The Diplomat
The Moroccan government recalled its ambassador to Tunisia for consultations on Friday following the reception given to Polisario Front leader Brahim Ghali, who was invited to a summit meeting between representatives of Japan and African countries, reports Europa Press.
The Tunisian president, Kais Saied, received Ghali at the airport, in a symbolic gesture that soon caused unrest in Rabat. “This is a serious and unprecedented act, which deeply hurts the feelings of the Moroccan people,” the Moroccan Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
According to Rabat, this reception comes on top of the fact that Tunisia had already “multiplied” its “negative” positions towards Morocco, a “hostility” that it now considers proven by the “unilateral” invitation to the president of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).
Morocco therefore refused to participate in the Tokyo Summit for African Development (TICAD) and “immediately” recalled its ambassador to Tunis for consultations.
The Foreign Ministry of the Alawite kingdom clarified that this decision does not call into question the “strong and intact ties” between the Moroccan and Tunisian peoples, linked by “a common history and a shared destiny”.
