Rabat – Morocco’s Royal Karate Federation has canceled its participation in a regional karate championship that will take place in Tunisia from September 7-11.
The federation announced its decision in a press release on Saturday, pointing to Morocco’s position on Tunisia’s hostile moves regarding the Western Sahara dispute.
On Friday, Tunisia sparked controversy after its President Kais Saeid hosted Polisario leader Brahim Ghali in exuberant fashion ahead of the the 8th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD).
After Tunisia’s decision to invite Ghali to the Japan-AfricanUnion event, despite Japan’s prior warnings against such a move, Morocco announced its decision to not take part in the event and withdrew its ambassador from Tunis.
“After having recently multiplied negative positions and acts with regard to the Kingdom of Morocco and its highest interests, Tunisia’s attitude within the framework of the TICAD process confirms blatant hostility,” the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Friday.
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Tunisia, meanwhile, attempted to weigh down Morocco’s forceful reaction, claiming “complete neutrality” on the Sahara dispute and saying it still wants to keep strong and brotherly ties with Rabat.
“While Tunisia affirms its commitment to preserve its friendly, brotherly and historical relations with the Moroccan people, it rejects the phrases contained in the Moroccan statement accusing our country of taking an aggressive stance towards Morocco and harming Moroccan interests,” the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
It went on to announce Tunisia’s decision to also withdraw its ambassador from Rabat.
In a subsequent statement, Morocco cast doubt on Tunisia’s earlier claim that the invitation to the Polisario leader had come from the African Union, which co-organizes the TICAD with the Japanese foreign ministry.
Japan had sent a memo to the AU indicating that only countries it recognizes can attend the TICAD, the statement revealed, indicating that the Polisario leader’s invite was “unilaterally” orchestrated by Tunisia in defiance of clear protocols set by Japan and agreed to by both the AU and the Tunisian government.
Several countries have expressed support for Morocco and regretted its absence from the event.
Speaking on Saturday, the presidents of Senegal, Liberia, and Comoros subtly spoke in defense of the Moroccan position and pointed out the country’s leadership role and importance in Africa.
But the most unmistakable expression of support has so far come from Guinea-Bissau, whose president, Umaru Sissoko, left the TICAD in protest at the inclusion of Polisario representatives.
In Tunisia, meanwhile many ordinary citizens and public figures have taken to the internet to slam President Saied’s “shocking” and “politically stupid” decision to invite and welcome the Polisario chief to Tunis.
Moncef Marzouki, the former president of Tunisia, said on Saturday that President Saied’s decision was an unwelcome and dangerous deviation from Tunisia’s decades-old policy of positive and constructive neutrality on the Sahara dispute.
