Algiers, 26 August 2024 (SPS) - The scandal of Morocco in the Japanese capital during the Ministerial Meeting of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) has provoked the hysteria of the Makhzen regime and its press, which has given free rein to its illusions by engaging in propaganda of a fictitious victory that the kingdom would have achieved through a supposed exclusion of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR) from participation in the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) scheduled for September 5-6, 2024 in Beijing.
Indeed, the Moroccan press has, over the past two days, begun to promote this fictitious victory through a media campaign undoubtedly aimed at covering what should be called "the Morocco scandal in Tokyo" following the lamentable failure of Moroccan maneuvers aimed at depriving the Sahrawi Republic from participating in the TICAD Ministerial Meeting, held on August 24-25, 2024 in Japan.
Thus, in order to expose the lies spread by the Makhzen, it is necessary to go back to the decisions and practices of the African Union (AU) regarding partnerships. It is important to recall here that the partnerships uniting the AU with various international actors are classified into two main categories.
The first category concerns multilateral partnerships, in which the AU is one of the main parties. Also, it ensures the organization and chairmanship with the foreign party, as is the case for TICAD and the meetings of the continental organization with the European Union or the Arab League.
The second category concerns bilateral partnerships between one country and several African countries, as is the case for the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and other partnership mechanisms linking the African continent to other countries such as Russia, Korea, Turkey and Italy.
According to the AU resolutions, participation in these meetings depends on the type of partnership in question.
The formula of inclusive participation grouping all AU members has been chosen for multilateral partnerships, such as TICAD and other partnerships linking the AU to the EU and the Arab League. Since these meetings are organized under the banner of the AU, all its member states have the right to participate.
On the other hand, limited participation has been adopted for bilateral partnerships concerning a limited number of African countries invited by the host country, depending on the quality and level of bilateral relations.
As a result, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation has been listed, since its creation in 2000, among the bilateral mechanisms linking China to a number of African countries, as it does not confer any role to the Continental Organization, namely the AU, which is not involved in its meetings and conclusions. Thus, the Sahrawi Republic, like other African countries, has not participated in any China-Africa partnership meeting since its establishment. So how could it be excluded, as Morocco claims, if it is not even concerned by these meetings that do not fall under the AU?
The picture is thus becoming clearer and clearer on the lies and allegations disseminated by the Makhzen even before the end of the TICAD proceedings, a Makhzen that is unable to withstand the successive blows of the AU, the host country, Japan, and then the rest of the African countries that have not swallowed the bandit behavior of the Moroccan delegation.
What is more curious is that the Makhzen, which is trying to spread its lies and allegations about the upcoming summit in China, has feigned to forget that China has constant and unwavering positions on the issue of decolonization in Western Sahara, positions precisely reflected in the statements of representatives of this country at the United Nations, particularly in the Security Council, as well as in the communiqués issued by the Chinese authorities on many occasions.
During the State visit carried out in China in July 2023 by the President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, China had reiterated this position unambiguously.
Moreover, the joint declaration adopted on this occasion affirms "the support of Algeria and China for efforts to achieve a lasting and equitable solution to the Sahrawi issue within the framework of international legality, notably the relevant United Nations resolutions, in order to guarantee the Sahrawi people their right to self-determination in accordance with the principles and objectives of the United Nations Charter".
Thus, the new Moroccan outburst is nothing more than a desperate attempt by the Makhzen to throw dust in the eyes of Moroccans and divert their gaze from the Tokyo scandal.
Instead of dismissing the Sahrawi Republic, Morocco's machinations have resulted in a strong comeback of the latter, affirming to Morocco and its faithful supporters that the Sahrawi issue remains current and that the occupation of Sahrawi territories will come to an end sooner or later.