In response, the Kingdom of Morocco wishes to clarify the following:
The press release published yesterday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tunisia in an attempt to justify a posteriori the hostile and deeply unfriendly act committed by the Tunisian authorities with regard to the First National Cause and the higher interests of the Kingdom of Morocco contains many approximations and untruths. Far from removing the ambiguities surrounding the Tunisian position, he only deepened them.
Regarding the framework of TICAD, it is not a meeting of the African Union, but a framework of the partnership between Japan and the African countries with which it maintains diplomatic relations. TICAD is thus part of African partnerships, such as those with China, India, Russia, Turkey or the United States, and which are only open to the African States recognized by the partner. Consequently, the rules of the African Union and its framework, which Morocco fully respects, do not apply in this case.
Regarding the invitation, it was agreed from the outset and with the agreement of Tunisia, that only countries that have received an invitation co-signed by the Japanese Prime Minister and the Tunisian President will be able to take part in TICAD. An official note verbale circulated by Japan on August 19, 2022, explicitly underlines that this co-signed invitation is “the only and authentic invitation without which no delegation will be authorized to participate in TICAD 8”, specifying that “this invitation does is not intended for the entity mentioned in the note verbale of August 10, 2022”, i.e. the separatist entity. It is within this framework that 50 invitations were sent to African countries that have diplomatic relations with Japan. Tunisia, therefore, did not have the right to establish a unilateral invitation process,
The press release from Tunisia shows the same approximation of the African position. This position has always been based on the inclusive participation of African states, not AU members. It is based on AU Summit Decision 762, which clarifies that the TICAD framework is not open to all AU members and that the format is defined by the same decision and by the arrangements with the partner. Even the resolution of the Lusaka Executive Council of July 2022, was content to “encourage[r] inclusiveness” while conditioning it by “compliance with the relevant decisions of the AU”, in this case, Decision 762.
With regard to the substance of neutrality and the reference in the Communiqué to “respect for United Nations resolutions” with regard to the Sahara issue, it should be recalled that Tunisia’s surprising and unexplained abstention during the adoption of Security Council resolution 2602 last October casts serious and legitimate doubt on its support for the political process and the resolutions of the United Nations.
Finally, in relation to the welcome given by the Tunisian Head of State to the leader of the separatist militia, the obstinate reference in the Tunisian press release to “welcoming Tunisian guests on an equal footing” arouses the biggest surprise, knowing that neither the Tunisian government nor the Tunisian people recognize this puppet entity. It bears witness to an act of hostility that is as blatant as it is gratuitous, and which has nothing to do with the “Tunisian tradition of hospitality” which, in any case, cannot in any case apply to the enemies of the brothers and friends who have always been at Tunisia’s side in difficult times.
