While Morocco rejects AU role, Gutiérrez affirms African crises must be resolved by African leaders

(SPS) - The UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, said on Monday at a press conference after being awarded the title of Doctor Honoris Causa by the University of Lisbon that the African crises must be resolved by African leaders.

Guterres said he is "a great defender of African leadership" to solve the problems affecting the continent and that "the United Nations should be a focus of support for African initiatives."

These declarations of Guterres are a strong message for Morocco that rejects until now the implication of the African Union in the Sahrawi conflict, considering that the conflict must not leave the framework of the UN Security Council, where France sits, unconditional ally of Morocco and one of the members with the right to veto.

"We have a clear vision of partnership with African institutions in the United Nations, we have a great cooperative relationship with the African Union, and we are doing the same with sub-regional organizations such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). ", said Guterres, when asked about the current political situation in the region.