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Delegations of Morocco, Saudi Arabia as well as that of United Arab Emirates announced to be withdrawing from the pan Arab-African summit scheduled to be held on Wednesday in the Republican of Equatorial Guinea citing the insistence of African Union to include delegation of the Western Sahara too.
A preparation meeting for the summit was held on Monday in the capital of Equatorial Guinea, Malabo, by Arab and African foreign ministers.
During the ministerial meeting on Tuesday the Morocco’s Minister for Moroccans Living Abroad and Migration Affairs Anis Birrou opposed delegation of Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic that was declared in 1976 by the Polisario unilaterally.
Birrou announced Morocco’s withdrawal and the same was followed by Saudi ambassador to Egypt, Ahmed bin Abdulaziz al-Qattan citing the move was in solidarity with Morocco.
UAE’s Minister of Climate Change Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi too announced their withdrawal thereafter.
A source said withdrawal of the three countries mean failure of the summit.
The Western Sahara territory is claimed to be a part of Morocco located in its southern part.
The Western Sahara establishment was declared as SADR by Polisario, but it lacked UN membership.
The Polisario frequently demands for a referendum in Western Sahara to decide the political fate of the region.