The Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR), a founding member of the African Union, is taking part in the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), which opened Wednesday in Yokohama, Japan.
The Sahrawi delegation is led by Prime Minister Bouchraya Hammoudi Bayoun, representing President Brahim Ghali, accompanied by Foreign Minister Mohamed Yeslem Beissat and AU Permanent Representative Lamine Baali.
Despite Moroccan attempts to block their presence, the Sahrawi representatives attended both the preparatory meetings and the main sessions. Japanese authorities, working closely with the African Union Commission, implemented reinforced security measures to guarantee the safe participation of the delegation.
The conference brings together Japan’s Prime Minister, African Union heads of state and government, UN Secretary-General António Guterres, and senior leaders of international and regional organizations. SADR’s presence reaffirms its status as a legitimate AU member and its commitment to advancing African development.
