ADDIS ABABA — “I am finally home,” King Mohammed VI said Tuesday as the African Union (AU) readmitted Morocco after a 33-year absence, deferring the issue of Western Sahara for another day.

Morocco’s return came a day after 39 of the AU’s 54 member states agreed to allow it back in the fold, despite stiff resistance from countries such as South Africa and Algeria over the status of the disputed former Spanish colony.

Faced with the AU’s decision, Western Sahara officials appeared to accept the new reality and cast it in a positive light, saying AU membership might help speed up efforts to end a protracted conflict.

“It is a beautiful day when one returns home after too long an absence,” Mohammed VI told the closing ceremony of the AU summit in Ethiopia.

“Africa is my continent and my home. I am finally home and I am happy to see you. I missed you all.”

 His speech came after a long day of feverish speculation in the halls of the AU headquarters over whether he would indeed show up, and protocol confusion which saw his foreign minister given a talking to in front of some media after he tried to enter the main plenary hall during a heads of state meeting.

No conditions 

Morocco quit the then Organisation of African Unity in 1984 after the bloc admitted the former Western Sahara as a separate member.