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Morocco–Tunisia relations

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Morocco–Tunisia relations
Map indicating locations of Morocco and Tunisia

Morocco
Tunisia

Relations between the Maghreb countries of Morocco and Tunisia were first established in 1956.[1] Both states' territory historically formed a part of the Carthaginian and Roman empires, before becoming protectorates within the French colonial empire.

Both countries are members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, African Union, Arab League and Non-Aligned Movement. Morocco has an embassy in Tunis. Tunisia has an embassy in Rabat.

Post-colonial relations

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Immediately following their independence, a series of "nationalistic prejudices" arose in both Morocco and the then-Kingdom of Tunisia regarding their relationship with France, and both provided support to the National Liberation Front fighting in the Algerian War.[2] Under Habib Bourguiba, Tunisia officially adopted a neutral policy regarding the Western Sahara conflict.[3]

Following the Tunisian Revolution, interim president Moncef Marzouki made an official visit to Morocco in 2012, in part to discuss a re-establishment of the dormant Arab Maghreb Union.[4] King Mohammed VI also visited Tunisia twice in 2014 and 2015.[5][6] In January 2020, the king and newly-elected President Kais Saied exchanged a phone call.[7]

A diplomatic crisis emerged in August 2022 following a decision made by Saied to invite Polisario Front leader Brahim Ghali, in his capacity as President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic, to attend the 8th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Tunis, while also personally receiving him upon his arrival.[8] The Moroccan government subsequently announced that it would boycott the conference, and withdrew its national team from a regional karate championship taking place in Tunis.[8][9] Both countries also recalled their respective ambassadors.[10] A statement published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates accused Tunisia of "unilaterally" inviting Ghali "in violation of the process of preparation and established rules", to which Tunisia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs responded that it had "maintained its total neutrality on the Western Sahara issue in line with international law".[10] Following continued criticism from Moroccan media, the Tunisian journalists' union denounced what it had termed a "smear campaign".[8]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Relations bilatérales" (in French). Archived from the original on 31 May 2012. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
  2. ^ "Briefing Paper Prepared in the Department of State". U.S. Department of State. Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume XXI, Africa. Washington. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  3. ^ "Sahara. La Tunisie face à la rivalité algéro-marocaine". Orient XXI (in French). 9 March 2017. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  4. ^ "Tunisie : Moncef Marzouki au Maroc pour promouvoir une union maghrébine". Jeune Afrique (in French). 9 February 2012. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
  5. ^ "Morocco king in Tunis for first visit since 2011 uprising". Middle East Eye. 12 February 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  6. ^ "King Mohammed VI Returns to Morocco After Official Visit to Tunisia". Morocco World News. 9 June 2014. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  7. ^ Kasraoui, Safaa. "Tunisia, Morocco Determined to Strengthen 'Historical' Relations". Morocco World News. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  8. ^ a b c "Morocco and Tunisia feud after self-proclaimed Western Sahara leader visits Tunis". Le Monde. 1 September 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  9. ^ "Morocco recalls ambassador to Tunisia, boycotts TICAD-8". Kuwait News Agency. 27 August 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2023.
  10. ^ a b "Tunisia, Morocco recall envoys in tit-for-tat diplomatic row". Arab News. 27 August 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2023.


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