The SADR's Contested Seat in the African Union
How the SADR Joined the OAU
In 1982-1984 the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), the AU's predecessor, admitted the SADR as a member with support from Algeria, Libya and other states. The move prompted Morocco to walk out of the OAU in protest in 1984.
Morocco thus spent 33 years outside the continent's premier body, the only African state absent from it, while the SADR retained its seat and the symbolic legitimacy that comes with continental membership.
Morocco's 2017 Return
In January 2017 Morocco rejoined the African Union after an extensive diplomatic campaign across the continent. King Mohammed VI did not make the SADR's removal a precondition for return, choosing instead to engage from within.
The decision reflected a strategic bet: Morocco judged that influence inside the AU, where it could build coalitions and deepen economic ties, was worth more than continued absence in protest over the Sahrawi seat.
Why Removal Has Proven Difficult
Moroccan diplomacy encouraged a group of member states to seek the suspension of the SADR's participation, but the effort did not succeed. The AU's rules do not provide for expelling a member; they allow only suspension of governments that seize power unconstitutionally.
Changing the bylaws to enable expulsion would require a two-thirds majority, a threshold blocked by committed SADR backers such as South Africa, Nigeria and Algeria. As a result, the seat persists despite Morocco's growing weight in the organization.
A Dual-Track African Reality
The situation produces a striking duality: Morocco and the SADR sit in the same organization, each pursuing diplomacy against the other. Morocco focuses on bilateral relationships and investment to build support for its autonomy plan.
Over time, the AU has largely deferred the substance of the dispute to the United Nations process, treating Western Sahara primarily as a UN file. This effectively neutralizes the SADR's seat as a vehicle for decisive continental action.
Frequently asked
Is the SADR a member of the African Union?
Yes. The SADR has held a seat since the OAU admitted it in 1982-1984, and it remains a full AU member today.
Why did Morocco leave and later rejoin?
Morocco left the OAU in 1984 over the SADR's admission and rejoined the African Union in January 2017 to influence the body from within.
Can Morocco have the SADR expelled?
Not easily. AU rules do not allow expulsion, and changing them would require a two-thirds majority that committed SADR backers can block.