Morocco recalls its ambassador to Tunisia after welcoming the Polisario leader

Morocco announced, on Friday, the recall of its ambassador to Tunisia after Tunisian President Kais Saied hosted the leader of the Sahrawi separatists from the Polisario Front in front of a Japanese-African forum. Kais Saied, leader of the Polisario Front, which claims the independence of Western Sahara under Moroccan control, received Brahim Ghali, ahead of the TICAD (Tokyo International Conference on African Development) to be held on Saturday and Sunday in Tunis.

“Great and unprecedented work”

Brahim Ghali is the president of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), the self-proclaimed Polisario Front. That’s welcome “A serious and unprecedented act that deeply hurts the feelings and living forces of the Moroccan people.”As the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs says. His press release again criticizes Tunisia for its invitation “from one side” Ibrahim Ghaly at this summit “Against Japan’s advice and in violation of the preparation process.” Before ‘This is a hostile and prejudiced attitude’the kingdom decidedCancel participation in TICAD And to remember Immediately for consultation ambassador in Tunisia.

“It is a new, unacceptable, and needlessly provocative drift that goes against the traditional position of Tunisia,” A Moroccan diplomatic source told AFP. “Tunisia has forbidden the discussion of a sacred issue for all Moroccans”, she added. According to Morocco, the recall of its ambassador “It does not in any way affect the strong and healthy bonds between the Moroccan and Tunisian peoples, who are bound by a common history and a common destiny.”

The question of Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, is considered a “Non-Self-Governing Territory” By the United Nations, Morocco opposed the Polisario, with the support of Algeria, for decades. Rabat, which controls nearly 80% of this region, is proposing an autonomy plan under its sovereignty. The Polisario is calling for a self-determination referendum under the auspices of the United Nations, which was planned when a ceasefire was signed in 1991 but never materialized.