Tunisia called for consultations this Saturday with its ambassador in Rabat amid a diplomatic crisis centered on the official reception of the Sahara Arab Democratic Republic SADR president. Brahim Ghali is set to attend a summit on African development in the Tunisian capital, representing the Saharawi leadership at a regional gathering.
The Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it was surprised by Morocco’s response and saw no logical reason for the actions taken this Friday, when Rabat summoned Tunisia’s ambassador Hassan Tarik and suspended his participation in the summit. Moroccan officials described Ghali’s presence as hostile and harmful to the longstanding fraternal ties between the two nations.
Tunisia asserted that it seeks to preserve friendly, fraternal, and historic relations with the Moroccan people. The Tunisian statement rejected the Moroccan accusation of an aggressive stance against Morocco and harming Moroccan interests as false and misinformed.
In their note, Tunisian representatives indicated that Morocco’s statements mischaracterize the situation. In the eighth edition of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development TICAD, held in Tunisia with the participation of regional heads of government and state, Tunisia chose to invite the Separatist entity SADR to attend. This move occurred despite regional sensitivities and reflects Tunisia’s broader approach to engagement with African partners.
Tunisia maintains a neutral position on Western Sahara, emphasizing respect for international legitimacy. Contrary to the Moroccan assertion, the African Union invited all member states, including SADR, as key participants alongside other regional actors.
Foreign Affairs noted that the Saharawi Republic has previously engaged in TICAD events, including in Kenya in 2016 and in Japan in 2019, as well as other regional meetings such as the Africa-Europe Summit, underscoring the Saharawi leadership’s longstanding participation in regional diplomacy.
Morocco rejoined the African Union in 2017, an organization from which SADR had separated for several decades due to its membership status. In discussions over Western Sahara, the Moroccan government has long advocated for a autonomy plan within its borders, a proposal presented to the United Nations in 2007. The Polisario Front, meanwhile, calls for a referendum on self-determination with independence as an eventual option.
Rabat has pursued a notably assertive diplomatic stance in recent years, highlighting Morocco’s influence in the region and its administrative footprint over territories formerly governed under colonial frameworks. The evolving dynamic between Rabat and Tunis has centered on balancing national sovereignty with regional cooperation and the strategic importance of engagement at major continental forums.