Senegal renews backing to Morocco in Sahara issue

Senegalese minister of the interior, general Mamadou Niang, renewed his country's backing to Morocco in the Sahara issue.

General Niang told reporters in Rabat Wednesday after meeting Moroccan peer Ahmed El Midaoui Senegal's stand on the Sahara issue is no secret and Senegal is resolutely engaged at Morocco's side.

The Senegalese official who started Tuesday a work visit to Morocco, at the invitation of his Moroccan peer, stressed the need for the African continent to get united and to avoid useless conflicts.

African countries should join efforts to establish peace and promote the continent's development, General Niang said, adding his visit to Rabat is evidence to Senegal's commitment at Morocco's side in the march towards African economic and social development.

After he described Morocco as a pilot country that is propelled by King Mohammed VI in the third millennium, General Niang voiced appreciation for the welcome given to Senegalese students.

El Midaoui, on his part, hailed Senegal's positive stand in the Moroccan Sahara issue and said this attitude makes justice to history, equity and neighborliness.

El Midaoui called the countries which had been misled and which tried to divert the course of history to reconsider their stands and join efforts in this geographic space, as the main goal is progress and prosperity and preservation of countries' unity on the basis of historical rights and equity.

He warned against plunging the region in instability, otherwise, he said, there will be no development to secure our children a prosperous future.

As to his talks with General Niang, he said they were meant to give momentum to the brotherly cooperation existing between the two countries in matters of security, civilians rescue operations, local communities and staff training. These axes are a first phase towards further deepening of relations between the two countries and peoples, El Midaoui said.