Morocco rejoins the African Union as it's 55th member

The African Union on Monday readmitted Morocco as a member, 33 years after the North African country withdrew its membership from the bloc over a row regarding the recognition of Western Sahara.

Morocco's King Mohammed, who had been campaigning for the country to be readmitted into the continental bloc since 2016 said;

"Africa is my home and I am coming back home," "I have missed you all."

Morocco, one of Africa's largest economies exited the then Organisation of African Unity, now the AU in 1984 after the body had recognised Western Sahara, most of which has been controlled by Morocco since 1976 as a country.

Following the acceptance, Morocco will become the AU 55th member. The decision did not make mention of the status of Western Sahara, which Morocco has refused to acknowledge.