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Rabat – Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita announced the country’s potential plan to open consulates in Tripoli and Benghazi, Libya.
The plan is part of Morocco’s efforts to improve consular services for Moroccans living abroad (MREs).
Statistics estimate the number of Moroccans living abroad at between four and five million. The number represents between 12% and 15% of the country’s population.
Morocco’s diaspora in Libya is estimated at 50,000.
Last year, Libyan news outlet Alwasat said that the Moroccan diaspora in Libya handed over a report to diplomatic officials in Rabat to complain about the absence of a consulate in Tripoli.
On Monday, Bourita stressed that the number of Moroccan consular representations increased from 40 to 57, emphasizing that mobile consulates have also been set up to bring consular services closer to Moroccan nationals abroad.
He also recalled the country’s digital consular services which include digital appointment booking, as well as call centers in seven languages.
The services also include digital stamp payments and registration in consular registers.
Morocco’s government has been pledging several reforms to address challenges that diaspora members face.
Last year in August, King Mohammed VI called on the government to boost its efforts to create a business-friendly climate to attract investments from Morocco’s diaspora members.
“Regrettably, many members of our expatriate community are still facing a number of hurdles and difficulties with regard to administrative matters or the launch of their projects. These issues must be addressed,” the King said in a speech.
Morocco’s diaspora remittances are among the highest in Africa, and are one of the country’s highest sources of foreign currency.
Recent statistics show that remittances from Moroccan diaspora members totalled $2.7 billion by the end of March 2023. The number shows an increase of 16% compared to the same period a year earlier.
