While hope and grandeur painted Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani on September 13, newly inaugurated President William Ruto plunged into a diplomatic howler. Not having recognised some dignitaries, he stepped back onto the plinth to face an ecstatic crowd. "With a lot of apology, I have been informed that in our midst we have other friends who I did not mention. Allow me to introduce ... the President of Sahrawi Republic, his excellency Brahim Ghali." President Ruto announced. And there goes a blistering diplomatic gamble.

First, the recognition of Sahrawi, formally the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), as an independent State has been contested since 1975. Israel and United States, for instance, deem Sahrawi as Morocco's sovereign territory. Secondly, while over 41 UN member States recognise Sahrawi as an independent State, Sahrawi itself is not a UN admitted member. Thirdly, whereas Sahrawi is an African Union member State, her membership led to Morocco's protest withdrawal from the African body until 2017.