Kenya and Morocco strengthen ties with new embassy in Rabat

Moroccan foreign minister Nasser Bourita and Kenyan prime minister Musalia Mudavadi inaugurated Kenya’s first embassy in Rabat on Monday. This milestone marks Kenya’s third diplomatic mission in North Africa, following those in Algeria and Egypt, and coincides with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

“This inauguration opens a new chapter in our bilateral relations,” Bourita stated during the ceremony, highlighting the embassy's role as a “bridge” for future partnerships.

Mudavadi echoed this sentiment, asserting that the new diplomatic mission “offers both countries the opportunity to strengthen cooperation and exchange expertise in various domains.” He reaffirmed Kenya’s support for Morocco’s Autonomy Plan concerning Sahara.

The normalization of diplomatic relations began in September 2022 when Kenyan president William Ruto signaled an end to Kenya’s long-standing recognition of the self-proclaimed “Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic” (SADR). Previously, Kenya hosted the Polisario Front’s leader, Brahim Ghali, and maintained a questionable Sahrawi mission in Nairobi.

Relations between the two countries accelerated rapidly following this shift. In March 2023, Kenya’s foreign affairs secretary made an official visit to Rabat, and by December 2023, Kenyan senators formally urged their government to establish an embassy in Morocco.

Kenya has since officially declared its endorsement of Morocco’s Autonomy Plan as “the only sustainable approach” to resolving the Sahara dispute. The partnership continued to flourish in 2024 when Jessica Muthoni Gakinya became Kenya’s first ambassador to Morocco, presenting her credentials to Bourita on August 30.

During the recent visit, Bourita and Mudavadi signed four memorandums of understanding covering areas such as habitat, urbanism, youth, services, trade, and diplomatic training. Bourita announced plans for a joint cooperation commission by the end of the year, complemented by an economic forum aimed at uniting business leaders from both nations.

“The Moroccan-Kenyan partnership should extend to strategic sectors including phosphates, fertilizers, and renewable energy,” Bourita emphasized, underscoring Kenya's significance as an essential actor in Africa.

Both ministers highlighted the importance of political consultations in international forums to align viewpoints on common interests, guided by the principles of peace and respect for state sovereignty.

In a joint statement, Kenya formalized its stance on the Sahara issue, declaring, “The Republic of Kenya considers the autonomy plan as the only sustainable approach for resolving the Sahara issue and intends to cooperate with like-minded states to promote its implementation.” The statement also acknowledged the growing international consensus and the momentum led by King Mohammed VI in favor of the autonomy plan.

Mudavadi expressed Kenya’s keen interest in Morocco’s diplomatic initiatives, particularly those driven by King Mohammed VI, commending their potential to foster peaceful resolutions to tensions across the African continent. He described the Moroccan economy as “emerging” and characterized it as a leader on the continent, praising Morocco's role in supporting African integration mechanisms like the African Continental Free Trade Area.

In a reciprocal gesture, Morocco announced it would offer electronic visas to Kenyan citizens, aligning with Kenya’s similar policy for Moroccans. Rabat also pledged to support Nairobi, the headquarters of UN Environment, in hosting the upcoming international conference on plastic pollution.