President William Ruto on Wednesday, September 14, made his stand clear that Kenya does not recognise Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) as an independent state.
In a statement after meeting Morocco's King, His Majesty Mohammed VI, the President Ruto rescinded the country's recognition of the West African partially recognized State agitating for independence from Morocco.
He further stated that he had kicked off the process of winding down the entity's presence in Kenya which includes shutting down its embassy located in Kilimani area, Nairobi.
"At State House in Nairobi, received congratulatory message from His Majesty King Mohammed VI. Kenya rescinds its recognition of the SADR and initiates steps to wind down the entity’s presence in the country.
"Kenya supports the United Nations framework as the exclusive mechanism to find a lasting solution of the dispute over Western Sahara," stated the President.
His denunciation came just a day after SADR's President Brahim Ghali joined other delegates at Ruto's inauguration ceremony at Kasarani Stadium.
Ghali arrived dressed in a sky blue ceremonial robe with golden embroidery at the torso and was accompanied by security.
Before Ruto's sudden denunciation, Kenya had been among 41 United Nations (UN) member states that recognised it as a state and championed for end to its conflict with Morocco.
SADR has been seeking to transition from its current semi-autonomous state into a full-blown state replete with self-rule.
In February 2022, President Uhuru Kenyatta convened high-level talks aimed at discussing the contested territory.
“A meeting at the Heads of State and Government level will be held on 16th February which among other things will discuss the situation in Western Sahara and follow up on the Nairobi declaration on Terrorism and Violent Extremism,” read a memo from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the time.
SADR Embassy in Kenya was opened in 2014.
