Tunisian authorities are making efforts to restore diplomatic relations with Morocco and reinstate ambassadors in both capitals, a senior official told Hespress AR.
The relationship has been strained since 2022, when Tunisian President Kais Saied hosted the leader of the Polisario Front during the Japan-Africa Summit in Tunis, sparking backlash from Rabat.
“Tunisian diplomacy is working to overcome disagreements with Morocco and aims to establish balanced and equal relations with all Maghreb capitals,” said the source, who requested anonymity. The diplomatic stalemate with Morocco has lasted nearly three years, but Tunisia is determined to “open a new chapter,” he added.
Despite recent initiatives, the source acknowledged facing challenges in normalizing ties but declined to elaborate.
Critics, including Tunisian politicians and human rights activists, have accused the presidency of abandoning its neutral stance on the Moroccan Sahara issue and aligning with Algeria’s support for separatists in Morocco’s southern provinces. These critics have called on President Saied to prioritize mutual interests and repair relations with Rabat.
The diplomatic fallout escalated in 2022 when Morocco withdrew its ambassador from Tunisia after President Saied received Polisario leader Brahim Ghali at the TICAD summit. Morocco’s Foreign Ministry described the move as “a grave and unprecedented act” that undermined Moroccan sovereignty. Tunisia defended its actions, citing compliance with African Union protocols.
Skepticism persists over Tunisia’s commitment to repairing ties. President Saied’s recent reiteration of Tunisia’s support for “peoples’ right to self-determination” and its involvement in Algeria’s Maghreb initiative have heightened doubts.
In a 2022 speech, King Mohammed VI emphasized the centrality of the Moroccan Sahara issue in the kingdom’s foreign policy. “The Sahara issue is the lens through which Morocco views the world and the standard by which we assess the sincerity of friendships and partnerships,” the King said.
While Tunisia has expressed its willingness to move forward, concrete steps are yet to be seen, leaving the future of diplomatic relations uncertain.
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