Doha – Morocco-France relations are poised for “a very promising future,” Ambassador Samira Sitail declared Thursday at the “Fondation Prospective et Innovation” conference in Paris, outlining the robust trajectory of bilateral cooperation following recent high-level engagements between the two nations.
Speaking at the conference organized in partnership with Business France and L’Express magazine, Sitail highlighted the strong bilateral momentum driven by King Mohammed VI and President Emmanuel Macron.
“The two countries are today animated by a strong will to go further in their bilateral relations and envision their common future with conviction, assurance, and determination,” she stated.
The ambassador particularly emphasized the historic significance of Macron’s recent state visit to Morocco in October 2024, describing it as “a decisive and historic step in bilateral relations.”
This visit marked a turning point in Franco-Moroccan relations, coming after France’s landmark July 2024 declaration recognizing Moroccan sovereignty over the Western Sahara.
Sitail characterized the rapidly improving relationship as “a strategic alliance rooted in history and resolutely oriented towards the future,” referencing the “Enhanced Exception Partnership” declaration signed by both heads of state.
This declaration now serves as the primary framework governing bilateral relations between the two nations.
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During her address, the ambassador drew attention to the humanitarian crisis in Tindouf, Algeria, calling for increased awareness of the “ordeal experienced by the sequestered populations” there. “We must truly become aware of the magnitude of this dramatic humanitarian situation,” she stressed.
She also highlighted Morocco’s expanding role in regional diplomacy, particularly in facilitating Libyan dialogue and providing humanitarian assistance in Gaza.
Jean-Pierre Raffarin, former French Prime Minister and president of the Prospective et Innovation Foundation, praised Morocco’s recent developmental strides.
“Morocco is demonstrating reinforced, serene and constructive influence today on the international stage, particularly in the African continent,” he noted.
According to Raffarin, Morocco has established itself as “a trusted partner and global facilitator because it knows how to speak with everyone, enabling successful interventions on shared projects.”
The conference attracted numerous political figures, including National Assembly Vice-President Naima Moutchou and France-Morocco Friendship Group Senate President Christian Cambon, along with various deputies, senators, economic operators, journalists, and diplomats.
This diplomatic momentum builds on France’s strengthened position on the Sahara issue, highlighted by President Macron’s historic declaration before the Moroccan Parliament on October 29, 2024: “For France, the present and future of this territory lie within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty.”
This definitive statement, coupled with new partnerships in renewable energy and railway infrastructure, signals a transformative phase in the strategic alliance between the two nations.
