Excluded from France-Africa Summit, Polisario leader turns to Uganda

Brahim Ghali arrived in Kampala on Monday evening to attend the inauguration ceremony of Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, scheduled for Tuesday, May 12.

At 81 years old and in power since 1986, Museveni is beginning his seventh term after winning the January presidential elections. Uganda remains among the African countries that recognize the self-proclaimed «Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic» (SADR).

The visit offers Brahim Ghali an opportunity to shift attention away from his absence from the France-Africa summit, which opened Monday in Kenya. As in previous editions, France declined to invite the Polisario Front to the gathering, despite the event being organized in partnership with the African Union Commission.

During his stay in Kampala, the Polisario leader is expected to meet Azouz Nasri, speaker of the lower house of the Algerian Parliament.

A meeting with Cyril Ramaphosa, however, appears unlikely, as the South African president is currently facing impeachment proceedings.