Polisario participation controversy resurfaces ahead of TICAD 9 in Yokohama

Japan is gearing up to host the 9th edition of the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) from August 20 to 22 in Yokohama. As is customary with every session of this partnership, the recurring issue of the Polisario's participation is once again in the spotlight.

Just a week before the commencement of TICAD 9, the Japanese government hosted a meeting with Algeria's ambassador to Tokyo, Toufik Milat, on Friday, August 8, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Japanese diplomacy described the encounter as a «courtesy visit» in an official statement. It's worth noting that Milat had presented his credentials to the Japanese authorities on May 23.

The discussions between Japan's Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Algerian diplomat were officially centered on «enhancing bilateral cooperation in various fields, notably economic and diplomatic», according to the same source.

During TICAD 8, a Polisario delegation, with the backing of Algeria, managed to infiltrate the meeting, challenging the sovereignty of the host nation. Members of this separatist movement entered Japan using Algerian passports.

The Japanese government has consistently voiced its opposition to the presence of Polisario delegations at TICAD events.

To recap, Japan has been organizing this conference since 1993, in partnership with the United Nations, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the World Bank, and the African Union Commission.