Morocco has recalled its ambassador to Tunisia, Hassan Tarek, following the reception of the leader of the Polisario Front, Ibrahim Gali, by Tunisian President Kais Saied, who is participating in a Japan-Africa summit. Morocco decided to boycott the "TICAD" summit (Japan-Africa Cooperation Forum) taking place in Tunisia, according to a statement from the Moroccan Foreign Ministry.
The Moroccan Foreign Ministry stated in its Friday announcement that "after Tunisia has doubled negative positions and actions targeting the Kingdom of Morocco and its supreme interests, Tunisia's behavior within the framework of 'TICAD' clearly confirms this approach." The statement added that Tunisia acted contrary to Japan's views by violating the preparation process for the forum and the established rules, unilaterally inviting the separatist entity, as expressed by the Moroccan Foreign Ministry.
Furthermore, the statement described "the reception that the President of Tunisia granted to the leader of the separatists as an unprecedented serious act; it greatly hurts the feelings of the Moroccan people and its living forces." In response to this practice that is incompatible with the brotherly relations between the two countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Kingdom of Morocco has decided not to participate in the "TICAD 8" summit in Tunisia on August 27 and 28, as well as to recall the Moroccan ambassador in Tunisia for consultation.
The statement affirmed that this decision will not affect the strong and solid ties between the Moroccan and Tunisian peoples, nor what they share in unified history and common destiny, nor will it impact Morocco's connections with the interests of the African continent or initiatives within the African Union; it remains distant from Morocco's engagement in "TICAD."
