French Interior Minister Darmanin to Visit Morocco to Discuss Boosting Cooperation

Rabat – French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin is set to visit Morocco on Sunday and Monday at the invitation of his Moroccan counterpart Abdelouafi Laftit, AFP reported on Sunday.

The aim of the visit is to further improve security cooperation between the two countries, the report noted, adding that Darmanin will meet with Laftit and Islamic Affairs Minister Ahmed Taoufiq during his stay in Morocco.

The news comes as France and Morocco have made significant strides in boosting bilateral cooperation in recent months.

In particular, the past few weeks have been marked by a surge in high-profile visits from French officials to Morocco.

The increased diplomatic activity is part of a broader effort by Paris to defuse political tensions with Rabat and strengthen bilateral ties, which have faced challenges in recent years.

The series of visits kicked off with French Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Sejourne’s trip to Morocco in February.

During his visit, Sejourne emphasized the importance of repairing bilateral relations and indicated France’s willingness to address the Western Sahara question more directly.

France was among the first supporters of Morocco’s Autonomy Plan for the Sahara, Sejourne said, reaffirming his country’s commitment to continue backing the plan as a viable path towards resolving the territorial dispute.

Following Sejourne’s visit, French Delegate Minister for Foreign Trade, Franck Riester, also traveled to Morocco earlier this month. Riester’s visit aimed to reassure Rabat of Paris’s growing interest in revitalizing their strategic partnership.

In addition, Riester announced the French Development Agency’s interest in financing development projects, such as a high-voltage line, between Dakhla and Casablanca.

This bold move signaled France’s newfound, if gradually expressed, desire to commit to Morocco’s Western Sahara stance.

More visits from French ministers are anticipated in the coming weeks, according to converging reports.

Meanwhile, Moroccan Foreign Affairs Minister Nasser Bourita visited France last week to engage in discussions with his French counterpart.

“The momentum initiated by my recent visit to Morocco continues today with a working session with my counterpart,” Sejourne said on the sidelines of Bourita’s visit.