Kenya endorses Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara

Kenya has formally backed Morocco’s autonomy proposal for Western Sahara, calling it the only credible solution to the long-running territorial dispute, Reuters reports. The endorsement came during Kenyan Foreign Minister Musalia Mudavadi’s visit to Rabat, where the two nations also announced stronger economic and diplomatic ties, including Kenya’s new embassy in Morocco.

The move aligns Kenya with a growing bloc of African, Arab, and Western states supporting Morocco’s position against the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, which seeks independence for the disputed territory.

Morocco pledged to boost fertilizer exports to Kenya and expand cooperation in sectors including energy, tourism, fisheries, and security. Kenya, for its part, aims to increase exports of tea, coffee, and fresh produce to Morocco.

Kenya also endorsed Morocco’s Atlantic port initiative, which offers landlocked Sahel states maritime trade access. Rabat hailed the deepening partnership as a strategic win for its “national cause.”