Roundup: Morocco rejoins AU after 33 years of absence

After leaving the pan African organization three decades ago, Morocco rejoined the African Union (AU) on Tuesday during the 28th African summit.

For over three decades since its withdrawal from the Organization of African Unity (OAU), which later became the African Union (AU), Morocco had not been part of the organization, but recently, the country has changed its stance towards the Union, making the readmission to the AU on the top of its agenda.

"It is a beautiful day when one returns home after too long an absence. Africa is my continent and my home. I am finally home and I am happy to see you. I missed you all," King Mohammed VI of Morocco told African leaders at the closing ceremony of the 28th AU summit in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa.

According to King Mohammed VI, Morocco has developed stronger ties with many African countries in the continent, despite the country's 33 years of nonattendance at the African Union.

"We have never broken up the ties. We have always been there and you could rely on us," said King Mohammed VI.

"Morocco has concluded many cooperation agreements with African countries over the past years," the King added.

King Mohammed VI of Morocco has also vowed to work in partnership with the rest of African Union member countries so as to realize that African resources utilized by African people.

"We want to give a new impetus to our continent... We have to deal with the problems of Africa," he said.

The outgoing African Union Commission Chairperson, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, has also congratulated Morocco on its membership.

"This summit took a historic decision to reunite the African community of states, with its decision on the membership of the Kingdom of Morocco," she said.

"This provides a platform to strengthen African solutions to African problems, in furtherance of the principles and objectives of the Constitutive Act of our Union," she added. Endit