Moroccan diplomacyMorocco reaps rewards of major changes in its diplomatic strategy
At a time when the European Union is bemoaning the loss of the United Kingdom, Morocco has rejoined the African Union, ensuring that every African country is again a member. Morocco has also served formal notice that it will apply to join the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). At a time when there’s a growing northern backlash against free trade areas, Morocco has been actively negotiating with more than one of these in Africa. Morocco has been on a massive diplomatic drive, using both its political and economic muscle. Since his coronation in 1999, the king has led over forty visits to African countries south of the Sahara. And 85 percent of Moroccan foreign direct investment is in other African countries.
At a time when the European Union is bemoaning the loss of the United Kingdom, Morocco has rejoined the African Union, ensuring that every African country is again a member.
Morocco has also served formal notice that it will apply to join the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). At a time when there’s a growing northern backlash against free trade areas, Morocco has been actively negotiating with more than one of these in Africa.
What is going on? Morocco is now outflanking and outvoting Algeria, South Africa, and their allies.
The main reason is that Morocco has been on a massive diplomatic drive, using both its political and economic muscle. Since his coronation in 1999, the king has led over forty visits to African countries south of the Sahara. And 85 percent of Moroccan foreign direct investment is in other African countries.
Morocco is today the second largest foreign investor, after South Africa, in other AU countries. It’s also now in a position to grant foreign aid that swings AU votes in its favor.
Role of history
When the Organization of African Unity (OAU) was founded in 1963, one of its founding principles was to recognize all borders as they existed on the day of independence. Morocco and Somalia lodged objections – a premonition of wars to come. Both considered their precolonial territory, included neighboring colonies, not yet independent.
When Spain withdrew from Spanish Sahara in 1975, Polisario, which waged an insurgency against Spanish colonialists and subsequently Morocco, proclaimed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) in 1976.
Simultaneously, Morocco and Mauritania partitioned the SADR between them, with Morocco later occupying it all on the grounds that it had been part of the Moroccan empire two centuries earlier.
The SADR promptly applied for OAU membership. Diplomats resorted to their favorite tactic in cases of deadlock, to stall as long as possible. But after seven years this was no longer possible and the SADR was admitted in 1983 with Morocco withdrawing in 1984.
The Sahrawis waged a 16-year war, ending in a ceasefire. What’s often skated over is that the Sahrawis are outnumbered about sixty to one by Moroccans.
Diplomacy reaps rewards
Morocco is still en route to a constitutional monarchy. Parliament has no say over foreign policy and military affairs, both of which remain controlled by the monarchy.
