Morocco Set to Miss 2015 African Games in Brazzaville Due to AU Dispute
Morocco is not expected to take part in the 2015 African Games, set to be held from December 4 to 19 in Brazzaville, Congo. The North African nation’s absence is linked to its non-membership in the African Union (AU), which has politically overseen the Games since 1984.
According to Moroccan authorities, the AU’s role in organizing the event poses a political hurdle. The Moroccan government has described the AU’s supervision of the Games as “a unique case in the world,” indicating that such political oversight makes it impossible for the kingdom to participate in what it refers to as continental “Olympiads.”
As a result, Morocco’s place in the Games could be allocated to the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (RASD)—a self-declared state and AU member whose independence claims in Western Sahara are contested by Morocco. The potential inclusion of the RASD further complicates the geopolitical landscape surrounding Morocco’s exclusion.
Morocco has not been a member of the African Union since 1984, when it withdrew in protest after the AU (then OAU) recognized the RASD. This long-standing dispute continues to influence Morocco’s participation in African continental events under AU governance.
