The Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded to Morocco's decision to boycott the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 8), which will include heads of state from several African countries.

Morocco’s decision came after Tunisian President Kais Saied received the head of the Polisario Front movement Brahim Ghali, who came to participate in the Tokyo International Conference on African Development.

In a statement, the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed its shock at what was stated in Morocco’s statement and at “unacceptable prejudices against Tunisia and fallacies concerning the participation of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic delegation in the aforementioned symposium."

In response to the boycott decision, the Ministry said Tunisia summoned its Ambassador in Rabat "immediately for consultation,” explaining that it has maintained its complete impartiality in the issue of Western Sahara, in compliance with international legitimacy, which is a firm position that will not change until the concerned parties find a peaceful solution acceptable to all, in addition to their commitment to United Nations resolutions.

Tunisia reaffirmed its desire to maintain "friendly, brotherly, and historical relations with the Moroccan people," categorically rejecting the Moroccan statement whereby it "accused our country of taking an aggressive stance toward Morocco and harming Moroccan interests".

Tunisian President Kais Saied received on Friday at Carthage airport the Secretary-General of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali.

The TICAD Summit is an open and inclusive forum that brings together all African countries and development partners, including international and regional organizations, donor countries, Asian countries, and the private sector, as well as civil society organizations working in the field of development in Africa.

The Polisario Front has fought with Morocco since the 1970s over the control of Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony.

An UN-brokered ceasefire deal was reached in 1991, and the UN Security Council voted in favor of holding a referendum to define the status of the territory, but Moroccan authorities, who control nearly 80% of the vast desert region rich in phosphates and marine resources, have since opposed any vote that includes independence as an option, supporting the idea of limited autonomy only.