An unprecedented diplomatic incident occurred during the 47th session of the Executive Council of the African Union (AU), held on Thursday and Friday in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. Members identified as part of the Moroccan delegation reportedly removed the flag of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) from its designated position in the conference hall.
According to the Sahrawi Press Agency (SPS), the act sparked outrage among participating delegations, particularly given the diplomatic setting where respect for protocol and universally recognized ethical conduct is expected. Several delegations refused to continue the meeting until the SADR flag was reinstated, reaffirming the Republic’s sovereignty and status as a founding member of the AU.
The delegations described the incident as “a flagrant violation of diplomatic norms” and demanded the immediate restoration of the Sahrawi flag. The AU protocol service eventually complied, allowing the session to resume.
SPS condemned Morocco’s behavior, accusing it of “thuggish conduct” since joining the AU in 2017, and claimed the kingdom seeks to disrupt the organization and damage its image and unity. The agency asserted that repeated acts of this nature reflect a foreign agenda aimed at weakening the AU and obstructing its role as a unified political and economic bloc on the international stage.
SPS urged the African Union to take necessary action to prevent Morocco from continuing such “savage behavior” and called for appropriate sanctions in line with AU laws and regulations.
