Tokyo, Japan – August 24, 2024 – A preparatory meeting for the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) was disrupted on Friday when representatives from Morocco and Algeria engaged in a physical altercation. The dispute centered on the participation of an ambassador representing the Sahrawi Republic, an entity not recognized by Japan.
A video shared on social media showed a Moroccan delegate attempting to remove the Sahrawi Republic’s nameplate from the table in front of the ambassador. An Algerian delegate intervened, leading to a heated exchange that escalated into a physical brawl.
The meeting was temporarily suspended, and the chair urged the delegates to maintain order or face expulsion.
Diplomatic sources revealed that Morocco had requested the organizers to bar the Sahrawi representative’s participation due to Japan’s non-recognition of the entity. While the Sahrawi Republic is recognized by some African Union members, including Algeria and South Africa, Japan has maintained a neutral stance.
The Algerian-Moroccan dispute over the Western Sahara is expected to cast a shadow over the upcoming TICAD foreign ministers meeting. Despite Morocco’s protests, Japan has decided to allow the Polisario Front, an independence movement opposing Moroccan control of Western Sahara, to attend the meetings under pressure from Algeria and South Africa.
A high-ranking Japanese official declined to comment on whether the Polisario representative would be allowed to participate in the meeting.
Sahrawi and Algerian activists have launched a campaign in support of the Sahrawi ambassador, calling for an end to violence and solidarity. The ambassador’s nationality and the passport used to enter Japan remain unclear.
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