MONROVIA – Bomi County Senator Edwin Snowe is part of a delegation that includes the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament Sidie Mohamed Tunis to Morocco to continue discussions on possibilities of giving Morocco membership to ECOWAS.
While in Morocco, the delegation will also visit the disputed Western Sahara areas of Laayoune and Dakhia.
“The Kingdom of Morocco invited the Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament to continue discussion on the possibility of Morocco becoming a permanent member of ECOWAS and to visit the disputed Sahel Region,” Sen. Snowe said.
West African regional group Ecowas has in principle approved Morocco’s membership application despite the country being in North Africa.
But Ecowas leaders meeting in Liberia said the implications of its membership still needed to be considered before Morocco could formally join.
King Mohammed VI was not at the summit because Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had been invited.
Morocco’s application comes after it rejoined the African Union in January.
Morocco left the continental body in 1984 after it recognised the independence of Western Sahara.
Morocco regards Western Sahara as part of its historic territory and has spent much of the last three decades trying to strengthen ties with Europe at the expense of relations with Africa. Ecowas is made up of 15 West African nations, none of which shares a border with Morocco.
Members enjoy free trade and movement of people.
King Mohammed VI last week announced he would not be attending the summit in Liberia, because of the presence of Israel’s prime minister.
Morocco does not have diplomatic ties with Israel.
Mr Netanyahu addressed West African leaders on Sunday saying: “Israel is coming back to Africa and Africa is coming back to Israel.
“I believe in Africa. I believe in its potential, present and future. It is a continent on the rise.”
While in Liberia for the summit, his bodyguards scuffled with those of Togo’s President Faure Gnassingbe, according to reports in the Israeli media.
This trip comes nearly a year after Mr Netanyahu was in East Africa as part of his efforts to strengthen ties between the continent and Israel.