International

Morocco recalls Tunisia ambassador over Western Sahara

RABAT/CAIRO (Reuters) -Morocco recalled its ambassador to Tunisia on Friday after Tunisian President Kais Saied obtained the pinnacle of the Polisario Entrance motion that’s in search of independence for Western Sahara, a territory Morocco regards as its personal.

Morocco stated Tunisia’s choice to ask Brahim Ghali to a Japanese improvement summit for Africa that Tunis is internet hosting this weekend was “a grave and unprecedented act that deeply hurts the sentiments of the Moroccan individuals”.

The row opens a brand new entrance in a sequence of disputes over Western Sahara that has already dragged in Spain and Germany and escalated an overarching regional rivalry between Morocco and Algeria, the Polisario’s principal backer.

Tunisia has this 12 months grown nearer to Algeria, its most populous neighbour and one upon which it depends for vitality, with Saied assembly Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune in July.

Tunisia this weekend is internet hosting the Tokyo Worldwide Convention on African Growth, which can embody heads of state from a number of African international locations.

Tunisia, in response to Morocco’s choice, introduced it was recalling its ambassador to Rabat for session.

Tunisia’s ministry of international affairs stated in a press release early on Saturday that the nation maintains its full “neutrality over Western Sahara subject in compliance with worldwide legitimacy”.

It stated the African Union had circulated a memorandum inviting all members of the African Union, together with the pinnacle of the Polisario Entrance motion, to take part within the actions of the Tokyo Worldwide Convention on African Growth Summit in Tunisia.

Additionally, the president of the African Fee prolonged a direct particular person invitation to Brahim Ghali to attend the summit, the assertion stated.

Senegalese President Macky Sall, who’s at the moment chair of the African Union, is scheduled to talk. The African Union recognises Western Sahara as a member, however African states are cut up over each the Polisario and the territory’s independence.

In a terse international ministry assertion, Morocco stated it could not participate within the summit. It additionally accused Tunisia of getting lately “multiplied unfavourable positions” towards Morocco, and stated its choice to host Ghali “confirms its hostility in a blatant method”.

Gaining recognition for its sovereignty over Western Sahara has lengthy been Morocco’s most treasured international coverage aim. In 2020 the US recognised its sovereignty in return for Morocco’s agreeing nearer ties with Israel.

Since then, Morocco has taken a more durable stance over Western Sahara, withdrawing its ambassadors to Spain and Germany till they moved nearer to its stance on the territory.

Algeria has withdrawn its personal ambassador to Spain, a serious buyer for Algerian gasoline, after Madrid’s sudden shift on Western Sahara.

(Reporting by Ahmed El Jechtimi; further Reporting by Omar Fahmy; writing by Angus McDowall and Moataz Mohamed; modifying by Chris Reese, Angus MacSwan and Leslie Adler)



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