Liberia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah said that he regrets Morocco’s absence from the 8th edition of the Tokyo International Conference on Africa Development (TICAD). Kemayah called for “the suspension of this session until the problems relating to the procedures are resolved.”

“Liberia expresses regret over Morocco’s absence from TICAD-8. We are surprised by the imposed presence of a delegation [representatives of the Polisario Front] in violation of TICAD procedures”, said Kemayah on the opening day of the summit.

Denouncing the unexpected inclusion of Ghali in the conference, the Liberian Minister stressed the importance of respecting the rules jointly established with the TICAD’s co-host Japan. The latter has requested to leave regional politics out of the summit, which was supposed to focus on the $30 billion Japan vowed to support the development of African countries.

In addition to the Liberian Foreign Minister, Senegal’s President and current Chairperson of the African Union, said that his country “regrets that this TICAD will be marked by the absence of Morocco, a prominent member of the African Union.”

President of Comoros Azali Assoumani said: “I would like to express our regret for the absence of Morocco, a pillar of Africa for reasons of compliance with the rules established so far for the organization of this TICAD summit.”

Meanwhile, Guinea-Bissau’s President Umaro Sissoco Embalo protested Tunis’ move in a bolder stance after he left the ongoing conference.

Tunisia is accused of "unilaterally" inviting the polisario chief "against the advice of Japan and in violation of the process of preparation and established rules", according to which, Tunisia had no right to establish a unilateral invitation process, especially that a note verbale from Japan did not include Ghali among the guests.