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Rabat – Morocco opened a new Consulate General on Friday in Mantes-la-Jolie, in the Paris region. The new office brings the total number of Moroccan consulates in France to 17, making it the largest Moroccan consular network abroad.
The consulate aims to bring services closer to Moroccan citizens living in France and improve efficiency. The move is part of a broader strategy by Morocco’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to better serve the needs of Moroccan communities abroad.
The new consulate will serve nearly 156,000 Moroccans living in the departments of Yvelines, Seine-Maritime, and Eure.
Many officials attended the opening ceremony, including Samira Sitail, Morocco’s Ambassador to France, Fouad Kadmiri, Director of Consular and Social Affairs at the Foreign Ministry, and Mustapha El Bouazzaoui, the new Consul General in Mantes-la-Jolie.
French officials were also present at the event, including Frederic Rose, the Prefect of Yvelines, Pierre Bedier, President of the Yvelines Departmental Council, and Raphael Cognet, Mayor of Mantes-la-Jolie. Several local mayors, elected officials, and many Moroccan citizens also attended the event.
A sign of closer ties
Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Samira Sitail said the new consulate is “a source of pride” for Moroccans living in the region and shows the country’s commitment to staying connected with its citizens abroad. She also thanked the French authorities for their support in making the project a reality.
French officials welcomed the opening of the consulate, saying it will strengthen local cooperation and support the close relationship between France and Morocco. Prefect Frederic Rose noted that Moroccans are the second largest foreign community in Yvelines, with about 30,000 residents. He said having a nearby consulate would help improve communication and cooperation with Morocco.
Fouad Kadmiri described the new consulate as part of King Mohammed VI’s ongoing support for Moroccans living abroad. He said this new office reflects the King’s care for the Moroccan diaspora and is an example of bringing public services closer to citizens.
Consul General Mustapha El Bouazzaoui said the consulate will be open and fully operational starting Monday, and has already received 780 appointment requests through a special application.
The opening of the consulate also comes at a time when Morocco and France are experiencing stronger diplomatic relations. Ties between the two countries have improved in the last year, especially after France officially endorsed Morocco’s autonomy plan for Western Sahara.
The move was seen as a strong gesture of support for Morocco’s position and helped relaunch political dialogue and cooperation between the two longtime partners.
