The Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9), held in Yokohama, Japan, from August 20 to 22, witnessed the official participation of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic with a high-level delegation led by Prime Minister and member of the National Secretariat, Bashiraya Hamoudi Bayoun, representing the Sahrawi President and Secretary-General of the Polisario Front, Brahim Ghali, alongside Foreign Minister Mohamed Yeslem Beissat.
This participation comes after repeated attempts by Morocco to obstruct the presence of the Sahrawi Republic in international summits, as Rabat has worked for nearly a year to exclude the Sahrawi delegation from the TICAD platform through various means and pressures.
In a remarkable step, the Japanese authorities this time ensured special protection for the Sahrawi delegation, following the brutal assault they were subjected to previously by so-called “Makhzen diplomats.” Japanese security services accompanied both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister throughout the summit’s proceedings, providing individual security detail for each Sahrawi official — an unprecedented measure reflecting Tokyo’s determination to guarantee a safe and calm participation for the Sahrawi Republic.
TICAD 9, held under the theme “Working Together for Innovative Solutions with Africa,” addresses several key areas, most notably mechanisms to support human resource development between Japan and Africa. Among the highlighted initiatives is the ABE 4.0 Program, which offers qualified African youth the opportunity to pursue higher education in Japanese universities while gaining practical experience through training in Japanese companies, thereby enhancing their skills and contributing to the development of their home countries.
The Prime Minister is accompanied at the summit by Minister of Foreign Affairs and African Affairs Mohamed Yeslem Beissat, and the Permanent Representative to the African Union, Lamine Aba Ali.
