RABAT, Aug 26 (Reuters) – Morocco announced on Friday the recall of its ambassador to Tunisia for consultations to protest Tunisian President Kas Saed’s decision to receive the leader of the Polisario Front, the independence movement in Western Sahara claimed by Rabat.
Moroccan authorities have told their Tunisian counterparts that Brahim Ghali’s participation in the Tokyo Summit for African Development (TICAD), an African-Japanese conference taking place this weekend in Tunis, had “deeply hurt” the Moroccan people. .
The head of the Polisario Front, supported by Algeria, which Tunisia has recently moved closer to diplomatically and energetically, was received by Kas Saed on his arrival at Tunis airport on Friday.
Besides recalling its ambassador, Morocco announced that it would not participate in TICAD as a form of protest.
Senegalese President Macky Sall, current chairman of the African Union, is due to deliver a speech at the summit. The AU recognizes Western Sahara as a member but its independence and the Polisario are far from unanimous among African countries. (Report by Ahmed El Jechtimi, written by Angus McDowall, Tangi Salan)