Marrakech – Ambassador Samira Sitaïl, Morocco’s representative in France, held talks yesterday with French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin, signaling the two countries’ commitment to consolidating their warming relations.
The meeting focused on strengthening security cooperation and exploring avenues to further bolster bilateral relations between the two nations, according to a statement released by the Moroccan embassy in Paris on the social media platform X.
This constructive exchange comes on the heels of France’s recent official recognition of Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara.
In a letter addressed to King Mohammed VI on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of his ascension to the throne, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed France’s unequivocal support for Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed territory.
Macron reiterated that France’s stance remains “consistent and unwavering,” aligning with the Autonomy Plan proposed by Morocco in 2007, which he described as “the only basis for a political, fair, sustainable, and negotiated solution, in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions.”
Ambassador Sitaïl, in an interview with French media outlet Europe 1-CNews last week, expressed her satisfaction with France’s endorsement of Morocco’s Autonomy Plan.
She emphasized that this development was the result of a lengthy process of discussions that began in October 2023 when she was appointed ambassador to France.
“We checked all the necessary boxes, starting with trust, and put a number of topics on the table to renovate our partnership and make it something exceptional,” Sitaïl stated.
The ambassador’s meeting with Darmanin follows a series of visits by high-ranking French officials to Morocco in recent months, primarily in April, as part of France’s commitment to mending bilateral ties with its strategic North African ally.
These visits included a trip by French Foreign Affairs Minister Stéphane Séjourné, who stressed the importance of repairing relations and signaled France’s readiness to address the Western Sahara question more directly.
Read also: Why France’s Recognition of Morocco’s Sovereignty Is a Game-Changer
Another notable visit was by French Delegate Minister for Foreign Trade, Franck Riester, who announced the French Development Agency’s interest in financing development projects in the region.
Darmanin’s visit to Morocco, which took place in the same month, aimed to discuss a broad range of topics, including bilateral security cooperation.
During his stay, he met with his Moroccan counterpart, Abdelouafi Laftit, and the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Ahmed Taoufiq.
The two countries were expected to discuss joint efforts against organized crime, terrorism, drug trafficking, irregular migration, and human trafficking.
