The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic officially launched its embassy in Kenya at Laico Regency Hotel in Nairobi on Thursday morning. The Sahrawi Republic is a partially recognised state claiming sovereignty over the entire territory of Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony.
As the Kenyan mission will receive its first ambassador at end of February, the republic was represented by Sahrawi Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamed Salem Ould Salek and Charge d' Affaires Mariam Mohammedu.
Speaking at the launch, Salek said the opening of an embassy for SADR in Kenya is of great importance, given that Kenya is considered one of the major active countries at the African Union alongside Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa and Algeria. This new embassy brings to 12 the total number of their embassies around the world.
The opening ceremony was attended by accredited members of the diplomatic corps, Kenyan authorities including former vice president Kalonzo Musyoka and civil society representatives.
