Diplomatic rift: Morocco accuses Algeria of sabotaging TICAD summit with Polisario presence

Morocco has accused Algeria of staging an incident to facilitate the participation of the Polisario Front, a separatist movement, at the event, which is pivotal for African development.

The controversy began on August 23 when members of the Polisario Front allegedly entered a preparatory meeting room carrying Algerian diplomatic passports and badges as part of the Algerian delegation.

According to reports, one representative attempted to display a plaque bearing the name “Sahrawi Republic,” sparking immediate backlash.

Japanese authorities responded swiftly, with an official clarifying that the presence of the Polisario Front did not equate to Japan’s recognition of the entity.

However, this statement did little to ease the tensions between Morocco and Algeria.

Morocco’s diplomatic corps condemned what it described as Algeria’s attempt to deceive the international community.

In statements reported by the Spanish newspaper La Razón, Moroccan officials accused Algeria of using falsified documents to create the illusion of Polisario’s official participation at the summit.

The incident escalated further when an Algerian diplomat allegedly physically assaulted a Moroccan representative who was trying to remove the “RASD” plaque.

Footage of the altercation, which showed the intensity of the scuffle, quickly circulated on social media, highlighting the severity of the diplomatic fallout.

Morocco’s government has criticized Algeria’s actions, arguing that the maneuver undermined the integrity of the TICAD summit and tarnished Africa’s image on the global stage.

Rabat maintains that the incident deprived the continent of a vital opportunity for dialogue and development.

In response to the situation, Morocco has called on African nations to hold Algeria accountable for what it sees as a deliberate act of sabotage.

The Moroccan government stressed the importance of African unity against such actions, which it claims threaten the stability and progress of the continent.

As diplomatic tensions simmer, the fallout from this incident serves as a stark reminder of the long-standing rivalry between Morocco and Algeria, with the dispute over Western Sahara at its core.

The outcome of this latest confrontation at TICAD could have broader implications for regional diplomacy and Africa’s collaborative efforts on the global stage.