Morocco has lowered the level of its diplomatic representation at the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development, currently held in Yokohama, Japan, following the scandalous participation of polisario militias in the event under high Japanese security protection.
The ridiculous show was cooked up and generously financed by the Algerian military regime with tax-payers money while Algerians are suffering from shortage of basic necessities, poor infrastructures, transport services, medical care…
In a bid to avoid getting embroiled in a diplomatic row with Rabat, Japan has reiterated through its FM Takeshi Iwaya Tokyo’s firm position affirming that it does not recognize the Polisario separatist group.
“I would like to make it clear that the presence at this meeting of any entity that Japan does not recognize as a state does not affect Japan’s position on the status of that entity,” Iwaya told African ministers and representatives of international organizations gathered for the conference.
Japan, host country of the conference, has not invited the Polisario to the gathering but the separatist group was brought in by the African Union, co-organizer of the African-Japanese event.
The move raises questions over the respect of TICAD rules and principles saying that only countries recognized by the United Nations are allowed in.
Some experts say Polisario presence in the conference is a mere “pro-forma” attendance without any political legitimacy. Its appearance in such events is always used for propaganda. It comes always after intensive lobbying made by Algeria and its acolytes inside AU as the Polisario is a fictitious entity lacking all statehood attributes.
The separatist group’s presence at the summit without an official invitation prompted Japanese organizers to deploy substantial security personnel to prevent unauthorized contact between Polisario representatives and legitimate state delegations. The containment strategy effectively isolated the group from formal proceedings and diplomatic interactions that constitute the conference’s primary purpose.
Security arrangements specifically prevented Polisario representatives from accessing official seating areas, relegating them to peripheral positions outside formal diplomatic zones. The delegation received no speaking opportunities during plenary sessions and was excluded from official receptions and bilateral meetings where substantive diplomatic engagement occurs. Japanese authorities issued only temporary passes rather than official visas, emphasizing the group’s non-recognized status.
Meanwhile, the Algerian regime continues its unconditional support for the Polisario Front, mobilizing all its diplomatic and logistical resources to secure the separatist participation in international gatherings despite its awareness of the position of host countries.
The reckless Algerian junta continues gambling on a losing horse for five decades, leading to their country’ bankruptcy, isolation, and deepening socioeconomic and political crises.
