Rabat – Morocco’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Nasser Bourita is attending the 5th Paris Peace Forum from November 11-12. Bourita is representing Morocco in the forum on the “very high instructions” from King Mohammed VI.”
The forum convenes world leaders and officials from across the world to discuss global governance solutions.
Bourita’s attendance comes amid a political crisis between Rabat and Paris due to visa restrictions the European country announced against Moroccans.
In 2021, France decided to cut the number of visas granted to Moroccans by 50%, claiming that Morocco had been “unwilling” to cooperate on the extradition of irregular Moroccan migrants in France.
Bourita disputed the claims, stressing that France’s decision to slash visas issued to Moroccans “was unjustified.”
The Moroccan foreign minister emphasized Morocco’s pioneering role against irregular migration, stressing that the North A country has “always dealt with the issue of migration and the movement of individuals with great responsibility and balance.”
France’s position on the Western Sahara dispute also triggered calls from political observers, who demanded a clear stance from France.
The demands grew particularly after King Mohammed VI’s speech commemorating the Revolution of the King and People, where the monarch called on all partners, including new and traditional ones to clarify their positions on the dispute.
“I, therefore, expect certain states among Morocco’s traditional partners as well as new ones, whose stances concerning the Moroccanness of the Sahara are ambiguous, to clarify their positions and reconsider them in a manner that leaves no room for doubt,” the King stated.
Converging reports recently claimed that there are signs of reconciliation between Paris and France following a call between King Mohammed VI and Emmanuel Macron.
During the call, Africa Intelligence reported that the French president announced his willingness to visit Rabat soon.
