Japan Rejects Polisario's Attempts to Infiltrate TICAD9 Preparatory Meeting
This article reports on the preparatory ministerial meeting for the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Tokyo, where Japan hosted high-ranking officials from African countries. It highlights the absence of the "Sahrawi Republic" from the official list of participants and Algeria's attempts to portray the Polisario Front as a legitimate state by infiltrating the meeting with separatist officials posing as part of the Algerian delegation.
HASSAN BENYOUB 
Preparatory Ministerial Meeting for TICAD9 Kicks Off in Tokyo
Today, the preparatory ministerial meeting for the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) commenced in Tokyo, scheduled to take place from August 24 to 25, 2024. This significant event gathers high-ranking officials from Japan and African countries that are members of the United Nations.
Japan has officially invited UN member African nations to participate in the meeting. Notably absent from the official list of participants is the "Sahrawi Republic," a move that has prompted Algeria to attempt to leverage the summit to portray the Sahrawi as a legitimate state in international discussions. Reports indicate that separatist officials infiltrated the Algerian delegation, entering Japan with forged identities and Algerian passports, posing as part of the Algerian team.
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Video footage circulating on social media shows a representative of the Sahrawi Front, identified as Aba Ali, sitting at the preliminary meeting and displaying a sign reading "Sahrawi Republic," which starkly contrasts with the official signage prepared by the event organizers.Following protests from Morocco, Japan clarified its official stance, with a senior Japanese official reaffirming that the country does not recognize the "Sahrawi Republic."
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Contrary to claims made by Algerian and Sahrawi media that the Moroccan delegation attacked the separatist representatives, a video surfaced showing an Algerian delegate assaulting a Moroccan diplomat who attempted to remove the fraudulent "Sahrawi Republic" sign.
Diplomatic Setbacks and Media Maneuvering
In light of recent diplomatic victories, including France's recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over Western Sahara, the Sahrawi Front is striving to achieve "media successes."
Their news agency published a photo of Aba Ali next to the sign while deliberately omitting images of identification signs from other delegations.Prior to the meeting, Algeria condemned the exclusion of the Sahrawi Front from summits involving the African Union and other entities during the 45th session of the African Union Executive Council in Accra, Ghana.
Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf expressed regret over the "exclusionary policies" targeting a founding member of the organization.Japan has consistently maintained its non-recognition of the "Sahrawi Republic."
During the opening session of TICAD in Yokohama in August 2019, Japan's Foreign Minister reiterated the country's position before African leaders and international officials, including UN Secretary-General António Guterres.He emphasized that the participation of any entity not recognized by Japan as a state does not influence the country's stance on that entity's status.During TICAD8, held in Tunisia in August 2022, Morocco withdrew in protest against Tunisia's invitation to the Sahrawi Front and the reception of its leader by President Kais Saied.
Following the summit, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi engaged in discussions with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita
