India's welcomes Morocco's initiative to re-join African Union

NEW DELHI: India today welcomed Morocco's initiative to re-join the African Union which it had left 32 years ago.

India hoped that Morocco's re-joining the African Union would strengthen Africa's unity and allow the grouping to play a constructive role in the affairs of its member countries.

"India welcomes Morocco's initiative to re-join the African Union. India enjoys close relationship with all African nations, including Morocco," MEA spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

He said India has always stood for African unity and that India's invitation to all 54 countries of the African continent to the third India-African Forum Summit was an affirmation of this policy.

Morocco left the African Union in 1984, after the organisation recognised the independence of Western Sahara.

Moroccans describe Western Sahara as their country's "southern provinces".