The Polisario Front said Tuesday that since Morocco has rejoined the African Union and accepted the group's principles it must recognize Western Sahara's independence — or it could face possible sanctions or even requests to leave the regional organization. Morocco annexed Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, in 1975 and fought the Polisario Front. Morocco's deputy foreign minister, Nasser Bourita, told the website Le Desk on Feb. 5 that the kingdom would "never recognize" Western Sahara's independence. Morocco, which gained independence from France in 1956, considers the mineral-rich Western Sahara its "southern provinces" and has proposed wide-ranging autonomy. He said the Polisario Front also hopes that Morocco joining the AU "can give the African Union and the United Nations a new motivation to increase their cooperation to resolve the conflict of Western Sahara."

Source: ABC News February 14, 2017 22:54 UTC