low graphics version | feedback | help | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
You are in: World: Africa | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Sunday, 8 July, 2001, 15:02 GMT 16:02 UK
OAU considers Morocco readmission
By North Africa correspondent David Bamford
African foreign ministers meeting in Zambia ahead of Monday's summit of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) have been discussing a proposal to allow Morocco to become a member of the OAU's successor next year, the African Union.
Morocco is the only country in Africa to have been excluded from the organisation. However, the Moroccans believe the OAU's transformation over the coming year into a new regional grouping, the African Union, is an opportunity to rejoin the African family. Behind the scenes in recent weeks, the Moroccans have been working to secure support for their position. Meetings The country's new king, Mohammed VI, has received a number of African heads of state, including the president of Ghana, and has visited Senegal, where the issue of Morocco being admitted into the African Union is believed to have been discussed.
For 10 years, the United Nations and the OAU have jointly supported the idea of a referendum to resolve the issue. But this has failed to take place and last month the UN shifted its position, apparently acknowledging Moroccan sovereignty over the territory. But the Algerians remain hostile, and they believe they can count on some heavy players in Africa, including Nigeria and South Africa, to ensure that the Moroccan bid to be re-accepted in Africa ends in failure. |
See also:
Internet links:
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Top Africa stories now:
Links to more Africa stories are at the foot of the page.
|
Links to more Africa stories
|
^^ Back to top News Front Page | World | UK | UK Politics | Business | Sci/Tech | Health | Education | Entertainment | Talking Point | In Depth | AudioVideo ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To BBC Sport>> | To BBC Weather>> ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- © MMIII | News Sources | Privacy |