Seyfettin Erol, ed., Dış Politik Analizinde Teorik Yaklaşımlar: Türk Dış Politikası Örneği, Barış Kitap, Ankara 2012, p. 347-375. EROL, Mehmet Seyfettin-Oktay Bingöl, “Birinci Dünya Savaşı’nın Afrika’ya ve Sömürgeciliğe Etkileri”, Gazi Akademik Bakış, 7(14), Summer 2014, p. 177-196. HASNAOUI, Yasmine, “Morocco and the African Union: A New Chapter for Western Sahara Resolution?”, Arab Center for Research & Policy Studies, 2017, p. 1-16. HICKS, Celeste, “Why did the African Union Readmit Morocco after Its 33 Years in the Cold?”, African Arguments, http:// africanarguments.org/2017/02/02/how-did-morocco-manageto- rejoin-the-african-union-after-33-years-in-the-cold/, (Date of Accession: 10.02.2017). ILLUECA, Alonso-Sophocles Kitharidis, “The Impact of Morocco’s Admission to the African Union on the Dispute over the Western Sahara”, Opinio Juris, http://opiniojuris.org/2017/03/10/ impact-moroccos-admission-african-union-dispute-westernsahara/? utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_ campaign=Feed%3A+opiniojurisfeed+%28Opinio+Juris%29, (Date of Accession: 17.05.2017). KAMARA, Alpha, “Morocco Continues AU Moves with Senegal Visit”, Anadolu Agency, http://aa.com.tr/en/africa/morocco-continuesau- moves-with-senegal-visit/680241, (Date of Accession: 19.11.2016). MCNAMEE, Terence et al., Morocco and the African Union: Prospects for Re-Engagement and Progress on the Western Sahara, Discussion Paper 1, 2013, The Brenthurst Foundation. MUMFORD, Erica, “The African Union’s Role in Western Sahara’s Claim of Independence”, http://www.adelphi.edu/wpcontent/ blogs.dir/451/files/2017/06/Erica-Mumford-word. pdf?t=1498151399-187003-a, (Date of Accession: 20.09.2017), p. 1-28. NALDI, Gina J., The Organization of African Unity: An Analysis of Its Role, Monsell, New York 1999. Office of the Legal Counsel of the African Union, “Legal Opinion on the Request of the Kingdom of Morocco’s Admission into the AU”, Pambazuka News, https://www.pambazuka.org/pan-africanism/ legal-opinion-request-kingdom-moroccos-admission-au, (Date of Accession: 16.02.2017). OMAR, Sidi M., “OAU/AU and the Question of Western Sahara”, SADR Embassy to the AU, http://www.sadr-emb-au.net/oauau-andthe- question-of-western-sahara/, (Date of Accession: 28.05.2016). OTTAWAY, Marina, Morocco: “Advanced Decentralization” Meets the Sahara Autonomy Initiative, Woodrow Wilson Center, Viewpoints 27, May 2013, p. 1-6. PAZZANITA, Anthony G., “Legal Aspects of Membership in the Organization of African Unity: The Case of the Western Sahara”, Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law, 17(1), 1985, p. 123-158. SCHIAVONE, Guiseppe, International Organizations: A Dictionary: Fourth Edition, MacMillan Press, London 1997. SPECTOR, S. J., “Negotiating Free Association between Western Sahara and Morocco: A Comparative Legal Analysis of Formulas for Self-Determination”, International Negotiation, 16, 2011, p. 109- 135. WAINSCOTT, Ann Marie, “Morocco’s AU Bid Builds on Years of Strategic Diplomacy”, IPI Global Observatory, https:// theglobalobservatory.org/2016/07/morocco-african-unionwestern- sahara-mohammed-vi/, (Date of Accession: 18.08.2016).
Year 2019, Volume: 3 Issue: 1, 80 - 108, 24.05.2019

Abstract

References

  • “28 African Countries Call on the Immediate Suspension of the SADR”, Submit Press Release 123, https://newsreleases. submitpressrelease123.com/2016/07/20/28-african-countriescall- on-the-immediate-suspension-of-the-sadr/, (Date of Accession: 18.08.2016). “Africa: Senegal Faults SADR’s Admission into the OAU”, All Africa, http://allafrica.com/stories/199908100184.html, (Date of Accession: 26.06.2017). “AU’s Shakespearean Morocco Dilemma: To Admit or not to Admit?”, Solomondersso, https://solomondersso.wordpress. com/2017/01/28/aus-shakespearean-morocco-dilemma-toadmit- or-not-to-admit/, (Date of Accession: 16.02.2017). “Charter of the Organization of the African Unity”, University of Minnesota Human Rights Library, http://hrlibrary.umn.edu/africa/ OAU_Charter_1993.html, (Date of Accession: 07.05.2016). “Communiqué”, 668th Peace and Security Council Meeting, 20 March 2017, http://www.peaceau.org/uploads/psc-comm-westernsahara- en.pdf, (Date of Accession: 18.05.2017). “Constitutive Act of the African Union”, African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, http://www.achpr.org/instruments/ au-constitutive-act/#3, (Date of Accession: 19.04.2017). “Constitutive Act of the African Union”, African Union, http:// www.peaceau.org/uploads/au-act-en.pdf, (Date of Accession: 05.02.2017). “Kenya Freezes Recognition of SADR”, Autonomy Plan, http:// autonomy-plan.org/57-kenya-freezes-recognition-of-sadr.html, (Date of Accession: 08.04.2014). “King Mohammed VI: Morocco Wants to Take Back Its Natural Position in Africa”, Middle East Online, http://www.middle-eastonline. com/english/?id=79660, (Date of Accession: 30.11.2016). “Malawi Withdraws its Recognition of the so-called SADR”, Sahara Online, http://www.sahara-online.net/Western- Sahara/Malawi-withdraws-its-recognition-of-the-so-called- SADR--1306-2452-3916.aspx, (Date of Accession: 08.04.2014). “Morocco ‘Should Not Rejoin African Union’”, BBC News, http:// www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-37941687, (Date of Accession: 29.11.2016). “Morocco Accuses African Union Chief in Obstructing Readmission”, Reuters, http://www.reuters.com/article/us-morocco-africaidUSKBN13P22H, (Date of Accession: 04.12.2016). “Morocco did not Attend or Address the 27th AU Summit in Kigali, Rwanda”, AU’S Directorate of Information and Communication, Press Release Nº26/27TH AU SUMMIT, http://www.usc.es/export9/ sites/webinstitucional/gl/institutos/ceso/descargas/AU_AUCpress- release-Morocco_25-07-16_en.pdf, (Date of Accession: 20.08.2016). “Morocco Rejoins African Union without Conditions”, Middle East Online, http://www.middle-east-online.com/english/?id=81293, (Date of Accession: 11.02.2017). “Morocco should Return to the African Union”, The New Arab, https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/comment/2016/8/8/ morocco-should-return-to-the-african-union, (Date of Accession: 19.08.2016). “Morocco’s Adherence to AU Constitutive Act, Recognition of Sahrawi State”, Sahara Press Service, http://www.spsrasd.info/ news/en/articles/2017/02/06/6972.html, (Date of Accession: 16.02.2017). “Opening of Sahrawi Embassy in Nairobi”, Sahara Press Service, http://www.spsrasd.info/en/content/opening-saharawiembassy- nairobi, (Date of Accession: 08.04.2014). “Polisario Vows to Return to ‘Armed Resistance’ in Response to Moroccan King’s Speech”, Middle East Monitor, https://www. middleeastmonitor.com/news/africa/15196-polisario-vowsto- return-to-armed-resistance-in-response-to-moroccan-kingsspeech, (Date of Accession: 29.12.2014). “Press Release: African Union Special Envoy for Western Sahara, H.E. Former President Joaquim Chissano Conducts Consultations on Western Sahara in Geneva, Switzerland”, African Union, http:// www.peaceau.org/uploads/press-release-au-special-envoymission- geneva-feb-2017.pdf, 3 March 2017, (Date of Accession: 18.05.2017). “Right of Non-Self-Governing Territories to Self-Determination Reaffirmed, As Fourth Committee Approves Nine Decolonization Texts”, United Nations: Meetings Coverage and Press Releases, http://www.un.org/press/en/2002/gaspd238.doc.htm, (Date of Accession: 12.12.2014). “SADR, a Founding Member of AU, Its Suspension cannot be Requested”, Sahara Press Service, http://www.spsrasd.info/ news/en/articles/2016/07/21/3185.html, (Date of Accession: 18.08.2016). “The OAU Charter”, African Union, https://au.int/sites/default/ files/treaties/7759-sl-oau_charter_1963_0.pdf, (Date of Accession: 27.03.2016). “Western Sahara 2015 Profile”, The UN, http://www.un.org/ en/decolonization/pdf/Western%20Sahara%202015%20 profile_15Dec2015.pdf, (Date of Accession: 24.04.2016). AMAN, Ayah, “Why Morocco Really Wants Back in the African Union?”, Al-Monitor, https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/ originals/2016/07/morocco-join-african-union-western-saharadispute- egypt.html, (Date of Accession: 05.08.2016). BENNIS, Samir, “Morocco Rejoining AU is a Boon to the Continent”, The New Arab, https://www.alaraby.co.uk/english/ comment/2017/1/31/morocco-rejoining-au-is-a-boon-to-thecontinent, (Date of Accession: 19.03.2017). CLARK, R. S., “Chapter 4: Western Sahara and the United Nations Norms on Self-Determination and Aggression”, Karin Arts-Pedro Pinto Leite, ed., International Law and the Question of Western Sahara, International Platform of Jurists for East Timor, Leiden 2007. EROL, Mehmet Seyfettin-Emre Ozan, “Dış Politika'da İdolojinin Rolü”, Ertan Efegil-Mehmet Seyfettin Erol, ed., Dış Politik Analizinde Teorik Yaklaşımlar: Türk Dış Politikası Örneği, Barış Kitap, Ankara 2012, p. 347-375. EROL, Mehmet Seyfettin-Oktay Bingöl, “Birinci Dünya Savaşı’nın Afrika’ya ve Sömürgeciliğe Etkileri”, Gazi Akademik Bakış, 7(14), Summer 2014, p. 177-196. HASNAOUI, Yasmine, “Morocco and the African Union: A New Chapter for Western Sahara Resolution?”, Arab Center for Research & Policy Studies, 2017, p. 1-16. HICKS, Celeste, “Why did the African Union Readmit Morocco after Its 33 Years in the Cold?”, African Arguments, http:// africanarguments.org/2017/02/02/how-did-morocco-manageto- rejoin-the-african-union-after-33-years-in-the-cold/, (Date of Accession: 10.02.2017). ILLUECA, Alonso-Sophocles Kitharidis, “The Impact of Morocco’s Admission to the African Union on the Dispute over the Western Sahara”, Opinio Juris, http://opiniojuris.org/2017/03/10/ impact-moroccos-admission-african-union-dispute-westernsahara/? utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_ campaign=Feed%3A+opiniojurisfeed+%28Opinio+Juris%29, (Date of Accession: 17.05.2017). KAMARA, Alpha, “Morocco Continues AU Moves with Senegal Visit”, Anadolu Agency, http://aa.com.tr/en/africa/morocco-continuesau- moves-with-senegal-visit/680241, (Date of Accession: 19.11.2016). MCNAMEE, Terence et al., Morocco and the African Union: Prospects for Re-Engagement and Progress on the Western Sahara, Discussion Paper 1, 2013, The Brenthurst Foundation. MUMFORD, Erica, “The African Union’s Role in Western Sahara’s Claim of Independence”, http://www.adelphi.edu/wpcontent/ blogs.dir/451/files/2017/06/Erica-Mumford-word. pdf?t=1498151399-187003-a, (Date of Accession: 20.09.2017), p. 1-28. NALDI, Gina J., The Organization of African Unity: An Analysis of Its Role, Monsell, New York 1999. Office of the Legal Counsel of the African Union, “Legal Opinion on the Request of the Kingdom of Morocco’s Admission into the AU”, Pambazuka News, https://www.pambazuka.org/pan-africanism/ legal-opinion-request-kingdom-moroccos-admission-au, (Date of Accession: 16.02.2017). OMAR, Sidi M., “OAU/AU and the Question of Western Sahara”, SADR Embassy to the AU, http://www.sadr-emb-au.net/oauau-andthe- question-of-western-sahara/, (Date of Accession: 28.05.2016). OTTAWAY, Marina, Morocco: “Advanced Decentralization” Meets the Sahara Autonomy Initiative, Woodrow Wilson Center, Viewpoints 27, May 2013, p. 1-6. PAZZANITA, Anthony G., “Legal Aspects of Membership in the Organization of African Unity: The Case of the Western Sahara”, Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law, 17(1), 1985, p. 123-158. SCHIAVONE, Guiseppe, International Organizations: A Dictionary: Fourth Edition, MacMillan Press, London 1997. SPECTOR, S. J., “Negotiating Free Association between Western Sahara and Morocco: A Comparative Legal Analysis of Formulas for Self-Determination”, International Negotiation, 16, 2011, p. 109- 135. WAINSCOTT, Ann Marie, “Morocco’s AU Bid Builds on Years of Strategic Diplomacy”, IPI Global Observatory, https:// theglobalobservatory.org/2016/07/morocco-african-unionwestern- sahara-mohammed-vi/, (Date of Accession: 18.08.2016).
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Primary Language English
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Ceren Gürseler 0000-0001-6308-5345

Publication Date May 24, 2019
Published in Issue Year 2019 Volume: 3 Issue: 1

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APA Gürseler, C. (2019). MOROCCO AND THE AFRICAN UNION: ACUTE CRISIS FOR THE “COMPLETE UNION”. Uluslararası Kriz Ve Siyaset Araştırmaları Dergisi, 3(1), 80-108.
AMA Gürseler C.MOROCCO AND THE AFRICAN UNION: ACUTE CRISIS FOR THE “COMPLETE UNION.” UKSAD. May 2019;3(1):80-108.
Chicago Gürseler, Ceren. “MOROCCO AND THE AFRICAN UNION: ACUTE CRISIS FOR THE ‘COMPLETE UNION’”. Uluslararası Kriz Ve Siyaset Araştırmaları Dergisi 3, no. 1 (May 2019): 80-108.
EndNote Gürseler C (May 1, 2019) MOROCCO AND THE AFRICAN UNION: ACUTE CRISIS FOR THE “COMPLETE UNION”. Uluslararası Kriz ve Siyaset Araştırmaları Dergisi 3 1 80–108.
IEEE C. Gürseler, “MOROCCO AND THE AFRICAN UNION: ACUTE CRISIS FOR THE ‘COMPLETE UNION’”, UKSAD, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 80–108, 2019.
ISNAD Gürseler, Ceren. “MOROCCO AND THE AFRICAN UNION: ACUTE CRISIS FOR THE ‘COMPLETE UNION’”. Uluslararası Kriz ve Siyaset Araştırmaları Dergisi 3/1 (May 2019), 80-108.
JAMA Gürseler C. MOROCCO AND THE AFRICAN UNION: ACUTE CRISIS FOR THE “COMPLETE UNION”. UKSAD. 2019;3:80–108.
MLA Gürseler, Ceren. “MOROCCO AND THE AFRICAN UNION: ACUTE CRISIS FOR THE ‘COMPLETE UNION’”. Uluslararası Kriz Ve Siyaset Araştırmaları Dergisi, vol. 3, no. 1, 2019, pp. 80-108.
Vancouver Gürseler C. MOROCCO AND THE AFRICAN UNION: ACUTE CRISIS FOR THE “COMPLETE UNION”. UKSAD. 2019;3(1):80-108.