Spanish Newspaper “El Independiente” Highlights Diplomatic Fallout for Morocco After Assault on Sahrawi Diplomat at TICAD 9

✏️ BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Algiers, Algeria | August 29th, 2024 —  The Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) has exposed Morocco to a significant diplomatic setback, casting a long shadow over the Alawite regime’s international standing. The incident, involving an assault on a Sahrawi diplomat, has not only stirred widespread condemnation but also highlighted Morocco’s mounting diplomatic isolation. This detailed report explores the nuances of the scandal and its broader repercussions for Moroccan diplomacy.

The diplomatic debacle occurred when a Moroccan delegate assaulted a Sahrawi representative during the TICAD 9 summit held in Tokyo. This aggressive incident, which unfolded in the midst of heightened tensions regarding Western Sahara’s status, has been described as a profound diplomatic misstep. The physical confrontation and its subsequent fallout have significantly impacted Morocco’s reputation on the global stage.

Repercussions and Reactions

The Spanish newspaper “El Independiente” has characterized the altercation as a severe blow to Moroccan diplomacy. The publication detailed how the Moroccan delegation’s actions led to a broader diplomatic isolation, contrasting sharply with the kingdom’s prior efforts to integrate into African institutions. The TICAD 9 final communiqué reaffirmed the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic’s (SADR) right to full membership in the African Union (AU), a stance overwhelmingly supported by summit attendees. Morocco’s lone opposition to SADR’s membership highlighted its growing diplomatic isolation, particularly since the kingdom’s re-entry into the AU in 2017—a move initially seen as a positive step toward deeper engagement with African institutions.

The Moroccan delegation’s aggressive conduct was met with widespread criticism and a lack of support from traditional African allies. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa’s address, which included representatives of the AU member states and the Sahrawi envoy, further emphasized SADR’s official recognition. A notable photograph from the Japanese Foreign Ministry captured the Sahrawi representative prominently displayed with his country’s signboard during the closing session, underscoring the failure of Moroccan efforts to marginalize SADR.

Diplomatic Isolation and Criticism

The incident in Tokyo exemplifies Morocco’s increasing diplomatic isolation, as its traditional allies refrained from offering support. The aggressive behavior of the Moroccan delegate was widely condemned, with Omar Mansour, the Polisario Front’s delegate in Brussels, describing the Moroccan diplomat’s actions as “shameful trolling.” Despite the attempt to disrupt the Sahrawi delegation’s participation, the Moroccan representative’s efforts proved unsuccessful, culminating in his restraint and expulsion by conference security due to the unacceptable nature of his conduct.

The Western Sahara Conflict: A Deep Dive into Decolonization, International Support, and Ongoing Challenges

The Western Sahara conflict represents a fundamental issue of decolonization, as articulated in United Nations General Assembly Resolution 1514. Adopted in December 1960, this resolution demands the swift and unconditional end of colonialism in all its manifestations and affirms the right of all peoples to self-determination.

Western Sahara has been listed by the United Nations as a non-self-governing territory since 1963. This classification falls under the purview of the Fourth Committee of the UN General Assembly, also known as the Committee on Decolonization, which advocates for the inalienable right of self-determination for inhabitants of such territories.

International bodies including the UN, African Union (AU), and European Union (EU) support holding a referendum to decide the future status of Western Sahara, which remains the last colony in Africa. The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), recognized by many countries, has been a member of the AU since 1982 and was a founding member of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) upon its inception in 2002. Conversely, Morocco withdrew from the OAU in 1982 but rejoined the AU in 2017.

In 1975, Spain, the former colonial power, withdrew from Western Sahara and ceded control to Morocco and Mauritania under the Madrid Accords dated November 14, 1975. These accords were not acknowledged by the UN and faced strong opposition from the Polisario Front, which had been resisting Spanish and Moroccan control. Mauritania subsequently withdrew from its part of Western Sahara in 1979.

The Polisario Front persisted in its armed struggle against Moroccan occupation until a ceasefire was brokered by the UN and AU in 1991. Although the UN Mission for the Organization of a Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) was established, the referendum has yet to be conducted due to ongoing Moroccan obstructions. Moroccan forces have continued to violate the rights of the Sahrawi people, hindering the self-determination process.

On November 13, 2020, the Polisario Front resumed armed conflict following an assault by Moroccan forces on unarmed Sahrawi protesters in the El Guerguerat buffer zone, violating the 1991 ceasefire agreement. This breach prompted the Sahrawi leadership to recommence their struggle against the occupying forces, which have disregarded international legal norms.

Morocco’s proposed autonomy plan for Western Sahara has been unequivocally rejected by the Sahrawi people, who insist on their right to self-determination as guaranteed by the UN Charter. The recent endorsement of Morocco’s plan by France has further complicated the situation. Additionally, Spain’s failure to fulfill its historical role as the administering power, as recognized by the UN, has significantly impeded efforts to achieve a fair resolution to the conflict.

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