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Rabat – France is making it harder for former Moroccan ministers, senior officials, as well as businesspeople to file for visas.
According to news reports, the French parliament discussed imposing a new round of restrictions on former Moroccan ministers, as well as Moroccan scholars, engineers, and businesspeople to attend events in France.
Last year, the French government started restricting access to visas for nationals from Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia.
The move was reportedly the result of the North African countries refusing to cooperate with French authorities on the repatriation of their citizens who are illegally residing in France.
In response, France cut the number of visas issued for Tunisians by 30% and by a staggering 50% for both Algeria and Morocco.
But recent reports suggest French consulates may have actually slashed visas issued in Morocco by 70%.
Despite the restrictions, Moroccans remain the largest non-EU citizens’ to receive residency permits in France.
In 2021, Moroccan nationals received 35,233 residency permits in France, making them the top receivers of first-time French documents.
Morocco’s Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita, commented on the decision by saying that it “betrays consular cooperation.”
Morocco “will look into this further,” Bourita vowed, explaining that the decision would negatively impact “bilateral cooperation between the two countries.”
Morocco’s confederation of businesses also denounced the decision, saying that Moroccan economic actors are “displeased” with France’s new visa requirements. The confederation’s president argued that the tight visa regulations would have a negative influence on trade and economic exchanges between the two countries.
The spokesperson of the French government, Gabriel Attal, said that the decision came in reaction to African countries refusing to collaborate on the repatriation of illegal immigrants.
As the decision continues to send waves of shocks through social media, many Moroccans are calling on the government to protect “Moroccan dignity.”
Read Also: Moroccan FM: France’s Decision to Limit Visas for Moroccans is ‘Unjustified’
