Morocco recalled its ambassador to Tunisia on Friday after Tunisian President Kais Saied received the head of a movement seeking independence for the Sahara region.
The Moroccan foreign ministry said Tunisia's decision to invite Polisario leader Brahim Ghali to a Japanese development summit for Africa in Tunis this weekend was "a serious and unprecedented act that deeply hurts the feelings of the Moroccan people and its forces".
Tunisia said on Saturday that it was recalling its ambassador to Rabat for consultation in response to Morocco's decision. Tunisia’s foreign ministry said the country maintained "neutrality” over the issue of Morocco’s Sahara region.
Morocco controls 80 per cent of the region while the rest is held by the Polisario movement, which fought a 15-year war with Morocco after Spanish forces withdrew in 1975 and demanded a referendum on independence.
Morocco has offered limited autonomy to the phosphate and fisheries-rich region but insists it must remain under its sovereignty.
On Friday, the Moroccan foreign ministry said the country would no longer take part in the Tokyo International Conference on African Development being hosted by Tunis.
It also accused Tunisia of having recently "multiplied negative positions" against Morocco, and said its decision to host Mr Ghali "confirms its hostility in a blatant way".
Tunisia’s foreign ministry said Mr Ghali was invited to attend the summit by the African Union, which recognises the Sahara region as a member although African states are split over both the Polisario and the territory's independence.
Mr Ghali had also received a direct invitation to the summit from the president of the African Commission, the ministry said.
It is not the first time that Mr Ghali's travels have sparked Moroccan anger.
He visited Spain in April last year to be treated for Covid-19, sparking a year-long diplomatic row between Spain and Morocco.
The dispute was resolved after Spain backed Morocco's plan for limited self-rule in the Sahara region, a former Spanish colony.
Hydrogen: Market potential
Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.
"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.
Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.
The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.
Tips to stay safe during hot weather
- Stay hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water. Avoid alcohol and caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
- Seek cool environments: Use air conditioning, fans, or visit community spaces with climate control.
- Limit outdoor activities: Avoid strenuous activity during peak heat. If outside, seek shade and wear a wide-brimmed hat.
- Dress appropriately: Wear lightweight, loose and light-coloured clothing to facilitate heat loss.
- Check on vulnerable people: Regularly check in on elderly neighbours, young children and those with health conditions.
- Home adaptations: Use blinds or curtains to block sunlight, avoid using ovens or stoves, and ventilate living spaces during cooler hours.
- Recognise heat illness: Learn the signs of heat exhaustion and heat stroke (dizziness, confusion, rapid pulse, nausea), and seek medical attention if symptoms occur.
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One in nine do not have enough to eat
Created in 1961, the World Food Programme is pledged to fight hunger worldwide as well as providing emergency food assistance in a crisis.
One of the organisation’s goals is the Zero Hunger Pledge, adopted by the international community in 2015 as one of the 17 Sustainable Goals for Sustainable Development, to end world hunger by 2030.
The WFP, a branch of the United Nations, is funded by voluntary donations from governments, businesses and private donations.
Almost two thirds of its operations currently take place in conflict zones, where it is calculated that people are more than three times likely to suffer from malnutrition than in peaceful countries.
It is currently estimated that one in nine people globally do not have enough to eat.
On any one day, the WFP estimates that it has 5,000 lorries, 20 ships and 70 aircraft on the move.
Outside emergencies, the WFP provides school meals to up to 25 million children in 63 countries, while working with communities to improve nutrition. Where possible, it buys supplies from developing countries to cut down transport cost and boost local economies.
