The Ministerial Preparatory Meeting for the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) commenced today in Tokyo, scheduled to take place from August 24-25, 2024. The event began with the Meeting of Senior Officials, featuring representatives from Japan and various African member countries of the United Nations.
Invitations to the TICAD9 Ministerial Meeting and the Senior Officials Meeting were issued exclusively by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to African UN member states. Notably absent from the invitation list were the so-called “SADR” and the “Polisario,” entities that Japan, as the host country and organizer, did not recognize or invite. The official roster of participants included only legitimate UN member countries, reflecting Japan’s clear stance on the matter.
Japan, adhering to its policy of not recognizing the so-called “SADR,” did not issue visas to its alleged representatives and firmly refused to accept their visa applications or so-called travel documents. Despite this, elements of the separatist group managed to enter Japan using Algerian passports and under the guise of being part of the Algerian delegation. The Algerian Embassies reportedly submitted official Notes Verbales to the Japanese authorities requesting visas for these individuals, misrepresenting them as legitimate members of the Algerian delegation.
Japan, in organizing the meeting spaces, did not anticipate the presence of these separatists. The conference room was set up with nameplates only for the African countries officially invited by Japan, none of which included the so-called “SADR.” However, separatists infiltrated the venue, using Algerian badges to pose as members of Algeria’s delegation. In a brazen move, one ‘Polisario’ separatist displayed a falsified placard bearing the name of the unrecognized entity, which was entirely distinct from the official placards prepared by the Japanese organizers. This act was an attempt to create the false impression that the fictitious entity was an official participant in the conference.
The misleading actions were swiftly condemned by the Moroccan delegation and many other participants. In response to these unauthorized actions, a senior Japanese official, who chaired the meeting, publicly reaffirmed that Japan does not recognize the so-called “SADR.” Japan’s official position remained firm and unequivocal, emphasizing the non-participation of any unrecognized entities in TICAD9.
This incident further underscores Algeria’s role as the principal supporter of the separatist group, highlighting its involvement in regional disputes over the Moroccan Sahara, as recognized by the UN Security Council. The unauthorized presence of the separatist entity at TICAD9, facilitated under the guise of the Algerian delegation, did not go unnoticed by the international community.
Following recent diplomatic victories by Morocco, which have bolstered international support for its sovereignty over its Southern Provinces and its autonomy plan under Moroccan governance, Algeria has been left to resort to deceit and subterfuge. These actions are seen as a desperate attempt to lend visibility to its “Polisario” proxy, but ultimately, these tactics have only served to further discredit Algeria’s efforts. The separatist project, widely regarded as illegitimate, appears to be increasingly marginalized on the global stage.
In conclusion, the events at TICAD9 illustrate the extent to which certain parties are willing to go to promote their agendas, often through deceptive and unlawful means. However, the international community’s response has been clear, with strong denunciations of such tactics and a reaffirmation of established diplomatic norms and state sovereignty.
