The Truth behind Morocco’s Diplomatic fight with Nigeria

On March 6, the Moroccan government had through a well known journalist, Ziad Alami, issued a statement announcing that their King, Mohammed VI,  had refused to have a phone conversation with Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan.
Read more...


The Moroccan statement made it quite clear that they believed that Nigeria’s approach had more to do with the coming  elections, than with any interest in bilateral relations.
In their statement, the Moroccans called Nigeria’s approach “biased”,  “abnormal” and “unhealthy”, and went on to remind Nigeria that they had a problem with us based on Nigeria’s stance over Western Sahara, a territory claimed by Morocco, but who’s independence is supported by Nigeria.
Despite this snub by the Moroccan King, Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs  Ministry went ahead to issue a statement on Sunday, March 8, claiming that President Jonathan had spoken with Mohammed VI, and that “they  spoke extensively over the phone on matters of mutual interest and concern”.
What could be the pressing issue of “mutual interest and concern”?

The Tijaniyya is a sufi tariqa (order, path) within Sunni Islam, which originated in Fes, Morocco but is now more widespread in West Africa, particularly in Senegal, The Gambia, Mauritania, Mali, Guinea, Niger, Chad and Northern Nigeria and Sudan.

Its adherents are called Tijani, who attach a large importance to culture and education, and emphasize the individual adhesion of the disciple. To become a member of the order, one must receive the Tijani wird, or a sequence of holy phrases to be repeated twice daily, from a muqaddam, or representative of the order. The current spiritual leader of the order is Ahmad Tijani Ali Cisse.

In Nigeria, the leader of the Tijaniyyah is Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, who is seen as a moderating force whose calm demeanour, and centrist world view, counters extremism in the Islamic faith.
That is a stance that runs strongly counter to the message of Boko Haram, who must feel a staunch competition to their message of Islam. Bauchi was a target for assassination by Boko Haram in Kaduna, on July 28, 2014, the same day that the APC presidential candidate survived an assassination attempt.

Given the history of the Tijaniyya, Morrocan and Senegalese clerics are very influential over the sect. Their spiritual leader, Sheikh Bauchi canvassed support for the current president, Goodluck Jonathan in the 2011 general elections, but has crucially refused to do so this time, despite alleged monetary inducements.

This was the reason that the Presidency attempted to reach out to King Mohammed VI, so that he could bring his influence to bear on Tijani Cisse.
However, the Moroccans smelt a rat in Nigeria’s request for a “bilateral discussion at the highest levels”, and refused to speak with the President, at least until after the elections, and their refusal triggered the drama from Nigeria’s Foreign Ministry.

The Moroccans have clearly taken the Nigerian Foreign Ministry’s statement badly, and have recalled their ambassador to Nigeria, the highest form of diplomatic show of anger, just short of sanctions or war.