Western Sahara dispute spills into Tunisia

A diplomatic crisis is brewing in the Maghreb region amid tension between Morocco and Tunisia after President Kais Saied received the leader of the Polisario Front.
Western Sahara's Polisario Front independence movement leader Brahim Ghali (C).
Western Sahara's Polisario Front independence movement leader Brahim Ghali (C) attends the opening session of the eighth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) in Tunis, Tunisia, on Aug. 27, 2022. - FETHI BELAID/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
MohamedAliLatifi.jpeg
Mohamed Ali Ltifi
@MohamedAliLtifi

TUNIS — Tunisian President Kais Saied’s decision to receive Brahim Ghali — the leader of the Polisario Front, a rebel group fighting for independence in the Western Sahara — late last month has developed into a diplomatic crisis with repercussions spilling into the sports world.

The Royal Moroccan Handball Federation announced Aug. 29 that its clubs will not participate in the 37th Arab Club Championship of Handball set to take place in Tunisia.

Access the Middle East news and analysis you can trust

Join our community of Middle East readers to experience all of Al-Monitor, including 24/7 news, analyses, memos, reports and newsletters.

Subscribe

Only $100 per year.

Videos

See more