King Mohammed VI Terminates Benchaaboun’s Duties as Ambassador to France

Rabat – King Mohammed VI has officially terminated Mohamed Benchaaboun’s duties as ambassador to France.

Morocco’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a communique on Benchaaboun’s termination of duties as Morocco’s envoy, with the decision taking effect on January 19.

The termination took effect on the same day as the European Parliament’s decision to vote on a hostile resolution that accused Morocco of intimidating and harassing journalists and activists.

The communique announcing Benchaaboun’s departure as Morocco’s envoy to France was published in Morocco’s Official Gazette – marking the first time ever such a press release is posted on the platform.

Benchaaboun was appointed as the ambassador of Morocco to France in 2021.

News about Benchaaboun’s departure as an envoy came to light in October 2022, when King Mohammed VI appointed him as the chairman of the King Mohammed VI Investment Fund.

Many observers believe that French MEPs close to Emmanuel Macron were behind the resolution, which reflects their frustration over Morocco’s diplomatic gains and international influence.

Since the adoption of the resolution, Morocco’s parliament held two meetings to condemn the allegations and hostile campaign targeting Morocco and its domestic affairs.

The parliament also announced reconsidering ties with the European Parliament (EP).

On Wednesday, speaker of the House of Representatives Rachid Talbi Alami, described the campaigns against Morocco as “unfair,” stressing that these accusations against the country are “targeting our international positioning.”

Participating in Wednesday’s parliament meeting, President of the Moroccan-European Union (EU) Lahcen Haddad acknowledged that there have always been members within the EP who have a problem with Morocco.

“They [France] used their position to attack Morocco,” Haddad explained.

In another recent meeting, Haddad accused some in France of being “annoyed” at Morocco suggesting that the January 19 resolution was pushed by French MEPs with a personal vendetta.

Observers believe that the French attitude is part of the European country’s rejection of Morocco’s growing influence in different fields, including security.

In a recent opinion piece report, Moroccan foreign policy analyst Samir Bennis emphasized that: “In the neo-colonial imagination of the French ruling class, it is inconceivable that Paris would treat Rabat as an equal.”