The case for Nairobi-Rabat rapprochement

Kenya is seemingly taking the first steps to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara territory, following the example of the US and nearly half African states.

Last week, Kenya appointed its first ambassador to Morocco Jessica Muthoni Gakinya who told MPs she will attract Moroccan investments to her country and promote Kenyan exports.

Meanwhile, Kenya also withdrew its representative to the Polisario, a separatist group hosted and armed by Algeria, citing a “lack of strategic commercial interest.”

Sensing another diplomatic blow from an African growing economy, Algeria sent its foreign minister Ahmed Attaf in extremis to Nairobi to attempt to convince Kenyan authorities to backtrack.

Economy

Kenya aspires to achieve food security to its 54 million people, amid climate changes and water stress that undermined output.

The new ambassador told MPs she would discuss with Morocco the possibility of setting up a fertilizers factory in Kenya.

Morocco is a leading producer of phosphates-based fertilizers and has gained increasing market share in Africa, where it plans to produce fertilizers in Ethiopia and Nigeria.

OCP has also set up blending units across the continent to ensure local farmers have access to customized fertilizers at an affordable price.

Morocco’s fertilizers investment has helped boost output of key staples in African powerhouses such as Ethiopia and Niger.

Kenya, few days ago, has been investigating a case of fake fertilizers distributed by state agency to farmers.

The lack of fertilizers coupled with water stress is pushing Kenyan authorities to breakaway with Algerian anachronism in favor of a pragmatic approach that puts the interests of the Kenyan people above all else.

Improved ties between Kenya and Morocco would offer opportunities for Kenyan tea and coffee exporters.

Morocco is a major tea and coffee importer in Africa with consumers open to high quality tea from Kenya.

Globally, Morocco is ranked the seventh in terms of tea consumption by capita at 1.2 kilograms.

Kenya and Morocco also stand to benefit from each other’s experience in terms of further economic diversification.

While Morocco is the second most industrialized nation in Africa, Kenya is ranked ninth. The two countries exports are complementary.

Legacy of colonialism

Kenya has justified withdrawing its representative to the Polisario in economic terms. Its president has rescinded recognition of the Polisario in 2022, before withdrawing under the pressure of Algeria, which offered cash instead of expertise.

Morocco offers expertise and win-win partnerships that are conducive to meeting food security of African nations.

Beyond the economic argument, the recognition of a separatist entity backed and fed by Algeria is a position at odds with the UN and its charter.

The UN does not recognize the Polisario self-proclaimed entity. In keeping ties with an Algerian proxy, Kenya has also pre-judged the UN peace process in the territory.

As nearly 30 states, mostly African, in addition to most of the Arab World, the US…recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, only a bunch of failed states such as Venezuela and Zimbabwe still believe in the separatist chimera.

As a legacy of arbitrary colonial borders, the Polisario and its self-proclaimed republic stand for an anachronism in a proxy war waged against Morocco by military-run Algeria.

By opting for improved ties with Rabat, Kenya stands to benefit economically and politically.