(Rabat – Yasmin Salah) The Moroccan press and political parties have launched a fierce and unprecedented campaign against the government of Moroccan Prime Minister and Socialist Party chief Abbas Fassi, over what they consider a “diplomatic and politically catastrophic blunder” in withdrawing the Moroccan ambassador to Dakar in protest against the statement by the head of the Senegalese Socialist Party in support of the “just” struggle of the Sahrawi people under the leadership of the Polisario Movement. [Full Story in Arabic] 

The error was not in withdrawing the Moroccan ambassador from Senegal alone, but – as observed by the Senegalese government, which did not “spare its words” over Morocco’s actions in the past – in failing to confirm the facts behind the statement.  The Senegalese Socialist Party is a small opposition party that does not constitute 2% and represents little effective political power in Senegal, as pointed out by the Senegalese press and the journal "Jeune Afrique."   The Moroccan newspapers have called their government’s position "unprecedented nonsense" and have launched an unprecedented campaign against Abbas Fassi, whom they accused of “buffoonery.”

The Moroccan newspaper Sabah commented that it is hardly rational for Abbas Fassi to sever diplomatic relations with countries when one of their political parties recognizes Polisario, in light of the facts that Morocco has diplomatic relations with countries that have officially recognized Polisario, and that Moroccan opposition parties have also recognized the right of the Sahrawis under Polisario to self determination.  

The Polisario Front is the armed movement most hated in Morocco because of the long conflict over the Western Sahara, which Morocco considers part of its territory, while the "Sahrawis" consider it an indivisible part of what they call the "Sahrawi Republic."  The Front is led by Mohammad Abdulaziz, and has its headquarters in the town of Tindouf in southern Algeria. 

A few days ago the Moroccan government issued a statement in justification of its position and tried to "excuse the error", as the Moroccan newspaper "Sabah" put it, especially since many observers have connected the tension between Rabat and Dakar – even before the statement by the head of the Senegalese Socialist Party about the Polisario Front – to Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade's having taken the management of the Senegalese national airline away from Air Maroc and turned it over to Senegalese investors.  This may be behind the Prime Minister’s sudden and disproportionate response. 

It may be noted that the Polisario Front, which held its twelfth conference only a few days ago in the town of "Tifariti" in the liberated Sahara, made a concluding announcement that, in the event of the failure of its negotiations with Morocco, Polisario would resort to taking up arms.  Morocco considers this incitement to war and has accused Algeria of being behind it, since the main office of the Polisario Front is located on Algerian soil.