Kenya has thrown its weight behind Morocco’s plan to offer autonomy to Western Sahara under Rabat’s sovereignty, marking a major diplomatic shift in Africa’s stance on the decades-old territorial dispute.
The endorsement, announced on Monday during a high-level meeting in the Moroccan capital, aligns Kenya with a growing number of African, Arab, and Western nations supporting Morocco’s proposed solution to the long-standing conflict.
Western Sahara has remained a contested region since Spain withdrew in 1975, sparking a standoff between Morocco and the Algeria-backed Polisario Front. While Morocco sees the area as an integral part of its territory, the Polisario movement continues to push for full independence.
RELATED STORIES
READ ALSO: Egypt: How the North African nation is using sports to boost its global image and economy
Kenya’s new stance recognizes Morocco’s autonomy plan as the most practical and lasting way forward.
The meeting between the foreign ministers of both nations also marked 60 years of diplomatic relations between Kenya and Morocco. To cement this partnership, Kenya officially opened its embassy in Rabat, a move seen as a signal of deeper cooperation between the two countries.
In a show of strengthened economic ties, Morocco has agreed to fast-track fertilizer exports to Kenya. This deal is expected to support Kenyan farmers and reduce the country’s reliance on other suppliers.
READ ALSO: Tanzania shifts focus to South Africa and Asia in new foreign policy strategy
The two governments also outlined plans to collaborate in renewable energy, security, tourism, fisheries, and cultural exchange.
Morocco’s top diplomat described Kenya’s backing of the autonomy plan as a turning point in the two countries’ relationship, noting it aligns with Morocco’s national priorities.
Kenya, for its part, aims to increase the export of its key agricultural products — including tea, coffee, and fresh fruits — to the Moroccan market. This strategy is designed to narrow the trade imbalance between the two nations, which has historically leaned in Morocco’s favor.
Beyond the Western Sahara issue, Kenya expressed support for a Moroccan initiative that would give landlocked Sahel countries access to Atlantic trade routes via Moroccan ports.
READ ALSO: Berlin: Nigeria-Germany ties deepen through economic and energy moves
This project, if implemented, could boost economic growth and regional connectivity across West Africa.
