French FM Arrives in Rabat, Signals Continuing Renewal of Franco-Moroccan Ties

Rabat – After years of diplomatic tensions, Morocco-French ties have been on the mend in recent weeks.

French Foreign Affairs Minister, Stephane Sejourne, is set to land in the Moroccan capital of Rabat today, February 25, according to French outlet Le Monde.

Sejourne’s arrival in Morocco comes one day ahead of a scheduled meeting with his Moroccan counterpart Nasser Bourita on Monday.

French media reports indicate that discussions between the two ministers will center around the future of the Euro-Moroccan partnership, and the situation in the Sahel, with a likely visit by French President Emmanuel Macron.

Observers speculate that an official visit from Macron could signal an end to the diplomatic crisis that had marred the relations between the two countries in recent years.

Worsening relations between the two historical allies were partly due to France’s ambiguous stance on the Western Sahara dispute. Another factor was France’s decision in September 2021 to halve the visa quota for Moroccans.

While the French government has since promised to reverse this decision after widespread backlash, Moroccans continue to complain of humiliating treatment and unexplained delays when applying for visas to travel to France.

The recent appointment of the new French Ambassador to Morocco, Christophe Lecourtier, marked a pivotal turn in relations between Paris and Rabat, as the new ambassador repeatedly reiterated their country’s willingness to start a new chapter of cooperation.

Speaking at a conference earlier this month, Lecourtier said that it was necessary for France to clarify its stance on the Western Sahara dispute, as it would be futile to plan a future of close cooperation and strong relations if the issue was not addressed.

A few days following his appointment, Princesses Lalla Meryem, Lalla Asmaa, and Lalla Hasna of the Moroccan Royal family were received at the Elysee Palace for lunch, following instructions from King Mohammed VI. The reception was held at the invitation of the First Lady of France, Brigitte Macron.