President William Ruto has revoked Kenya’s recognition of the Sahrawi Democratic Republic as an independent state and says he will initiate steps to wind down the entity’s presence in Nairobi.
In a statement released on Wednesday, September 14, President Ruto stated that Kenya solely supports United Nations (UN) peace measures in the region and that the nation was detaching itself from the region’s recognition of SADR’s independence.
He reaffirmed that he will shut down its embassy located in Kilimani, Nairobi as a way of eliminating its presence in the country.
“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,” the head of state wrote on his Twitter.
“Kenya supports the United Nations framework as the exclusive mechanism to find a lasting solution to the dispute over Western Sahara,” the president stated in the tweet that was deleted minutes later.
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Following the ongoing war between West Saharan and Morocco, the head of state says Kenya does not recognize the Sahrawi Democratic Republic and that no need to maintain its ties with Kenya.
In collaboration with the United Nations, President Ruto said a robust solution to Western Saharan disputes will be found.
“Kenya supports the United Nations framework as the exclusive mechanism to find a lasting solution to the dispute over Western Sahara,” he added.
President Ruto further said that Kenya will strengthen its economic ties with Morocco in developing the country.
“We are accelerating relations with the Kingdom of Morocco in areas of trade, agriculture, health, tourism, energy, among others, for the mutual benefit of our countries,” he stated.
His comments come a few days after SADR President Brahim Ghali joined different dignitaries in witnessing Ruto’s inauguration ceremony at Moi International Stadium, Kasarani.
Being among the 41 Nations in the United Nations, Kenya initially recognized the Sahrawi Democratic Republic and had been lobbying for an end to the hostilities with Morocco.
Currently, the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), a Polisario state with limited international recognition, still controls around 20% of the Western Sahara region, which is known as the Southern Provinces and is governed by the Moroccan government.
One of the main challenges of the continuing Western Sahara peace process is the issue of mutual recognition, as well as the establishment of a potential Sahrawi state and the sizeable number of Sahrawi refugees displaced by the violence.
