Only African Country Not in African Union Wants Back In

Morocco left the African Union in 1984 in protest of the organization recognizing Western Sahara's independence, though Morocco viewed the territory as its "southern provinces." Now it wants back in—but it's not about to give up the fight, reports the BBC. "For a long time our friends have been asking us to return to them," King Mohammed VI said in a message to African leaders at an AU summit in Rwanda on Sunday, per Al Jazeera. "The moment has now come." He also took the opportunity to ask the AU to rethink its position on Western Sahara, which he referred to as the "phantom state." AU members will now vote on whether to accept Morocco's return. (More Morocco stories.)