Rabat – French Minister of Interior Bruno Retailleau will visit Morocco this weekend as part of an official visit, a source confirmed to Morocco World News (MWN) today.
According to AFP, Retailleau will take on a working visit to Morocco to discuss bilateral ties, including “consolidating progress, particularly regarding consular laissez-passers.”
During the visit, he is expected to meet with senior officials, including his counterpart Abdelouafi Laftit.
The meeting will see the two officials delving into discussions on migrations and security cooperation, including counterterrorism.
The visit comes at a time when Morocco and France are determined to continue boosting bilateral ties at all levels.
This commitment was solidified during Emmanuel Macron’s visit to Morocco last year, marking a new chapter in the ties between Rabat and Paris.
During the visit, Morocco and France also signed a series of agreements and a roadmap to further boost cooperation and bilateral relations at all levels, including trade, security, and cultural relations.
Macron’s visit came shortly after his country announced its newfound decision on the Western Sahara, recognizing Morocco’s sovereignty over its southern provinces.
In July, Macron sent a letter to King Mohammed VI in which he announced his country’s new position, noting that the present and future of Western Sahara fall within the framework of Moroccan sovereignty.
The autonomy initiative “constitutes the only basis for a political, fair, sustainable, and negotiated solution, in accordance with United Nations Security Council resolutions,” Macron stressed.
He made a similar statement during his historic State visit in October, in which he confirmed his country’s position in a laudable speech before Moroccan MPs at the Moroccan parliament.
“This is the position that France will implement to support Morocco in international forums,” Macron said, stressing that operators and businesses from France will continue supporting the development of Moroccan southern provinces through investments and sustainable initiatives.
During his speech, Macron also urged a revitalized Franco-Moroccan partnership to tackle shared challenges, to fight against terrorism, and manage irregular migration.
“Our responsibility is to build a controlled space of security and safety,” he said, urging closer judicial cooperation to combat narco-trafficking and other crimes affecting both nations.
