Kenya’s support for Morocco’s sovereignty over Sahara reshapes African alliances

Kenya’s support for Morocco’s autonomy plan for the Sahara territory sent shockwaves across Africa and a blow to a weakening pro-Polisario alliance led by Algeria and South Africa.

The new Kenyan volt-face on the Sahara issue in favor of Morocco’s territorial integrity,was expressed in a joint statement during a visit by Kenyan foreign minister Musalia Mudavadi,who described autonomy as “the only credible and serious solution” and the “only sustainable approach” to end the conflict.

As an east-African powerhouse with Nairobi as a hub of international organizations in the region,the Kenyan position is expected to trigger a domino effect in a region itself beset by armed separatism.

The stance marks Kenya’s breaking away with ideological anachronism sponsored by Algeria and South Africa along with some failed states that hover in their orbit. Kenya rather chose realism,pragmatism,trade,and cooperation as well as the peaceful resolution of conflicts.

Kenya made it clear that the UN should be the only framework to settle the dispute over the Sahara region,dealing another blow to Algeria’s failed endeavor to enmesh the African Union in the dispute.

With Kenya joining Morocco’s allies,the days of the Polisario within the African Union are numbered. Morocco has always argued that the membership of a separatist militias with no attributes of a state is an anomaly and a prejudgement of the UN-led political process.

Recognition of Morocco’s autonomy plan as the only solution to the conflict,puts Kenya in line with superpowers such as the US and France and influential countries such as Spain,Israel and the Gulf cooperation council countries,who have all recognized Morocco’s sovereignty over its south.

The Kenyan position would usher a new era of economic cooperation with Morocco,an African industrial,agricultural,and tourist powerhouse.

Kenya’s farming sector has been hit by a shortage of fertilizer as the country struggles to feed its growing population. Instead of Algerian ideological approach to foreign relations,Morocco offers tangible cooperation. The two countries agreed in their joint statement to “immediately accelerate” their cooperation in food security and fertilizers.

Kenya has also an interest in building stronger bridges with Morocco,including a direct route between Nairobi and Casablanca hubs. This would increase connectivity and tourism flows between the two countries.

Kenya’s stance signals a broader shift in African alliances and the beginning of the end of the Algerian-South African holy alliance against Morocco’s territorial integrity.