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Join on Telegram Rabat — Moroccan ambassador to France Samira Sitail said France has never opposed Moroccan sovereignty over its southern provinces in Western Sahara.
The ambassador revisited France’s historic decision to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces, emphasizing that the announcement reflects a restoration of truth and a commitment to justice.
Asked about France’s new position, the ambassador said the announcement reflects the “decision of a French head of state to restore a truth.”
“France has never opposed Morocco on the Sahara issue…When the autonomy plan was put on the table in 2007,” the ambassador said, insisting that there has never been an opposition on France’s part.
She added that French support for Morocco’s sovereignty had never been expressed in this way before, noting that the decision is a step that has been taken but “there is first and foremost recognition by France of a truth and a duty of justice.”
“It isn’t a gift,” she said.
President Emmanuel Macron in July announced his support for Morocco’s position in a letter he sent to King Mohammed VI.
He recently reiterated this position while on his State visit to Morocco in October.
During the visit, he renewed that the present and future of the dispute lies within Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces.
“Rooted in history, respectful of realities, and promising for the future, this position is what France will implement to support Morocco in international forums. And I also say here that this position is not hostile to anyone,” Macron said in his address to the Moroccan Parliament.
This week marked a milestone of renewed relations since France expressed their position, particularly the visit French ambassador to Morocco Christophe Lecourtier made to southern provinces.
During the visit, he described Morocco’s southern provinces as a “new horizon for France’s strategic actions,” pointing to the region’s economic potential and the importance of strengthening partnerships as a core element of France-Morocco cooperation.
“Our goal is to implement these emerging projects as quickly as possible,” Lecourtier said, indicating France’s readiness to capitalize on economic opportunities in the region, which he described as rich with potential.
