[ecr]

The Moroccan press has begun over the past two days promoting for this fictitious victory through a media campaign undoubtedly aimed at covering up what should be called "Morocco’s scandal in Tokyo" following the lamentable failure of Moroccan manoeuvres aimed at depriving the Sahrawi Republic from participating in the TICAD Ministerial Meeting, held on (24-25 August) 2024 in Japan.

Thus, with the aim of exposing the lies spread by the Makhzen, it is necessary to revisit the African Union (AU)'s decisions and practices regarding partnerships. It's crucial to note that the partnerships connecting the AU with different international players are classified into two primary categories.

The first category involves multilateral partnerships, in which the AU is one of the main parties. It also 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 involves 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, the participation in these meetings depends on the type of partnership in question.

The formula of inclusive participation gathering 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 AU banner, all member States have the right to participate.

On the other hand, limited participation was adopted for bilateral partnerships with a limited number of African countries invited by the host country, depending on the quality and level of bilateral relations.

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 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, since it is not even involved in these meetings, which are not part of the AU's framework.

It is now becoming clearer on the lies and allegations disseminated by the Makhzen even before the end of the works of TICAD, this Makhzen that cannot withstand the AU ‘s successive blows, the host country, Japan, and the rest of the African countries that weren’t able to swallow the bandit-like behaviour 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 expressed through the statements of its representatives at the United Nations, particularly in the Security Council, as well as in the press releases issued by the Chinese authorities on many occasions.

 China had clearly reiterated this position during the State visit paid by the President Abdelmadjid Tebboune to this country in July 2023.

Moreover, the joint declaration adopted on this occasion affirms "Algeria and China’s support to the efforts aimed to achieve a lasting and equitable solution to the Sahrawi issue as part of international legality, notably the relevant United Nations resolutions, likely to guarantee the right of the Sahrawi people to self-determination in accordance with the principles and objectives of the United Nations Charter.

The latest Moroccan manoeuvre is simply a desperate attempt by the Makhzen to mislead Moroccans and shift their focus away from the Tokyo scandal, serving as a distraction rather than a genuine response.[/ecr]