Informed sources have confirmed that the Arab Republic of Egypt has decided not to participate in the “Africa Peace 3” military exercises hosted by Algeria between May 21 and 27, 2025. The decision follows Cairo’s discovery that the Polisario Front was included among the participating parties—an inclusion absent from the initial agreement under which Egypt had consented to take part. This withdrawal comes amid growing regional and international debate over the political dimensions now surrounding the joint drills.
Several Moroccan media outlets had previously highlighted the exercises, characterizing them as “military maneuvers under the guise of regional cooperation” that send “provocative messages regarding Moroccan territorial integrity.” These reports criticized the participation of an internationally unrecognized entity alongside Arab states.
Egypt Backs Rabat
Egypt’s decision is being viewed as a diplomatic victory for Morocco and a clear signal that some Arab capitals refuse to be drawn into agendas that contradict international law and the principles of neutrality they have long upheld in regional conflicts.
According to various sources, Egypt expressed dissatisfaction with the manner in which the Polisario was included, arguing that participating in exercises alongside an entity not recognized by the United Nations places the participating countries in a precarious position, effectively legitimizing a separatist project that undermines regional stability.
Although no official statement has yet been released regarding Egypt’s withdrawal, the move is expected to prompt a recalibration within the “North Africa Capacity” framework, especially given the increasingly complex stances of Libya and Tunisia and mounting political pressure on governments involved in the exercises. These governments are now being urged to offer urgent clarifications to both regional and international audiences.
Diplomatic Tensions Between Tunisia and Morocco
In a related development tied to the issue of Western Sahara and the Polisario Front, the Kingdom of Morocco ended the mission of its ambassador to Tunisia, Hassan Tariq, as of March 24, 2025, according to the Moroccan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. While some attributed the move to administrative reasons—particularly following the appointment of Tariq as Morocco’s ambassador to UNESCO—others pointed to the broader diplomatic context, recalling Rabat’s previous decision to summon its ambassador in response to Tunisian President Kais Saied’s reception of Polisario leader Brahim Ghali during the “TICAD” Japan-Africa summit.
The roots of the diplomatic crisis between Tunisia and Morocco trace back to August 2022, when Morocco recalled its ambassador after President Saied hosted Ghali during the aforementioned summit held in Tunisia. Morocco described the reception as “a grave and unprecedented act that deeply wounded the feelings of the Moroccan people,” viewing it as a violation of its steadfast stance on Western Sahara. The incident triggered a cooling of political and diplomatic ties between the two countries.
This political chill has spilled over into economic and trade relations, with Morocco excluding Tunisia from a batch of olive oil imports—a move reflecting the depth of the crisis and its impact on bilateral economic cooperation.
Commenting on the matter, political analyst Nabil Rabehi stated that the vacant Moroccan ambassadorial post in Tunisia is not merely a technical issue but a clear indication of the deepening estrangement between the two nations. He pointed to President Saied’s reception of Ghali and Tunisia’s later invitation to a Western Sahara delegation to participate in the Sfax International Handicrafts Exhibition in February 2024—actions that further provoked Morocco.
Conflicting Foreign Policies
Rabehi noted that the crisis extends beyond the Western Sahara issue, stating: “It has become clear that the two countries are now pursuing diverging political paths. Tunisia, particularly under President Saied, rejects the Abraham Accords, which Morocco openly embraced.”
He also referenced Morocco’s exclusion from a recent trilateral summit involving Tunisia, Algeria, and Libya—a move Rabat views as undermining the broader Maghreb Union framework.
Rabehi warned that the current diplomatic estrangement could escalate into a full-fledged break in relations, citing the fundamental contradiction between the two countries’ foreign policy doctrines.
Silent Pragmatism
Strategic affairs analyst and international relations scholar Hicham Maatadad suggested that Morocco’s decision to leave its Tunisian ambassadorial post vacant is not a routine measure but a deliberate signal that Rabat sees no immediate value in reinstating the position. This, he argued, indicates an ongoing diplomatic freeze.
According to Maatadad, this freeze reflects a cautious Moroccan reassessment of Tunisia’s political trajectory since President Saied assumed power. Tunisia, he said, has increasingly aligned itself with regional agendas—chiefly those of Algeria—resulting in a loss of the foreign policy balance it once maintained.
He added: “This Tunisian orientation may explain Morocco’s wariness, especially as Moroccan-Algerian relations are already strained. The absence of a Moroccan ambassador in Tunis is thus part of a broader strategic reading of the North African political landscape.”
Maatadad concluded that Morocco’s current stance embodies a strategy of “silent pragmatism”—avoiding direct escalation while withholding any signals of diplomatic thaw. In his view, the future of Moroccan-Tunisian relations hinges largely on Tunisia’s internal political evolution and its ability to reclaim independent policymaking, free from external pressures that may hinder balanced regional partnerships.
Efforts to Mend Moroccan-Tunisian Relations
Khalid Chiat, Professor of International Relations at Mohammed I University in Oujda, emphasized that Morocco did not instigate the diplomatic freeze. “Morocco, as a sovereign state, cannot accept an act of provocation from a country that has historically maintained a level of prudence and neutrality, allowing it to be a valuable partner to Morocco across multiple sectors—economic, financial, humanitarian, and cultural.”
Chiat argued that the rupture stemmed from Tunisia’s decision to officially host the leader of a separatist movement, a move seen as deeply provocative and existential for Morocco.
He observed that the crisis, which has now lasted nearly three years, has affected economic and cultural ties between the two countries. He blamed Tunisia’s growing alignment with Algeria for complicating its position on the Sahara issue, while Morocco continues to demand a clear statement from Tunisia affirming its recognition of Moroccan sovereignty over the territory.
Chiat acknowledged that while efforts are underway to restore ties, such efforts require concrete reform steps from the Tunisian side. Tunisia’s regional cooperation initiatives that exclude Morocco, he added, have further entrenched the current diplomatic tension.
Tunisian Foreign Ministry Responds
In response, the Tunisian Ministry of Foreign Affairs previously expressed “deep astonishment at the unacceptable accusations and misinformation regarding the Polisario’s participation in the summit.”
The ministry affirmed Tunisia’s “strict neutrality on the Western Sahara issue in line with international legitimacy—a firm position that will not change until a peaceful and consensual solution is reached.”
It emphasized Tunisia’s commitment to UN and African Union resolutions, noting that the AU—of which Tunisia is a founding member—initially issued a memorandum inviting all AU member states, including the Polisario, to attend the summit. The AU Commission Chair later sent a direct invitation to the Polisario leadership.
The ministry stressed that Tunisia respected all procedural arrangements concerning the summit’s organization in accordance with relevant African legal frameworks, and reaffirmed its desire to maintain “friendly, brotherly, and historically rich relations with the Moroccan people.”
Wider Disputes Over Western Sahara
This diplomatic dispute marks yet another chapter in a broader series of international disagreements over Western Sahara that have already drawn in countries like Spain and Germany. It also reflects an escalating regional rivalry between Morocco and Algeria, the Polisario’s staunchest backer.
Morocco proposes broad autonomy for the region under its sovereignty, while the Polisario insists on a UN-backed referendum on self-determination—a position strongly supported by Algeria, which hosts Sahrawi refugees.
