The African Peace and Security Council rejected Morocco's participation in a session, held in Addis Ababa, on the review of the situation in the Republic of Mali.

Morocco, which is the president of the Security Council for this month, was sent a request to the current president of the Peace and Security Council, the Permanent Representative of the Republic of Guinea Conakry, but members of the Board rejected this request.

This is a response from the African Union to Moroccan Government on its occupation of parts of the SADR, blocking the efforts of the international community for a solution to the Western Sahara conflict and on its refusal to organize a referendum on self-determination for decolonization of the last colony in Africa.

Several observers have noted reports of the involvement of Moroccan intelligence services with terrorist groups in northern Mali.

The Kingdom of Morocco is the only African country outside of the African Union because of the presence of the SADR as a full member and founder of the AU. The current situation resembles Morocco with South Africa during the apartheid regime.

SPS