Sahara: Rapprochement between Rabat & Kampala Irks Algerian Regime

Morocco and Uganda are determined to open a new page in their bilateral relations to the great displeasure of the Algerian regime which has long relied on English-speaking African countries to support the Polisario plots to undermine Morocco’s territorial integrity.

The shared willingness to bolster ties between Rabat and Kampala in various sectors was voiced during the visit paid lately to Morocco by Speaker of Uganda’s Parliament, Rebecca Kadaga Alitwala, who was accompanied by senior leaders and investors.

Uganda, which still supports the Polisario and recognizes the self-proclaimed so-called “RASD”, is one of the few English-speaking African countries that still back the separatists group under the pressure of Algeria.

The “friendship and working” visit paid by Ms. Alitwala to Morocco (July 15-17), is her second trip to the North African kingdom after that of last March. This reflects her country’s growing interest in Morocco, which forecasts a rapid improvement in their bilateral relations, affected by the stand of Ugandan authorities in the Sahara conflict.

During her stay in Rabat, Ms. Alitwala conferred with Speaker of the House of Representatives Habib El Malki, Head of Govt Saâd Eddine El Othmani and Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita.

Talks focused on political and economic relations as well as on other subjects including the Moroccan Sahara issue.

This regional conflict was also discussed by Mrs Alitwala with chairman of the Royal Advisory Council for Saharan Affairs, Khalihenna Ould Errachid, who briefed her on the Moroccan autonomy plan offered for the Sahara, a plan submitted to the UN in 2007 and welcomed as “serious, credible and realistic” by the international community and the African countries.

Mrs Alitwala called for the opening of a direct air link between Morocco and Uganda and invited her Moroccan counterpart Malki to attend the 64th Commonwealth Parliamentary Assembly due in Kampala next September.