A member of the Polisario Front infiltrated the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IX) on Friday, posing as part of the Algerian delegation.
The individual, who was not an official delegate but rather a separatist associated with the Polisario, managed to gain access to the conference venue using fake credentials.
Once inside, he was filmed taking out a counterfeit name card from his bag and placing it on a table. The card displayed the name “Saharawi Republic,” a reference to the self-proclaimed Algeria-backed Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR).
Muni d’un badge d’accès algérien, un membre du Polisario s’est incrusté en cachette à la TICAD organisée à Tokyo.
On le voit sortir une fausse pancarte de son sac sur laquelle il est écrit: « République sahraouie ». pic.twitter.com/sZc2jXGBBd
— MM ۞ (@MoorishMovement) August 23, 2024
The incident is widely considered a breach of protocol, particularly in light of Japan’s clear stance on the issue. The Japanese government, which is hosting TICAD IX in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank, does not recognize the SADR.
Japan’s position mirrors that of the United Nations, European countries, and all permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, none of whom recognize the SADR as a legitimate state.
This is not the first time that members of the Polisario have attempted to infiltrate international diplomatic events.
In August 2022, Japan condemned the Polisario’s uninvited attendance at the 8th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD-8).
“The presence of any entity, which Japan does not recognize as a sovereign state at TICAD 8 meetings, including the Senior Officials Meeting and the Summit Meeting, does not affect the position of Japan regarding the status of this entity,” the Japanese delegation stated at the conclusion of the first session.
This latest incident comes as the Polisario Front continues to lose ground internationally, with more countries recognizing Morocco’s sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara territories.
Experts maintain that, with France’s recent support for Morocco’s territorial integrity, the Sahara dispute is “effectively over.”