“The event of the week was the official announcement of Morocco’s return to the African
Union after 33 years of voluntary exile. This is the culmination of a long diplomatic process
that reflects the importance of Morocco resuming its old position in the African family.
Morocco’s return represents a brave strategic decision that reflects the dynamics inside the
African continent. Morocco will play a major role inside the Union’s institutions due to the
strong bilateral relations it has created with several African countries over the past three
decades,” says columnist Abd Al-Ali Hami Ad-deen. He points out that Morocco will help
shape the economic relations with African countries and increase its investments in Africa to
bolster its regional strategy of cooperation with the public and private sectors. “The fact that
the 39 African country members welcomed Morocco back to the Union reflects their desire
for its increasing involvement in the organisation and their appreciation of its developmental
and economic efforts. Morocco’s new strategic approach further entails the protection of its
home front, the building of its democratic system, and creating regulations that will allow it
to function on the continental level. This will be achieved by boosting the national economy
and establishing the foundations for internal political and social stability.”
