Whither Morocco's membership of ECOWAS?

                      By Bayo Ogunmupe

    The kingdom of Morocco. an Arab state in North Africa is seeking membership of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). She applied to join it through an application submitted at the 51st ordinary session of ECOWAS heads of state in Monrovia, Liberia on June 4, 2017. This is being considered by the 15 member organization which includes Nigeria. Though no decision has been taken, there are media reports that elements in ECOWAS had expressed general support for the application.

    Though this isn't a commitment on the part of ECOWAS to admit Morocco. The heads of state directed the ECOWAS commission to examine and advise them on the Moroccan application "in the light of the provisions of ECOWAS revised Treaty of 1993." The ECOWAS commission report will be presented for consideration at the 52nd ordinary session of the organization in December this year in Lome, Togo. This allows member states adequate time for multilateral consultations on the application.

    Nigeria has maintained a studied silence on the matter. But there can be no doubt about a strong opposition to Rabat's bid to join ECOWAS. But first to mouth opposition was Togo's Foreign minister who advised his government against supporting the application. Based on this, Nigeria has made her reservations on Rabat's membership known to other ECOWAS member states. Given Nigeria's political, economic and demographic influence in West Africa, it is unlikely her views will be ignored.

    Two former Nigerian foreign ministers, Prof Bolaji Akinyemi and Ambassador Ignatius Olisemeka have in separate fora, expressed their opposition to Morocco's bid. The Association of Retired Career Ambassadors of Nigeria (ARCAN) has also opposed Rabat's bid to join ECOWAS. Recently, the Abuja and Lagos chapters of ARCAN met Nigeria's foreign minister, Geoffrey Onyeama with a joint resolution outlining their objections to Morocco's bid. The minister assured them that government will pay due attention to their objections.

    But what are the grounds for objection to Rabat's bid? First, in accordance with its statute, ECOWAS was established in 1975 to promote economic cooperation among member states of West Africa. Morocco is neither in West Africa nor contiguous to it. Morocco is in North Africa contrary to the treaty that established ECOWAS. General Yakubu Gowon of Nigeria and President Gnassingbe Eyadema of Togo were the initiators of the organization. Morocco didn't qualify then as now due to its geographical location.

    The Abuja Treaty of 1993 also resolved that ECOWAS was one of five regional groups of the African Economic Community (AEC). However, similar organizations have been established in Northern, Central, Eastern and Southern regions of Africa, all of which are thriving. Morocco belongs to the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) of North Africa. Its headquarters are in Rabat the Moroccan capital. Morocco also belongs to the Arab League. Moreover, the Abuja Treaty is opposed to African states joining two or more  regional economic communities. In effect, it is the objective of the African Union to eliminate multiple membership of African states in regional unions, for it would complicate continental integration.

    Thus, it is clear by contiguity and multiplicity of membership that Rabat isn't qualified to be a member of ECOWAS. The second reason for ECOWAS to reject Morocco is that ECOWAS treaty would have to be revised to admit Rabat. And that would be tedious and tortuous process that will be divisive and damaging to the unity of the organization. Efforts at admitting Rabat constitutes a diversion of ECOWAS from the real issue of regional integration and monetary union. The AMU  should offer Rabat adequate platform for economic cooperation with her neighbours. So should the Arab League. Morocco's admission will dilute and weaken ECOWAS which aims at a common currency, the Eco.

    Thirdly, morocco's bid to join ECOWAS was meant as a platform for its annexation of Western Sahara. It also wants it to subvert the independence of the Saharawi Arab Democratic Republic(SDR). She wants to use ECOWAS to bolster her dubious sovereign claims over SDR. Moreover, for decades, Morocco had been in open disagreement with her neighbours over SDR independence. Thus, her joining ECOWAS was designed to enable her annex SDR because of SDR's phosphates; mining of which the UN had declared illegal.

    Therefore, admitting Morocco will create conflicts that will be against the interest of the group. While maintaining good bilateral relations with Rabat, ECOWAS should imitate the European Union which put Turkey's admission  on hold indefinitely. Morocco's aims are to weaken ECOWAS in the aftermath of the successful deposition of Yahya Jammeh as President of Gambia.