Senegal wishes to become associate-member to maghreb union

Senegal wishes to obtain the status of associate-member within the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA), announced here Thursday the head of state Abdou Diouf.

Senegal wishes to get this status given its neighborhood with Mauritania, which is a UMA member, and given the good relations it has with all the other members of the union, President Diouf said at a news conference with the national and foreign media accredited to Senegal.

He added that to be associated to UMA will be part of the consolidation of Afro-Arab dialogue and of a deeper and more positive integration.

The UMA was set up in Marrakesh in 1989 by Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco and Tunisia.

Egypt has also applied for membership to the Maghreban union, MAP reported.