Morocco’s Disgrace at TICAD: Failed Violent Effort to Expel Sahrawi Delegates Sparks Backlash – Full Story Unfolds

✏️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers, Algeria | August 24th, 2024 — In a deeply humiliating episode for Morocco, the August 23, 2024 preparatory session of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) descended into chaos when Moroccan officials launched a brazen attack on the delegation of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR). The confrontation unfolded as Moroccan representatives attempted to forcibly remove the Sahrawi diplomats from the conference hall, sparking widespread condemnation.

The incident erupted shortly after the Sahrawi delegation, led by Ambassador Lamine Abaali, took their rightful seats at the conference table, placing the nameplate of the SADR in front of them. Morocco, which has long sought to block any recognition of the SADR, reacted violently, with diplomats rushing towards Abaali in a failed attempt to seize the nameplate and challenge the legitimacy of the Sahrawi presence.

Despite Morocco’s desperate efforts to delegitimize the Sahrawi delegation, the SADR’s participation had already been secured through a determined diplomatic effort led by numerous African Union (AU) member states. In the days leading up to the conference, thirteen African nations threatened to boycott the summit unless the SADR was granted full participation. These countries made it clear that without the SADR, TICAD would lose its standing as a Japan-AU partnership and would be rebranded as a purely bilateral Japan-Africa event, much like other global summits involving Africa.

Facing immense pressure, Japan, the conference co-host, confirmed the SADR’s official invitation, much to Morocco’s frustration. When the SADR’s nameplate was initially absent from the table, allied delegations protested by withdrawing from the meeting. After an intense discussion between AU and Japanese officials, the SADR’s nameplate was reinstated, allowing Ambassador Abaali to resume his seat.

In a disgraceful display, Moroccan diplomats then physically charged at the Sahrawi delegation in anger. Security personnel intervened, and the lead Moroccan diplomat responsible for the aggression was expelled from the hall. The session eventually resumed, with the Sahrawi delegation maintaining its place among the participants. Mauritania’s representative, also the current AU chair, issued a formal apology to the SADR, reaffirming the Republic’s right to equal participation alongside all other AU member states.

This public debacle further exposes Morocco’s ongoing campaign to deny the Sahrawi people their right to self-determination, starkly illustrating the regime’s incapacity for constructive diplomacy. The footage of the altercation, which included diplomats condemning the actions with shouts of “Ayb alik” (meaning “Shame on you!”), has sparked widespread international criticism, casting a spotlight on the Moroccan delegation’s humiliating behavior.

In this vein, the violence orchestrated by Moroccan diplomats drew broad condemnation from international observers and African delegates, further isolating Morocco on the issue of Western Sahara. The incident highlighted Morocco’s increasingly desperate attempts to thwart the Sahrawi people’s pursuit of self-determination, as support for the SADR continues to grow across the African continent.

This disgraceful scene in Tokyo underscored the lengths to which Morocco is willing to go in order to obstruct the SADR’s legitimacy on the world stage. Yet, despite these efforts, the Sahrawi cause continues to gain international recognition, marking a significant setback for Morocco’s foreign policy agenda.

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