The President of Guinea-Bissau, Omar Sisko Embalo, withdrew from the eighth summit of the Japan-Africa Forum for Economic Cooperation “TICAD 8” in Tunisia in protest against the presence of the leader of the Polisario Front.

Embalo’s departure from the summit is important as the current president of the Economic Community of West African States “ECOWAS”, knowing that his country is one of dozens of African countries recognizing Morocco’s sovereignty over the Sahara, and this move represents the second official public protest by an African country against the participation of the Front POLISARIO after the President of Senegal, Macky Sall, stated at the opening of the meeting that he regretted that the forum was held in the absence of Morocco, a prominent member of the African Union, due to the lack of consensus on the issue of representation.

The President of Senegal expressed his hope that a permanent solution to this problem would be found in the future for the good functioning of our organization and our partnership in a calm environment.

Morocco decided not to participate in the TICAD summit and immediately call its ambassador to Tunisia for consultations in response to the reception of Tunisian President Kais Sayed, leader of the Polisario Front, Ibrahim Ghali.