Morocco Discredits Macron’s Claims Over Rabat-Paris ‘Friendly’ Ties

Rabat – Morocco has debunked claims made by France’s President Emmanuel Macron, who said recently that ties between Paris and Rabat are “friendly and will remain so.”

On February 27, Macron dedicated a portion of his speech prior to his Central Africa tour to discuss the recent rift between the two countries and emphasized France’s desire to overcome all challenges to move forward in improving relations with Rabat.

Macron stressed that King Mohammed VI is aware of his country’s intention, saying: “We have had several discussions, there are personal relations that are friendly and they will remain so there are always people who try to highlight incidents, scandals in the European Parliament, and listen to topics that have been revealed by the press.”

In response to Macron’s claims, an authorized source from the Moroccan government insisted on the existing and growing rift between the two countries.

The government source quoted by the pan-African magazine Jeune Afrique said: “Relations are neither friendly nor good anymore, neither between the two governments nor between the Royal Palace and the Elysee.”

During his speech, Macron brought up some of the challenges that contributed to the growing rift between the two countries, particularly the campaigns targeting Morocco from the European Parliament.

On January 19, the EU Parliament voted on a resolution that accused Morocco of “harassing” and “intimidating” journalists and activists.

Some MEPs also accused Morocco of bribery and corruption within the parliament. In response, the Moroccan government has categorically denied and rejected these claims.

Many observers have linked some parties in France to being behind the campaigns targeting Morocco within the European Parliament.

Commenting on the situation Macron said: “Is it the doing of the French government? No! Did France pour oil on the fire? No! We must move forward despite these controversies but finally without adding to it.”

Anti-Morocco acts exist because of France

In response to his claims, the authorized source from the Moroccan government said that what Macron mentioned during his speech are “only some of the examples” reflecting and illustrating the situation.

“Other points have been deliberately concealed, including the arbitrary restriction of visas, the media campaign, and judicial harassment,” the authorized source stressed.

The government source also cited French media’s involvement in promoting claims and allegations targeting Morocco over the alleged use of the Pegasus spyware.

“The involvement of the media and certain French circles in promoting the Pegasus affair could not be done without the involvement of the French authorities,” the source stressed, emphasizing that the vote of the EU Parliament on hostile resolutions against Morocco “could not be passed without the active mobilization of the “Renew” group.

The source referenced the Renaissance delegation that unites 23 MEPs elected in France that belong to the Renew Europe group in the European Parliament.

The government source highlighted that such maneuvers are part of an “offensive whose objective” is to gain influence over Morocco and “to contain its internal and foreign policy choices.”

In addition to Moroccan observers, French politicians have expressed concerns about France’s diplomacy as the country’s relations with countries in the Maghreb are continuously deteriorating.

The President of the France-Morocco friendship group in the Senate, Christian Cambon, recently said that the crisis has moved from visa restrictions to hostile campaigns from parties close to Macron within the European Parliament.

“We were emerging from an intense crisis linked to visa policy and we are starting upside down” due to an “initiative” from Macron’s party, TV5 quoted Cambon recently as saying.