During the recent TICAD9 Ministerial Meeting, a surreal scene unfolded in Tokyo. Individuals claiming to represent the Polisario managed to infiltrate the meetings, blatantly violating the most basic protocols and diplomatic rules.
It is important to recall that Japan, as the host and organizer of this conference, extended invitations exclusively to African Union member states. No invitation was sent to the Polisario, an entity unrecognized by the international community.
Despite this fact, individuals posing as Polisario representatives managed to obtain Algerian visas and gain accreditation as members of the Algerian delegation. Equipped with fake badges, they infiltrated the meeting rooms, attempting to usurp a legitimacy they do not possess.
The climax of this masquerade was reached when a Polisario individual displayed an illegal sign bearing the name of this phantom entity. This provocative act was immediately denounced by the Moroccan delegation and numerous other participants.
Faced with this unacceptable situation, Japan reacted firmly. Japanese authorities clearly stated that the Polisario’s presence at this conference in no way constituted recognition of this entity.
This new maneuver by the Polisario, supported by Algeria, once again demonstrates the determination of these actors to maintain an artificial conflict in the region. By resorting to deception and manipulation, they seek to give an illusory existence to an entity that has no legal basis.
These events come at a time marked by Morocco’s recent diplomatic advances. The recognition by many countries of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara has undermined separatist designs. Algeria, politically disarmed, is now attempting to sabotage the UN-led political process by resorting to illegal methods.
The Polisario’s fiasco at TICAD is further proof of this entity’s growing isolation. The international community has clearly chosen to support Morocco’s autonomy plan, a realistic and credible solution to achieve lasting peace in the region.