Morocco, Tunisia hold talks after two years of diplomatic tensions

Tunisia and Morocco held their first official talks in two years since Tunisian President Saied hosted Brahim Ghali, the leader of the Polisario Front, a Western Sahara separatist group and Rabat's enemy #1.

On 15 August, Moroccan Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch and Tunisian Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar discussed "ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries", according to a statement from Tunisia's Foreign Ministry.

The two officials met in Marseille on the sidelines of the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of southern France from Nazi forces.

"The meeting was an opportunity to reaffirm the shared commitment to developing economic and political relations between the two brotherly countries and to resolve the current situation," Tunisian media reported, quoting sources close to Carthage over the weekend.

Two year ago, Rabat recalled its ambassador to Tunis in response to President Kais Saied hosting Polisario leader Brahim Ghali. Tunisia reciprocated by recalling its representative in Morocco.

At the time, Tunisia's Saied welcomed Ghali at Tunis airport in the same manner as other state leaders attending the Japanese-African investment conference TICAD, held in the Tunisian capital that year. Rabat deemed Saied's action "hostile" and "unnecessarily provocative."

The Algeria-backed Polisario seeks an independent state in Western Sahara, a vast stretch of mineral-rich desert that Morocco considers a sovereign part of its territory.

Between Morocco and Algeria, Tunisia might have to choose a side

The meeting between Saied and Polisario's head Ghali took place shortly after Algeria reconciled with Tunisia following two years of diplomatic tensions, leading to the reopening of their land borders. "The price Tunisia has paid is siding with Algeria's pro-Polisario position", speculated political analyst Said Saddiki in an interview with The New Arab.

In 2023, Tunisia's Foreign Minister Nabil Ammar denied any rupture with Morocco, suggesting an imminent return of diplomatic envoys. However, so far, envoys have not been officially reinstated.

Tunisia also joined the new Maghreb Union, established by Algeria in April, without Morocco and Mauritania–two founding members of the original Maghreb Union.

Founded in Marrakech in 1989, the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA) had a promising start, but recurrent tensions between Rabat and Algiers led to a deadlock. The last summit of UMA leaders was in 1994.

Western Sahara remains the core of the long-standing dispute between Morocco and Algeria which supports Polisario claims over the territory.

Algeria says its new union is intended to fill "a void" left by the failure of the UMA–now an abandoned building in Rabat.

Algerian and Tunisian officials have argued that other states are still welcome to join the new bloc. However, Moroccan diplomatic sources have confirmed that Algiers has not officially extended an invitation to Rabat.

Both Rabat and Algiers have been vying for leadership over the Maghreb region: Morocco act empowered by a strong geopolitical position and a roster of foreign allies, while Algeria is emboldened by its gas wealth and a long history of resistance against colonisation, which earned it respect across the region.

The recent meeting between Tunisian and Moroccan officials could mark the beginning of the end of a two-year diplomatic stand-off. Yet, Rabat-aligned media, often conveying Morocco's positions unofficially, seem unimpressed by the Tunisian Foreign Minister's talks with the Moroccan Prime Minister.

"The Tunisian Foreign Minister seeks to charm Morocco", wrote Morocco's daily Hespress.

"Will Tunisia return to Morocco's embrace, and step away from Tebboune (Algerian President)?" added another media outlet.

Before the diplomatic rupture, Tunisia was neutral in regard to the Western Sahara dispute.

However, in 2022, Moroccan King Mohammed VI made it clear that the era of diplomatic tightrope walking was over, and that a clear position on Western Sahara would be the only act to show true friendship with Rabat.

Rabat's new policy has pressured Paris into recognising Morocco's sovereignty over the disputed territory after years of diplomatic and economic tensions. Tunisia might be similarly courted to do the same if it wishes to return to Rabat's good graces.