The 28 heads of State have decided to “act for the immediate suspension of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic from the activities of the African Union and all its bodies, to enable the AU to play a constructive role and contribute positively to UN efforts for a final settlement to the regional dispute over the Sahara”, reads the motion addressed by Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of Gabon, on behalf of 28 UA countries.

These countries are Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cape Verde, Comoros, Congo, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Eritrea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia, Libya, Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sao Tome, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Swaziland, Togo and Zambia.

“Mr President,

The 28 Heads of State,

A/ Bearing in mind the authentic ideals of the African construction;

B/ Faithful to the principles and objectives of the African Union, particularly the achievement of greater unity and solidarity between African States, the protection of their sovereignty and territorial integrity, the promotion of peace, security and stability on the continent, the promotion of international cooperation, taking due account of the Nations Charter and the creation of appropriate conditions for the continent to play its role in the global economy;

C/ Regretting the absence of Morocco in the instances of the African Union, and aware of the specific circumstances in which the “Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic” was admitted to the Organization of African Unity;

D/ Welcoming enthusiastically the content of the historic message of HM King Mohammed VI, the King of Morocco, to the current President of the 27th AU Summit for distribution to Heads of State and Government participating in this event.

1. Welcome the decision of the Kingdom of Morocco, a founding member of the OAU and whose active contribution to the stability and development of the Continent is widely recognized, to rejoin the African Union; and intend to work so that this legitimate return be effective as soon as possible;

2. Decide to act for the immediate suspension of the “Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic” from the activities of the African Union and all its bodies, to enable the AU to play a constructive role and contribute positively to UN efforts for a final settlement to the regional dispute over the Sahara.

On behalf of these 28 countries, I urge you to include this motion among the documents of the Summit and ensure its distribution among Member States.

Please accept, Mr. President, the expression of my highest consideration.”