IPNews-Addis Ababa-Ethiopia-30 January 2018: Liberia’s president, George Weah has lauded Morocco’s return to the African Union on Sunday; stressing Morocco’s return reinforces the African unity.
The President described Morocco’s return as a positive development for the continent, in a press meeting parallel to the 30th AU Heads of State and Government Summit, held in the Ethiopian capital
The 30th AU Summit is marked by the participation of three newly inaugurated Presidents to the AU- Liberia’s George Weah, Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta and Angola’s Joao Lourenco.
A former international football legend, Weah was elected Liberia’s president on Thursday, December 28, after winning 60 percent of the vote ahead of his opponent, Joseph Boakai.
Thirty countries supported Morocco’s bid to return to the African Union last year, while nine countries stood against the bid, including Algeria. Many African leaders welcomed Morocco’s return after 33-year of absence. In April 2017, Alpha Conde, President of the Republic of Guinea said that “Morocco’s return to the AU will make a remarkable contribution to this exhilarating undertaking of solidarity among the African peoples.”
Conde’s remarks on Morocco’s returns are echoed by many African leaders, including Tanzanian Foreign Minister Augustine Mahiga, who said on Friday, January 26, that “Morocco’s contribution to the AU is of great importance,” as he recounted King Mohammed VI’s “historical” speech at the 28th AU Summit in January 2017.
