Rabat and Tunis each recalled their ambassador after Brahim Ghali, head of the Sahrawi independence from the Polisario Front, was received in Tunis. A “serious and unprecedented act” for Morocco.
Le Monde with AFP
The tension is suddenly mounted. Tunisia announced on Saturday August 27, the recall of its ambassador to Morocco, the day after a similar decision by the Moroccan authorities. At the origin of this diplomatic weapon pass: the reception, in Tunis, of Brahim Ghali, chief of the Sahrawi independence from the Polisario Front.
m. Ghali is the President of the Arab Republic of Sahrawi and Democratic (RASD), self -proclaimed by the Polisario Front, which claims the independence of Western Sahara, controlled at nearly 80 % by Morocco.
was received on Friday at his descent from the plane by Tunisian President Kais Saied, just like the presidents and heads of government who came to attend the Japanese-Africa summit (Ticad). The two men then maintained themselves in the presidential fair of the airport.
“serious and unpublished act”
In the process, Rabat announced the recall of his ambassador and the cancellation of his participation in the summit. Morocco qualified the reception of Mr. Ghali to the Ticad “serious and unpublished act, which deeply hit the feelings of the Moroccan people”. The country also considers that Tunisia invited “unilaterally” Mr. Ghali to the top, “against the advice of Japan and in violation of the preparation process”.
By announcing the recall of his ambassador, Tunis assured that he had “maintained his total neutrality on the question of Western Sahara while respecting international legitimacy”, advocating a “peaceful solution and acceptable by all”. “Tunisia respects the United Nations resolutions and that of the African Union,” said the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Contrary to what was said in the Moroccan declaration”, the RASD had received a “direct invitation” from the president of the African commission, he added.